Copper berry gun + pictures

tridactyla · Sat Sep 22, 2007 3:47 pm

Hello,

First off, this is a copy of plasticex009's HVPL-01. I thought his design was a great idea so I made my own. I finished this about a month ago but haven't gotten around to posting it.

I call it the berry gun because my primary ammo is these berries that grow near my house. But don't be deceived by a berry as a projectile. They are able to do quite a bit of damage. The chamber is made of two 24" pieces of 1" copper, and the barrel is 56" of 1/2" copper. It is piloted by a 1/2" ball valve.

Let the pictures and videos begin (they are pretty big).

If you can't play the videos, try VLC media player. They are xvid video with mp3 audio.

The gun itself:

Whole gun:

SpudUke5 · Sat Sep 22, 2007 3:50 pm

Nice cannon! does this cannon use a piston valve?

tridactyla · Sat Sep 22, 2007 3:54 pm

Thanks for the feedback!

Yes it does use a piston valve. The piston is just a bolt with two washers with a short piece of 1/2" pvc and an o-ring in the middle.

Redcoat · Sat Sep 22, 2007 3:56 pm

Awesome. Yes it uses a piston valve. Piloted by a Ball valve. more info on pistons here

Nice gun. I didn't realise a berry could do so much damage. I just thought it would splatter.

Happy SPuddin'

jackssmirkingrevenge · Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:02 am

Nicely done

though berries are limiting its destructive potential

SpudUke5 · Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:15 am

Also what do you use to glue together copper pipes. and i am interested in making one of these copper guns but i just wna to know a little more on how to make that piston valve of yours. Maybe a diagram and a step-by-step instruction. That would be greatly appreciated. Thx. And pictures of the piston too.

Pete Zaria · Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:32 am

LikimysCrotchus5 wrote:Also what do you use to glue together copper pipes. and i am interested in making one of these copper guns but i just wna to know a little more on how to make that piston valve of yours. Maybe a diagram and a step-by-step instruction. That would be greatly appreciated. Thx. And pictures of the piston too.

Copper is soldered (sometimes called sweated) or brazed using a propane/MAPP torch and solder, not glued. They *could* be connected by epoxy or etc... but that won't hold anywhere near as much pressure. Properly soldered copper joints should hold 250+psi.

@tridactyla,
Very nice gun. Not your first, I assume?
Hope you stick around the forums.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

tridactyla · Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:35 am

Thanks jackssmirkingrevenge!

But berries aren't my only ammo. I can also shoot AAA batteries and whatever else I find that fits in the barrel. I just haven't made any videos or taken any pictures.

LikimysCrotchus5,

The copper is not glued to to the fittings but soldered. Search around and you might find some tutorials on how to solder copper pipe to fittings.

Maybe tomorrow I'll take it apart and take some pictures.

jackssmirkingrevenge · Sun Sep 23, 2007 3:19 am

I can also shoot AAA batteries and whatever else I find that fits in the barrel. I just haven't made any videos or taken any pictures.

If you do make videos, they're always welcome here

What's the maximum pressure you've used it at? The construction looks like it could take 200 psi easily, that's a fair bit of pumping but the power benefits will make it worthwhile.

Hotwired · Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:19 am

Pete Zaria wrote:
LikimysCrotchus5 wrote:Also what do you use to glue together copper pipes. and i am interested in making one of these copper guns but i just wna to know a little more on how to make that piston valve of yours. Maybe a diagram and a step-by-step instruction. That would be greatly appreciated. Thx. And pictures of the piston too.
Copper is soldered (sometimes called sweated) or brazed using a propane/MAPP torch and solder, not glued. They *could* be connected by epoxy or etc... but that won't hold anywhere near as much pressure. Properly soldered copper joints should hold 250+psi.

I believe soldered joints hold whatever the pipe does. As for gluing there is a specific type of glue called JustForCopper which holds up to 500psi when used in endfeed fittings with pipe.

dauphinoise potato · Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:59 am

sweet cannon! What range are you getting?

spud yeti · Sun Sep 23, 2007 6:33 am

very nice cannon. It looks like it has some super damage potential. Good work

SpudUke5 · Sun Sep 23, 2007 12:32 pm

My bad i knew that, that was a dumba$$ thing to ask i just forgot.

Copper berry gun + pictures

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