Pneumatics: Without Expensive Tools
Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 12:40 am
Hey, guys. I got my propane hammer valve working properly today!! It's the first airgun I've managed to get to the point of real functionality and I'm pretty excited. A little of the success is due to hard-headed unwillingness to give up, but most of it goes to all the guys on here who posted their own designs and guns.
Which got me thinking: most of the guns on Spudfiles fall into two categories. 1 - the 'ghetto' style, working with whatever is available. 2 - the machine shop guns, that look like they've come from a factory.
Now, these categories both have their advantages. Working with limited resources and tools tends to foster highly creative solutions, while access to materials and equipment allows for finer and more precise parts. Personally, I prefer lathed and machined airguns, mostly because I'm less interested in tinkering and experimenting than I am in functioning airsoft guns. But since I don't have metal-working machinery, I usually end up with the 'ghetto' version. Recently, though, I've gotten a little better at using the tools I have.
So, here's the deal; this thread is for 'how-to' posts on using tools in unconventional ways to get results that you would normally need expensive tools. Feel free to chip in, preferably with lots of photos. The idea is to combine the work-with-what-you-have hobbyist approach with some of the accuracy and appearance of machined parts.
P.S. I'll try to get one up, but I won't be able to do anything until Saturday, so you guys feel free to start it off. Doing a single 'how-to' per post should keep it easy to find different methods.
Which got me thinking: most of the guns on Spudfiles fall into two categories. 1 - the 'ghetto' style, working with whatever is available. 2 - the machine shop guns, that look like they've come from a factory.
Now, these categories both have their advantages. Working with limited resources and tools tends to foster highly creative solutions, while access to materials and equipment allows for finer and more precise parts. Personally, I prefer lathed and machined airguns, mostly because I'm less interested in tinkering and experimenting than I am in functioning airsoft guns. But since I don't have metal-working machinery, I usually end up with the 'ghetto' version. Recently, though, I've gotten a little better at using the tools I have.
So, here's the deal; this thread is for 'how-to' posts on using tools in unconventional ways to get results that you would normally need expensive tools. Feel free to chip in, preferably with lots of photos. The idea is to combine the work-with-what-you-have hobbyist approach with some of the accuracy and appearance of machined parts.
P.S. I'll try to get one up, but I won't be able to do anything until Saturday, so you guys feel free to start it off. Doing a single 'how-to' per post should keep it easy to find different methods.
