Quick Question (Fuels)

[NatoHub]

I recently bought some starting fluid for my combustion cannon (basic cannon). It is highly flammable, but for some reason my cannon will not fire with it. I spray it in, put on the cap, and try to light it, but it rarely fires. I figured it would work better than hair spray (hair spray works well, but starting fluid is cleaner). What am I doing wrong? Is there a method?


Quote from can: "Contains diethyl ether and petroleum hydrocarbons."

[MaxuS the 2nd]

Sounds like your fuel:air ratio is way off.
You're either putting too much or too little into the chamber, experiment with it. When you spray it, is it a fine mist?

[NatoHub]

I've tried spraying different amounts in, but somehow it's not working.
It's a pretty fine mist. I'm honestly confused, hair spray works...

[starman]

Sounds like your fuel:air ratio is way off.
You're either putting too much or too little into the chamber, experiment with it. When you spray it, is it a fine mist?

Yes, what max said!....probably using too much....be sure you air out your chamber between attempts.

[NatoHub]

I've tried using just quick sprays, and I have been airing it out. I'll try using a small amount later. I know I'm not using too little, that's for sure.

[NatoHub]

Ok, I just did a quick test.
For some reason, I spray in a small amount, put on the cap, ignite, nothing happens. But then when I take off the cap and try to ignite it, it ignites.
???

[frankrede]

That means you are spraying too much, try a 1/4 second tap of spray

[psycix]

A rule of thumb: When your cannon doesnt fire, and your spark gap works, youve got too much fuel, not too less.

[nibbler125]

i dont know why but it wont light for me nither i guess it just dosent work

[Carlman]

i dont know why but it wont light for me nither i guess it just dosent work

no your both just not doing it right.

other people have used it in he past to great success

i even lighted my mini with primer lol

[TheTrooper]

i even lighted my mini with primer lol

Theres always stories like that where people just finished a combustion cannon, so when they go to dry fire it the newly applied glue, is still giving off flammable fumes, ignites and usually singes their eybrows.

[NatoHub]

no your both just not doing it right.

other people have used it in he past to great success

Yeah...Which is why I'm confused. I've tried everything.
Oh well, hair spray might be worse for the cannon, but at least it works.

[Carlman]

i even lighted my mini with primer lol

Theres always stories like that where people just finished a combustion cannon, so when they go to dry fire it the newly applied glue, is still giving off flammable fumes, ignites and usually singes their eybrows.

yes but i purposly but primer in my chamber lol

[psycix]

Primer, the spudder's emergency fuel

[jimmy101]

Like frankrede said, try the shortest tap you think you can do consistently, 1/4, 1/2, ... seconds.

Blow LOTS of air through the gun between failed attempts, you need to get any "high boilers" to evaporate and exit the gun.

If you can't get it to fire with a very short spurt then move the aerosol can back from the breech of the gun a measured distance, perhaps a foot or more. It may be that the nozzle on the starter fluid can gives a much tighter spary pattern than does a hair spray nozzle. That would make sense since the starter spray is designed to get well directed into an opening that is only an inch or two across, whereas the hairspray nozzle is designed to fan out and cover a persons head.