1st Propane/MAPP gas cannon

Boom! The classic potato gun harnesses the combustion of flammable vapor. Show us your combustion spud gun and discuss fuels, ratios, safety, ignition systems, tools, and more.
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zanfirestorm
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Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:32 pm

My name is Ben and this is a gun that was built only for hairspray at first. Then that got too unreliable so we decided to amp it up. My friend Nate and I sat down and worked for maybe 20 minutes and came up with this frankenstein of a cannon. Yes we know it dosent look too good, but to us country hicks its beautiful and it puts one hell of a bang behind whatever is in the barrel.
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It has a 4" Combustion chamber with reducer to 3" barrel. In the combustion chamber we have a 80mm PC fan with a switch connected to a 9v battery. For ignition, we have a stun gun(dont know the watts but it hasnt failed us yet) with detachable cables so we can use it for all of our creations. For our fuel source, we had a used Mapp gas torch and we hacked the tip off so we could just stick it in the side of the combustion chamber, glue it, then use some hose clamps to secure it. It works flawlessly and has a ton of power. In this shot we ran out of potatoes so we put some smaller pvc filled with tape in just for kicks and it didnt do much damage to a 1/2" piece of pressure treated plywood. I will post more VERY soon.
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Last edited by zanfirestorm on Sun Jan 24, 2010 9:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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hi
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 1:31 am

Wow, a down range camera man... that's smart. :?
"physics, gravity, and law enforcement are the only things that prevent me from operating at my full potential" - not sure, but i like the quote

you know you are not an engineer if you have to remind yourself "left loosy righty tighty"
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jackssmirkingrevenge
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 1:47 am

Ghetto but hey, it works :)
hi wrote:Wow, a down range camera man... that's smart. :?
It's called trust, something you city folk wouldn't understand :P :roll: :D
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
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zanfirestorm
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 1:48 am

I like to live life on the wild side. And I was hoping for some constructive criticism... Being near that thing isnt even considered dangerous compared to most of the everyday things I do.

Thanks Jack :) Ghetto isnt even the word to describe it.

Edited by jrrdw.
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McCoytheGreater
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 2:20 am

You should look into a mapp/propane fitting to plug this thing in with some kind of hose. That would also allow for a pipe to meter the propane with. That propane tank sticking way out there can't be healthy for the threads into the chamber. Other than that, it seems like it works. Why all the tape on the chamber, though? That isn't the cellular core stuff you get at Lowes, is it?
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zanfirestorm
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 2:33 am

HA! The tape was because we were making fun of the local rednecks that put duct tape on EVERYTHING. Were from Hartwell GA, and this was literally 20 minutes of just screwing around. There will be a better, more thought out, cannon coming soon and we will incorporate more aesthetic/functional equipment in it. Until then we will just have to "get r done" with this one. Wow I thought I would never say that... I hate larry the cable guy, I really do...

Right now were in the process of freezing some projectiles for tomorrows shenanigans. Ill post the damage videos asap.

Edited by jrrdw.
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McCoytheGreater
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 2:40 am

Anti-redneck aside (I'm from a very small town in southeast MS), look up a propane system for it (nothing spells redneck like propane and duct tape), and stay away from cellular core PVC. It can blow up. Good luck on future builds. Don't go shooting roadsigns. That may just be crossing the line from making fun of, to becoming redneck.
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zanfirestorm
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 2:51 am

Will do McCoy. We know our pvc because I work on a bunch of different things ranging from cars like you see in my profile pic(A pro street 1970 Chevelle) to other automobiles and houses and I'm only 20. Its fair to say I'm not lacking in the construction talent. Thanks and until tomorrow, I'm going to sleep.
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bullrees
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 3:00 am

My first gun had duct tape all over also.I don't think I'd have the balls to stand down range with my boys aim but good for you. cool vid.
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:38 am

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Last edited by SpudBlaster15 on Wed Jul 14, 2021 7:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Ragnarok
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 6:45 am

SpudBlaster15 wrote:Combine this with a DYI backstop, and you've got the makings of a very entertaining video.
... or a manslaughter case I wouldn't want to have to try and explain to the judge. :?
Does that thing kinda look like a big cat to you?
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zanfirestorm
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 2:36 pm

My boys and I have been through alot together so trust is not an issue :). And the rubber ball wasnt enough to even go through the wood it just kinda clipped it. Im uploading new damage vids as I type this with our frozen ammo.
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starman
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 9:51 pm

You guys may live in the country, but I think you can do better.

The fueling setup looks very easy to knock off and/or break from the chamber. The duct tape is useless wrapped around the chamber as it is...if your chamber were to explode, the duct tape would be no deterrent whatsoever. While the tape is performing as a barrel brace, you really should fit a wooden piece in there and radiator clamp it around the chamber and barrel.

Yes, you've amped it up. Now take your time and take it to the next level.

BTW, I'm just up the road from you in the Greenville SC area. Welcome to Spudfiles.
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zanfirestorm
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:10 pm

Greenville! Theres a guy I knew up there that owned Gordons or Gordy's corvette world. And I know its rigged but trust me, it wasnt meant to be pretty, and i know the duct tape is dumb but i explained it in an earlier post. The next cannon will be sure to knock your socks off. Be sure to look at the new damage videos.
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Moonbogg
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Mon Jan 25, 2010 3:18 am

You guys got it down and it works good. Now, like Starman said, you can make a clean and proper one next.
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