Fork in the road here...

[Blitz]

I've been deciding for a long time, on and off, what to do with this.



It's 6" x 60" -- I found it among some spare pipe somewhere I once worked last year, with epic plans in mind. Meanwhile, I got married and a new job last summer and pretty much forgot about it.

I once had a pneumatic I made with a 6" x 42" chamber and a piston valve I made from a 3" endcap. It was kind of ghetto, but it worked reasonably well with a 2" x 20' barrel. But I discovered chronic leakage around the chamber endcap and coupling (due to my own mistake)... I scrapped it in fear of my safety (After all, 6" PVC sch40 is only rated to 180psi).

So, I've been leaning towards a combustion. I have a pretty much limitless supply of propane gas, making that part cheap. I've also wanted to experiment with a new breech design I've been batting around inside my head recently, which would be unsuitable with a pneumatic (unless I made a chamber-sealing piston valve).

I also have a few 10' lengths of 4" and 3" pipe here, I will likely use 3" for whichever I go for.

So whatcha think, go ahead with the combustion or make a pneumatic again? This will definitely be the largest cannon I've made to date (and the first I've felt was worth posting about since I started posting here again!)

All those fittings are dry-fitted right now. 6" endcap and coupler, 6" socket-weld to 4" female threaded bushing, 4" threaded on one side nipple, and 4" tee.

[XxtriviumxX]

Well sinse you have a limitless supply of propane gas, and a new breech design i think go for the combustion and try something new ...

Dont forget to show us some carnage when its done

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Here's a good piece of equipment to have if you plan on forkin' a road

[XxtriviumxX]

No picture...

Edit: Oh wait its working now

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

A pneumatic would be more challenging to make, but in my opinion the power benefits and versatility over a combustion would be worth the effort if you made a good enough valve. With larger pneumatics, you can get good power without needing to resort to higher pressures too.

[Jared Haehnel]

I agree with Jack, combustions are great but get old after a few launches unless of course your launching grape fruit...

...pneumatics have a lot more versatility...

[MaxuS the 2nd]

I think that a giant Coax. would be awesome, but as you said..You would like a breech loading system. So yeah, combustion is the way to go.

[scottcrete]

i didnt know what kind of fork in the road you meant man?

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I bet Blitz is really regretting using that expression in the title now

[scottcrete]

can you pour water down the barrel of a pneumatic.. then launch an entire barrel full of water?

if so.. let me see....

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

can you pour water down the barrel of a pneumatic.. then launch an entire barrel full of water?

Definitely, great for clearing wasp nests without damaging your house. Depending on the size of the launcher, mind the recoil though

By the way, it helps if you use a light saboy like a paper cup or similar.

[scottcrete]

i think this guy got screwed by the fork in the road.. what do you think?

[potatoflinger]

I say that you should make a combustion for launching footballs.

[Maniac]

No use another six pipe so you can launch midgets.
not

[pizlo]

No use another six pipe so you can launch midgets.
not

Pshhh man be realistic!
8'' baby luncher anyone??