Tennis Ball Cannon With Pics

Cannons powered by pneumatic pressure (compressed gas) using a valve or other release.
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mattyzip77
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I made this cannon a few weeks ago and I am just now getting around to posting it. The chamber is about 42 inches of 2 inch sch. 80, the barrel is 60 inches of 2 1/2 inch sch. 40 sdr 21, the valve is a irritrol 2 inch sprinkler valve and I am piloting it with a 3/4 inch qev from mcmaster. This thing has alot more power than I expected it to. I am putting a tennis ball at least 300 yards at 150 psi. It kicks like a mule!!! :D It also has a pressure gauge in the chamber, 160 psi max. And thank you 8tonsemi for the tennis balls!! Paint job and breech loading still to come!! Comments and criticism welcome. This cannon has all the stuff thats hard to get. Oh yea, you cant see it in the pics, but I am using my doggies pig stuffed animal as a barrel support held in place by a hose clamp!! :shock: :shock: Doggies not happy about it!! :roll: :roll:
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8tonsemi
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Looks great. Cant wait to see a video.
Also 2inch sprinkler valve or dust collector?
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mattyzip77
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Its a sprinkler valve, says it in my description. :lol:
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8tonsemi
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I meant which one is better, sorry i should have been more specific.
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mattyzip77
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Idk yet I havnt really tested it. I gotta put some numbers together for ggdt. I would think a dust collector because its faster. I havnt tried shooting golfballs yet with this either.
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jackssmirkingrevenge
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Pretty efficient valve system you got there, looking forward to some proper damage pics/videos :)
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
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mattyzip77
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I recently "obtained" a jvc everio full hd 60 gb camcorder. I dont know if its a good one but I will be taking some videos soon. It has a one touch upload to youtube button on it so I assume it cannot be too difficult to finger out..... :lol:
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jackssmirkingrevenge
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mattyzip77 wrote:I assume it cannot be too difficult to finger out..... :lol:
Just got it and already you're thinking of molesting it :D
hectmarr wrote:You have to make many weapons, because this field is long and short life
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MrCrowley
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mattyzip77 wrote:Idk yet I havnt really tested it. I gotta put some numbers together for ggdt. I would think a dust collector because its faster. I havnt tried shooting golfballs yet with this either.
Dust collectors are only 1.5" though, right? In that case, the 2" sprinkler valve should kick its ass with tennis balls at the same pressure.

Nicely constructed! I have a cannon quite similar and they're loads of fun. Buy some 12pk boxes of cheap soda and you'll go through several dozen cans before you get bored :D
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dewey-1
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MrCrowley wrote:Dust collectors are only 1.5" though, right? In that case, the 2" sprinkler valve should kick its ass with tennis balls at the same pressure.
Typical sizes are 1, 1-1/2, 2, 2-1/2 and 3 inches.
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8tonsemi
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MrCrowley wrote:
mattyzip77 wrote:Idk yet I havnt really tested it. I gotta put some numbers together for ggdt. I would think a dust collector because its faster. I havnt tried shooting golfballs yet with this either.
Dust collectors are only 1.5" though, right? In that case, the 2" sprinkler valve should kick its ass with tennis balls at the same pressure.

Nicely constructed! I have a cannon quite similar and they're loads of fun. Buy some 12pk boxes of cheap soda and you'll go through several dozen cans before you get bored :D
I dont know dust collector valves can have metal chamber and taken probably to 500psi with the right set up.
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MrCrowley
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8tonsemi wrote:
MrCrowley wrote:
mattyzip77 wrote:Idk yet I havnt really tested it. I gotta put some numbers together for ggdt. I would think a dust collector because its faster. I havnt tried shooting golfballs yet with this either.
Dust collectors are only 1.5" though, right? In that case, the 2" sprinkler valve should kick its ass with tennis balls at the same pressure.
I dont know dust collector valves can have metal chamber and taken probably to 500psi with the right set up.
*facepalm*

Obviously, a plastic valve can't handle 500PSI. So when I say "at the same pressure", I am inferring that you are using a pressure that allows the valve to stay in one piece.

@dewey,
That's true but I think the ones commonly used by 8ton and Matty were only 1.5" IIRC. I'm sure a 2" dust collector would perform better than a 2" sprinkler under the same circumstances.
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mattyzip77
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A 2 inch port barrel sealer should have out performed a 1 1/2 inch dust collector too but it didnt.... I will post results when I get time to test, prolly this weekend. I would love to shoot some soda cans mr.c but they dont fit!! :evil: My supplier only had 2 1/2" inch sdr 21 and I believe Soda cans you need sdr 26. I am hovever going to fill some tennis balls with concrete... :D
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8tonsemi
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mattyzip77 wrote:A 2 inch port barrel sealer should have out performed a 1 1/2 inch dust collector too but it didnt.... I will post results when I get time to test, prolly this weekend. I would love to shoot some soda cans mr.c but they dont fit!! :evil: My supplier only had 2 1/2" inch sdr 21 and I believe Soda cans you need sdr 26. I am hovever going to fill some tennis balls with concrete... :D
The sdr-21 fits full soda cans :lol: I tried the fit the other day, it's snug but if you put like some Vaseline on them they should work nicely.
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mattyzip77
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Im on it!!! Gotta try it asap!!! Cannon is going to kick like a christmas donkey!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
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