Some Copper Related Questions

[Darkside 6ix]

Well I am starting to get interested in copper pipes and I am seriously considering using copper for a air gun. I have a few questions to help me on my way and to help me design my plans.

1) Do you guys reccomend soldering the joints, or using "Just For Copper"?
(If anybody has used "Just For Copper" please let me know on how it help up for you)

2a) What is the best valve to use with copper? Should I just go with the conventional modded sprinkler valve, or should I go with a more industrial valve?

2b) I am leaning torward a piston valve, but, how would I make one out of copper?

3) Is it better to pressurize the copper chamber with a schrader valve or a air compressor?

4)What type of copper tube should I use?

[Velocity]

1) Definitely solder the joints. It makes them very strong. I do not know about the Just for Copper glue; however, I am confident that soldering the joints will make them stronger than if you just used the glue.

2) Piston valves work really well with copper, given the smooth, regular interior (compared to PVC pipe) of the copper piping. It can be a bit tricky soldering all of the fittings and pipe properly without screwing up another joint, but you will get the hang of it. Do not use a plastic valve; their pressure rating does not even approach the pressure rating of copper. Use a metal valve (like a QEV) if you can't build a piston valve.

3) Does not really matter; whichever you prefer.

[Darkside 6ix]

If you would be kind enough to PM me or leave a reply on this topic on how to build a copper piston, I would vitually hug you. Thanks for the info...

*goes to search up a QEV*

EDIT: I know I have seen storys on how people have QEVS on their air guns but it seems that the QEV that Im looking at is only for paintball guns. Is there some other type of QEV that is used for industrial purposes?

[Gippeto]

If you want to start working with copper, this is an excellent resource;

http://www.copper.org/publications/pub_ ... ndbook.pdf

There are many copper piston launchers in the pneumatic showcase section.

This is mine;

http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/piston- ... 13478.html

The pictures should give you a pretty good idea as to what you will need to do.

Best of luck.

[Darkside 6ix]

Hey Gippeto, would you be kind enough to explain the valve assembly of your gun? I know it might seem like im retarded, but im only 14 years old. :

EDIT: well most of you know that im lazy, but could anybody link me to a place that shows you how to make an air compressor out of a refridgerator.

thanks

[Gippeto]

No worry's, we were all 14 at one time.

I'll help you "git'er done".

What parts are you having trouble with?

Assembly of the tee, piston design, pilot/fill?

[POLAND_SPUD]

Here is my how-to on fridge cmpressors
AFAIK this is the only one that exists here http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/my-comp ... 11866.html

lol I know it's sometimes difficult to understand as my english sucks but the whole process of building it is very easy...

[SpudFarm]

hey i am 14 to

[Hotwired]

JFC has certain advantages such as requiring no heat. Which can be useful if you're making several close joints as my cannon required (the cannon end contains 6 joints in the space of about 10cm...)

For 99% cannons the construction isn't anything like as fiddly and a properly soldered joint is better than a glued one.

Both will hold pressure fine but I wouldn't trust a glued joint as much as a soldered one if I knew rotational force could be put on it. An example of that could be a 90* fitting to an unsupported chamber. Push against the chamber and it puts a twisting force on the 90* fitting and the joins.

[MaxuS the 2nd]

MaxuS says solder them. You will thank yourself for it later..

[sniper hero]

1) soldering is not very difficult and very strong
2) I found this video (never did it myself but looks easy)

3) ?
4)copper pipe is copper pipe right?

[Darkside 6ix]

Thanks guys, @ sniper hero. For question #4, there are 3 different types of copper pipe, Im to lazy to look them up right now, but I think its something like type M , K , and L.

[Velocity]

type M is low pressure, type L is medium pressure, type K is high pressure. Any type would be suitable; they all are rated for 300+ PSI (and their rating is generally more conservative than the rating on PVC pipe).

Besides, if copper does fail, I am pretty sure it just splits (I've heard this before) rather than shattering.

[DYI]

Besides, if copper does fail, I am pretty sure it just splits (I've heard this before) rather than shattering.

And I'm completely sure.



But when you think about it, if your hand was around that thing when it transformed from a pipe to a banana peel, you'd be having some serious problems.

[Darkside 6ix]

Did you do the pressure testing your self? Well if you did its a nice refrence. Thanks alot but Im still wondering on which valve i should use. I cant order valves off of mcmaster because my parents dont like online ordering. But if i made one then its perfectly okay. That homemade QEV video up there ^^^ didnt help me much cuz its in french.

EDIT: Well This is the best that I could do, If somebody can tell me all the parts below, I will give them a virtual hug.