Ball valves and long barrels

[Pilgrimman]

I have a 1 1/2" PVC ball valve for my HUGE golfball gun. The barrel is approximately 10-13 feet long. I chose the ball valve because of the massive flow. The only two valves I felt like doing were sprinkler or ball. Was I right to choose ball? I figure that the greater flow would give the air the ability to bunch up behind the golfball, as the barrel is so long. Am I right?

Thanks for the input!

[cwazy1]

umm i still would have used the sprinkler.

[bigbob12345]

Sprinkler probably would do a little better but the long barrel will help with the slow opening time

[Thursto]

Why not pneumaticly open the ball valve, with like a pneumatic ram or something?

[MrCrowley]

Yes you are correct, ball valve would be far better.

You should build a piston valve and get [Van Halen]the best of both worlds.[/Van Halen]

[daberno123]

A 1.5" ball valve would be more powerful than, say, a 1.5" sprinkler for a 10' barrel because the ball valve has way better flow than the sprinkler. True, a sprinkler opens faster but with longer barrels that doesn't matter as much because it takes longer for the projectile to get out the barrel

[frankrede]

A 1.5" ball valve would be more powerful than, say, a 1.5" sprinkler for a 10' barrel because the ball valve has way better flow than the sprinkler. True, a sprinkler opens faster but with longer barrels that doesn't matter as much because it takes longer for the projectile to get out the barrel

One would think.....but ball valves, especially pvc ones open far slower than the projectile moves, I doubt that your valve will be half open before the projectile has already exited the barrel.

[daberno123]

a metal ball valve lubed up with a bunch of WD-40 opens pretty fast. So do pvc one with some WD-40 on them

EDIT: metal ones also just open up faster because their lever design is easier to turn than the pvc ones

[Novacastrian]

a metal ball valve lubed up with a bunch of WD-40 opens pretty fast. So do pvc one with some WD-40 on them

True enough, BUT the projectile moves very very very very very very very very very fast. If the ball takes say even .25 of a second to open the ammo is already gone bye bye. Probably by about .1 of a second to exit.

[clide]

I would suggest getting one of these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Asco-2-way-High-Flo ... 0197691351

That thing would work great for a golf ball gun, and you can't beat that price. Just screw in a blowgun or some other valve to the top port for the trigger and you are ready to go with an extremely fast and high flow valve.

[SpudUke5]

I was thinking about getting that but im waiting on ShowNoMercy's results so that ill se if it actually works.

And if his results are good, im gonna probably get 2

[frankrede]

a metal ball valve lubed up with a bunch of WD-40 opens pretty fast. So do pvc one with some WD-40 on them

EDIT: metal ones also just open up faster because their lever design is easier to turn than the pvc ones

They also open up faster because they are made better and pvc ones are shit.
btw. wd-40 just loves to eat away your seals

[Pilgrimman]

@ Mr.Crowley I saw Van Halen in Portland, OR. They were unbelievable! Here's to hoping they go to NZ sometime!

Thanks for the help, everyone! clide, that valve is awesome, thanks for the link! I think I know what I'm going to do. Lube the valve with WD-40, and tape an old piece of pipe to the handle so I get more leverage when turning. Believe me, I'm happy with it as is, (3/4" of plywood doesn't have a prayer at 60 psi!) but I thought it'd be nice to get some feedback. Thanks guys!