Hybrid Metal?

[cannon freak]

Ok could you guys tell me the kind of metal that is generally used on hybrids, I mean like some metals are more resistant to the explosive force of the blast while others may hold the pressure but shatter because of the concussive blast.

I plan on making a couple of my first hybrids out of sch 80 PVC but I want to move up to metal after that.

[Velocity]

many types of metal can be used. I think that types of steel are popular, because fittings can be found in many places (such as mcmaster.com) and it is very strong. Aluminum has been done before as well, but that usually requires much machining, unless you buy the super expensive fittings.

What type of mixes do you plan to take this hybrid up to?

I think that building the first hybrid out of metal is actually preferable to sch. 80 pvc pipe. There is less of a chance of the thing grenading. But either way, be sure that you are very knowledgable on both pneumatics and combustions before you attempt to build one.

[cannon freak]

I know metal is prefferable, but I have never used it before, thats why I am using PVC for starts, Im also going to exsperement with a way to increase the amount of pressure that the pipe can hold, so thats another reason why Im using PVC for starters.

Is stainless stell good?

Edit: What I mean to say is, is there any thing other than stainless steel that will work as well.

[carlbelcher]

Black iron or galvanized steel should work just fine.

[boilingleadbath]

Copper will be fine too. It's fairly soft, so it will (most likely) tend to stay in one peice when it ruptures, instead of forming shrapnel.

On the other hand, someone over at rougesci did some tests with classic steel (and PVC) pipebombs, and didn't observe any shrapnel. (he used a peice of plywood as a blast witness, I believe. Spacing was about 3')
Not that I'm advocating standing near pipebombs.

[spudmonkey]

wonder if you could make a oxy-acetylene hybrid if u used a thick enough metal and burryed the chamber under ground, just a 2x would be freekin sick, having the pipe controles sticking out of the ground er somthin

[cannon freak]

I think with oxy - acetylene it self detonates somewhere around a 2x mix, so that would be the most power that you could get.

[carlbelcher]

I wouldn’t mess with acetylene or oxygen even with steel you could blow yourself up! oxygen can turn anything into a fuel

[Jolly Roger]

It could be done but you would just have to be extremely cautious. Making a hybrid out of stainless would be great, but you'd hope to have a good job cause it'd be expensive. I personly plan on making mine by machining and milling aluminium - at least then I won't be held back by lack of parts and fittings and would'd have to cut corners on the design.

[carlbelcher]

I still don't recommend using acetylene or oxygen. There's just no reason to risk it, even with steel or any other metal. The problem with metal is that it can develop stress fractures over time which can cause it to fail unexpectedly.