SpudFiles

I had been tossing around the idea of making one of these for a while. Well, I finally had a few days off from work so I decided to give it a go. I somehow managed to get it right on the first try (which isn't to say that its perfect, but it functions well beyond my expectations).

The barrel is 2" in diameter and 60" long. The pressure chamber is 3" in diameter and 36" long. The main valve is a 1" modded sprinkler valve and there's also a 1" ball valve to assist the help the main valve seat properly. There's a regulator with a female quick connect stud to fill it with.

A friend & I tested it out this afternoon. A couple hours and 25 lbs of potatoes later, I couldn't have been more pleased. Most shots were at 80 psi, but we got it up to 100 a few times. Close range destruction was pretty impressive, but I couldn't guage long range very well (the spuds were way out of sight before they came down). I know there are probably a lot of things wrong with this cannon, so don't be shy. I want to know how to make the next one even better, so your comments and criticisms are welcomed and implored.

very nice and I love the name, from the specs it looks like the performance would be pretty impressive so some close range damage pics/videos would not go amiss.

Shame about the ball-valve restricting the flow at the breech end - ah well, safety first, right?

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:very nice and I love the name, from the specs it looks like the performance would be pretty impressive so some close range damage pics/videos would not go amiss.

Shame about the ball-valve restricting the flow at the breech end - ah well, safety first, right?

The videos do exist, still waiting for them to be emailed to me. Lots of destruction and giggling. The ball valve was a necessary evil as I was having an impossible time getting the sprinkler valve to seat without it. Thanks for the kind words.

If you post them here they'll be appreciated

One small thing, the hose to which the blowgun is connected looks a little long, cutting it down considerably should open the valve quicker.

A LITTLE long!!!!!!
You should really cut it down a bit, unless you have a good reason for being that far from the launcer when pressurised

For your first effort, that is a damn good job.
Also you could replace the blowgun with a ball valve for a faster opening time, but its not really that big of a deal and won't make much of a noticable difference.
Overall, that thing looks damn good. You should make a stand for it.

that is your first
its an awsome gun but is it just me or is the barrel slightly bending up ohwell

sweet gun! this was way betetr than my first... i dont mean to nag but i dont want u to get hurt...that bell reducer is dwv....scrap it and get a bushing that is nsf-pw...but anyway almost everyone uses dwv on their first gun.. then they learn... so its not a big deal and yea shorten up that hose for way better performance.. btw again nice gun!!

experament-u2 wrote: its an awsome gun but is it just me or is the barrel slightly bending up ohwell

Thanks everyone. The barrel is angled up just a smidge. I cross threaded the fitting on the exit end of the ball valve. Its good and air tight and I couldn't justify another trip to Home Depot for a 40 cent part. Crossed threads are better than no threads, I guess...

Insomniac wrote:A LITTLE long!!!!!!
You should really cut it down a bit, unless you have a good reason for being that far from the launcer when pressurised

I should note, the pictures look a bit deceiving. The hose from the sprinkler valve to the blowgun is a little less than two feet long. The coiled hose is completely seperate. It has a regulator on one end and is used to fill it with.

spudthug wrote:...i dont want u to get hurt...that bell reducer is dwv....scrap it and get a bushing that is nsf-pw...

Noted....the selection of readily available PVC doo-dads is a little overwhelming. Not easily correctible on this one, but I'll pay closer attention on the next one.

NIce first gun! The only thing I would suggest would be to move the sprinkler valve up towards the barrel to lessen dead space and then have the barrel and chamber a bit more close together. But other than my pet peeves nicely done!

that is one sweet gun to be your first. you really did your research on this one.

Cornflake that is a really cool gun man, nice job. btw i like that workbench!

http://www.freewebs.com/spuddin

ShowNoMercy wrote:NIce first gun! The only thing I would suggest would be to move the sprinkler valve up towards the barrel to lessen dead space and then have the barrel and chamber a bit more close together. But other than my pet peeves nicely done!

That will certainly be incorporated next time around. Thanks!

veginator wrote:that is one sweet gun to be your first. you really did your research on this one.

Thanks, I hate to think what it would have turned out like if not for this site.

Spuddin wrote:Cornflake that is a really cool gun man, nice job. btw i like that workbench!

Thanks, but I promise its usually cleaner than that.

Great looking gun.

Damn thats an unreal 1st attempt. I take my hat off to you. I shall look forward to see more cannons from you in the future.

All the best mate,

Mitch.