Making a hammer (valve).

[warhead052]

Does anyone have any tips for making a hammer? I am going to try the "2d" version, nails on a board with various types of hammers, and see which works the best, but I would like to know if there are any other ways to do it.

[Gippeto]

It can swing...or it can slide. After that it gets complicated.

What are nails in a board going to prove?....I KNOW ...a bigger spring and heavier striker hits HARDER.

Okay, I've had my fun. ....Use the striker (hammer) layout that works best for your design idea. One can be made to work just as good as the other.

The USFT field target rifle uses a "swinging" hammer similar in concept (but not design) to that of a revolver. Hell of a rifle...at the top of it's class in competition.

Most other air rifles I'm aware of use an inline striker. The range of striker designs though...amazing . Designs are focusing on efficiency...opening the valve ONLY once. Harder to accomplish than many realize.

[warhead052]

Ok, thanks for some info. And your bit of fun made me laugh a bit.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Whatever you do, make it "tunable" in a manner that you can adjust spring tension and hammer weight.

[Brian the brain]

If you want more than one shot, the hammer should be " relaxed" when it's not cocked, meaning it does not push on the valve by itself.

Not just because you would have to build up pressure with the hammer cocked wich would be a safety concern
Also...

It should be the momentum of the hammer that keeps it going when you release it that knocks the valve open.
This is why both hammer weight and the spring tension matter.

If you use a rotating hammer, my favorite, then you also need to think about center of mass.

Think of hammering in a nail with the handle of a hammer...
That doesn't work because the heavy end is on the wrong side.

You'll notice that despite the fact that you can rotate the hammer much faster ( in this case with your wrist) the same hammer doesn't have the same impact just because you hold it differently.

[Gippeto]

Kinetic energy opens the valve...momentum affects dwell time.

More efficient designs utilize a lighter striker and same or stronger spring. Lighter and faster results in the same power from the valve.

Lighter strikers are more easily reversed by the valve spring...thus close faster....wasting less air.

Not really a factor in a design intended to "dump", but important if you want more shots....or improved consistency.

Having the striker "unpowered" at impact with the valve stem would be helpful in controlling hammer bounce. Someone uses that, just cannot remember who at the moment. Might be Ripley?? (Beautiful rifles to shoot btw. 8) Got to play with an AR5s and an AA S410 last weekend. )