SpudFiles

I built my first spud gun this weekend. I've used them in the past but felt like being creative and making my own.

I ended up using

4" pvc (12" long)
2" pvc (36" long)
4" to 2" converter
2 Female couplers
1 female screw cap
A bbq starter
Wired the bbq starter to two screws
Handle for the button and hiding the wiring
Custom camo paint job

I tested it out in the garage with a towel, it was loud and shot. I'll be testing out the distance this week. Here are some pics. Feel free to ask any questions about it. And maybe this will give others some ideas.

Very Nice!!! Does it kick alot when you fire it? Also I really like the camo paint job! What did you use for the stencils for the shapes?

For a first, that's damned impressive - neatly built to decent standards (as far as I can tell), and with a good looking paint job.

Kudos.

Thanks everyone.

It doesn't feel like it kicks too much, but I haven't used potatoes in it yet, just loosely stuffed rags. I'll find out tomorrow night

For the paint, I used a sandpaper sponge thing (dont know the technical term) and sanded down the outside. And I just bought some rustoleum spray paint (they a line of camo colors). I used a base paint of flat black. Once that dried, I went in my backyard and picked some leafs, small limbs, and some pine branches. Started with the lighter color and sprayed over the leafs and such. And then used the darker color and did the same thing. It turned out a lot better than I thought it would.

I'm gonna browse around here some more, but is there a list of standards around here?

I tried to take some pictures, but got real focused and forgot. This is about all that I have.

PVC fittings:


Spraypaint:


Putting the trigger together


All taped up. Used some automotive wire loom under the electrical tape


Here you can see the two screws with the wire connected


Here is the trigger

Looks great, really like the leaf patterns.

Did you double (or at least outside) bevel the muzzle.

jimmy101 wrote:Looks great, really like the leaf patterns.

Did you double (or at least outside) bevel the muzzle.

Thanks a lot

Yeah all I had was a hand file, so I spent some time beveling the outside of it. Need to get a dremel

Good job on using hose clamps, I hate seeing great guns that have parts attached using only duct tape. Great first gun.

Very nice. Thats a good, solid spud gun there. I like the camo and I read a study conducted by engineering students that camo actually improves performance.

clemsonguy1125 wrote:Good job on using hose clamps, I hate seeing great guns that have parts attached using only duct tape. Great first gun.

Thanks. It took me a while to figure out the best way to attach the handle without screws. then saw these gigantic radiator style hose clamps at the hardware store. The only thing is that I'm hoping the slit that I made in the pvc doesnt make it weak and break.

Moonbogg wrote:Very nice. Thats a good, solid spud gun there. I like the camo and I read a study conducted by engineering students that camo actually improves performance.

Haha, thanks.

Well if thats the case, I'm gonna paint a few other things camo...

clemsonguy1125 wrote: I hate seeing great guns that have parts attached using only duct tape.

No such thing. The use of duct tape disqualifies a gun from having the word "great" attached to it.

Regarding the gun in this thread, nicely done!

barleydude wrote:Well if thats the case, I'm gonna paint a few other things camo...

DON'T. I tried that. The lady always seems to think it's contageous.

D_Hall wrote:

barleydude wrote:Well if thats the case, I'm gonna paint a few other things camo...

DON'T. I tried that. The lady always seems to think it's contageous.

Haha!! Oh and thanks for the compliments.

Oh and I found a few more pictures on my cell phone.

Before the paint and handle:


Base paint of black:


This was prob the most important part, testing out the sparker a few times before doing it on the actual chamber.