Compression?
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2026 12:48 pm
Hi All!
I'm making a basic spud gun for an upcoming distance competition that is restricted to hairspray as fuel.
Obviously combustion in engines is achieved with compression in addition to the air and combustible fuel.
So the question I have is, would it help the bang if I put the potato in the tip of the muzzle, fueled the combustion chamber, and then pushed the potato down the barrel compressing the charge to at least a small degree?
Thanks for your thoughts!
I'm making a basic spud gun for an upcoming distance competition that is restricted to hairspray as fuel.
Obviously combustion in engines is achieved with compression in addition to the air and combustible fuel.
So the question I have is, would it help the bang if I put the potato in the tip of the muzzle, fueled the combustion chamber, and then pushed the potato down the barrel compressing the charge to at least a small degree?
Thanks for your thoughts!