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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 5:18 am
by psycix
Q tips aren't consistent enough. We all have different brands with different weight, length, toughness and other factors. Also there is some difference between two identical Q tips, they are not designed to be constant. BB's are.
And, there is no true spudgunner that will regret buying a bag of BB's. You will always find some use for it. Be it a for BB launcher, cloud/vortex, or for a simple buckshot from a larger gun.
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 5:27 am
by inonickname
Ok; where do we draw the line between complete scientific accuracy and giving anyone a fair go? I'm not going to spend $30 on a shipment of airsoft bb's to prove my gun works.
Another up for Q-tips; they will fit a multitude of barrel sizes with flaring out, squishing etc.
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 5:33 am
by Technician1002
inonickname wrote:Ok; where do we draw the line between complete scientific accuracy and giving anyone a fair go? I'm not going to spend $30 on a shipment of airsoft bb's to prove my gun works.
Another up for Q-tips; they will fit a multitude of barrel sizes with flaring out, squishing etc.

I don't have any cannons that small..

Is launching the box full OK?
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:18 am
by psycix
Another down for Q-tips:
Q tips just look so wimpy.
Imagine this conversation:
"Hey man whats your hobby?"
"Oh I build pneumatic cannons"
"Sounds awesome, are your cannons powerful?"
"Yeah they launch projectiles very far and very fast, over 200 or even 300 m/s!"
"Wow cool! What do you launch? Marbles, paintballs, lead sinkers, ball bearings....??"
"No, just Q-tips"
"Ehh.. what?"
Just find a good source and buy a box of BB's. Its worth it. By the way, to advance in spudding, you will have to approach some "scientific accuracy".
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:51 am
by inonickname
I have done plenty of scientifically accurate tests in regards to launching projectiles. However, I believe that a Q-tip has plenty of accuracy to compare amateur projectile launching devices for comparison on an internet forum.
"Hey man whats your hobby?"
"Oh I build pneumatic cannons"
"Sounds awesome, are your cannons powerful?"
"Yeah they launch projectiles very far and very fast, over 200 or even 300 m/s!"
"Wow cool! What do you launch? Marbles, paintballs, lead sinkers, ball bearings....??"
"No, just Q-tips"
"Ehh.. what?"
I've had similar responses to my q-tip gun. Hell, some of them even offer to let me shoot them with it. Their mind soon changes when a q-tip splits the can in half.
over 200 or even 300 m/s
In fact, my last simulation exceed 400 meters per second with air alone. It would go up a LOT with hydrogen. (yes, there are factors which are causing that level of velocity).
With 13.4 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. These cotton buds would be illegal in the UK without a firearms licence.
Q tips just look so wimpy.
Ok, so you cower in fear when someone threatens to shoot you with a colorful plastic bead?
If it's one of the contest requirements, I may just purchase some bb's. Hell, I could get more performance given the .1mm increase in o.d. and available in lesser weights (I average a pack of Q-tips at 0.2g).
If I must spend money to prove myself on the internet...Then bring it on

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:11 am
by Technician1002
Reminds me of spectators to some serious marshmallow contesting.

One of the guys I shoot with has gone supersonic with marshmallows. I'll be there soon. 100 PSI is just a little short. I am fast enough to bust open soda cans and dent car doors with marshmallows.

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:21 am
by CpTn_lAw
Well, Q-tips are not really that strong...I just shot one at 150 psi in the piston rifle...well, it is no more

(or at least, it would require a lot of speleological searching in the garage to find all the bits ^^)
I'd go for BB's... 400 psi, 0.2 gram BB!
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:43 am
by Moonbogg
LOL@ launching box full of BBs. Count me in!
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 11:18 am
by Technician1002
Moonbogg wrote:LOL@ launching box full of BBs. Count me in!
If you want to impress spectators, launch a couple rolls of adding machine tape at very high speed.
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 11:47 am
by john bunsenburner
Haha, i just thought of something that should be uniform on most countries...Condoms!!!
Anyway, it sounds like a good idea, but i don't know about the organisation, lots to work on. But looks good. I still don't know if we have a non- pneumatic/combustion/hybrid contest or not...
Anyway keep discussing, this might become intresting!
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:30 pm
by psycix
Haha, i just thought of something that should be uniform on most countries...Condoms!!!
Nehh, in our country the condoms are much larger...

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 1:58 pm
by Ragnarok
john bunsenburner wrote:I still don't know if we have a non- pneumatic/combustion/hybrid contest or not...
Not entirely sure. If they are included, it's going to have to be a different category.
I'd personally like to know that we're not just going to see everyone just go in that direction and reduce the competition to a simple matter of size over actual design.
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 4:14 pm
by psycix
The idea of using a velocity contest for the same projectile cancels out the size factor significantly.
An high pressure and a good valve are more important.
EDIT:
I think we should ban burstdisks for all pneumatics. No innovation to find there.
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 4:47 pm
by Moonbogg
I say screw innovation and go for velocity. We already had a huge innovation contest and we all saw how that turned out.
EDIT: If one wants to build a cannon with a Ø12" chamber and sabbot a BB, so be it.
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 8:42 pm
by Hotwired
psycix wrote:I think we should ban burstdisks for all pneumatics. No innovation to find there.
I disagree.