Question about darts

A place for general potato gun questions and discussions.
vng21092
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 163
Joined: Tue Nov 19, 2013 8:27 pm

Sat Aug 08, 2015 7:07 pm

Hey guys, I tried to make some darts and fire them from my 8mm barrel but they don't fly straight. I actually have another issue. The uh, skirt? Is made of paper with some tape to hold it together, what I notice is that probably before it even leaves the barrel, the skirt is instantly shredded. As the dart heads toward the target, it is no longer straight and bends on impact, while pieces of the skirt can be found maybe a couple feet from the barrel. So my questions are:

1) How can I make a durable "skirt" for the dart that would make it stable in flight?

2) Does the size of the skirt affect the stability of the dart?

3) Should darts be shot at low pressure high volume? Or low volume high pressure? I was shooting at around 600 psi which is what I assumed was ripping the skirt to shreds. I tried putting a 8mm bb behind the skirt but that didn't really help, the bb shattered, the skirt still shredded, and the nail still bent.
User avatar
Brian the brain
Moderator
Moderator
Netherlands
Posts: 3496
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2005 2:06 am
Location: Holland
Been thanked: 3 times

Sun Aug 09, 2015 5:29 am

A nail in a caulktube nozzle, cut down to fit the barrel, usually works well.
You could glue the nail in place.
Gun Freak wrote:
Oh my friggin god stop being so awesome, that thing is pure kick ass. Most innovative and creative pneumatic that the files have ever come by!

Can't ask for a better compliment!!
User avatar
Fnord
First Sergeant 2
First Sergeant 2
Posts: 2239
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:20 pm
Location: Pripyat
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Sun Aug 09, 2015 11:06 am

Paper cone skirts soaked in superglue are fairly durable, and if it gets shredded you can just add more layers until it holds together.
Image
User avatar
tigerblues28
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 104
Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2013 12:56 pm

Sun Aug 09, 2015 4:52 pm

I'd say you're using too much pressure. Try starting low and move up!

Heres a link to a blow gun community, (caution: they allow talk of hunting but this is a a dart construction thread) feel free to delete.

http://blowgun.lefora.com/topic/3409058 ... cfKhPlViko

I dont know how well some of these would work in a cannon or launcher but its worth a try!

Nick
Post Reply