Fuel for a Combustion Cannon

[Ranger]

Aqua net is the standard hairspray for combustion cannons, I dont know of any better hairspray.

[Jperezo311]

I have a friend that shoots full cans of the stuff with a piece of burning paper next to the can. The fireball produce is quite spectacular.

Please don't post any flaming projectiles. It is one of the fastest ways to get banned and a thread locked. Please read the rules.

RC car fuel should work very well. It is mostly Alcohol, a little bit of Nitomethane (5-15%) and either Castor oil or a synthetic oil. Do expect an oil film build up over time due to the lube in the fuel.

yea the oil is not a problem. I don't mine the cleaning. It's just I hope it's not too powerful to burst through the pvc.
Also my other question is using carb cleaner. I know it works but how powerfully will that be and will it evaporate out of my chamber

[milkman0]

Hairspray is great but results in too much gunk. I have had success with insect repellant. I did a fuel test on several different fuels to see how each would perform in my gun. This is the result of that testing:

[youtube][/youtube]

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Nicely done, the measurement of distance is not *that* scientific in that there's the variable of projectile consistency and launch angle, but what the heck, looks like you had a fun day and 10 points for getting the womenfolk interested too

[milkman0]

Yes, it is almost impossible to control all the variables as you mentioned. That and I only took 3 shots each, which isn't a big pool of data. It was my fault for not bringing more potatos. Plus it takes a long time to measure each set of shots.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Spray and pray is not the way to go for performance though, have you tried metering with a syringe?

[Mr.Tallahassee]

I used spray paint in my old golf ball launcher. It was 4 feet of 3 inch pvc with a 2'' barrel. Back on topic, I never had a misfire with it. only downside is it covers the ignition terminals but mine were in the 1.5 inch cap. Best "spray and pray" fuel i used. I put golf balls half a mile down range, and yes, I used one of those walking meter things that measure feet. Aqua Net only launched them up to 400 feet. I could NOT get starter fluid to work at ALL. Even in my 5.5 LITRE launcher. 8)

[Bias_P11]

I recommend using methylated ethanol, as high percent alcohol as possible. Pure methanol is the most reliable due to low evaporation temperature and high vapor pressure but methylated ethanol works too.

If you live somewhere warm or if you plan on having an igniter that actually uses a flame to ignite, I would use isopropanol for more energy.

If you have a gun that can handle it and you want a can that sprays for you, starter fluid. (some have carbon dioxide as a propellant, stay away from those)

[jsefcik]

Starting fluid or carb cleaner is the way to go I think!


Might need venting though, that's why I have a chamber fan

[mattyzip77]

I have tried brake cleaner before and it works pretty good. My favorite though is good ol aqua net hair spray!!

200 Posts

[jsefcik]

I have tried brake cleaner before and it works pretty good. My favorite though is good ol aqua net hair spray!!

aqua net, gunks up the chamber and is very sticky!!!, carb cleaner, burns really well and clean
200 Posts

[JABN]

You can also get adapt a syringe to a butane, propane or MAPP tank. I use a syringe for metering the fuel and it works great.

[pneumaticcannons]

My favorite is Axe... Though i've never tried hairspray. I once tried bug killer lol. That was dirty and messed up my paint job but the spuds did fly a LOT further. Axe is actually really clean.

[SpudBlaster15]

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[pneumaticcannons]

i didn't know about the hydrogen fluoride... thanks for the heads up, I might stop using Axe now that you've scared me