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My spark is unreliable.

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:20 pm
by Kdmann64
I have a standard gas grill igniter. First shot or two are always good, then the spark gets very weak. I'm using starter fluid as fuel. What should I do

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:37 pm
by SpudBlaster15
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 11:02 pm
by Proxywars
What is the area inside your chamber and how much fluid are you putting in?

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 1:17 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
Have you tried wiping off the electrodes? Are you venting the chamber properly after every shot?

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:44 pm
by mattyzip77
Try using different electrodes, for example a few decent size screws rather than just the wire!! Good luck. Also, maybe try using different fuel. Aqua net hair spray seems to be the most popular!!!

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 5:03 pm
by evanmcorleytv
mattyzip77 wrote:Try using different electrodes, for example a few decent size screws rather than just the wire!! Good luck. Also, maybe try using different fuel. Aqua net hair spray seems to be the most popular!!!
NO. do NOT use aqua net. That stuff is horrid. Use starting fluid, or cheap spray cologne. NEVER use hairspray. I will cripple your cannon forever.

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:32 pm
by Kdmann64
Spark gap is about 1/4 inch. Using super tech starter fluids. Chamber is 4 inch PVC about 16-18 inches long. I am spraying the least about I can possibly spray. I am doing nothing in between shots. What should I be doing

Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 1:25 pm
by bmaher6
Best thing to use is a bbq ignitor but when it comes to fuel, i swear by lighter gas, the sort of stuff thats used for refilling pressurized lighters, when held upside down and sprayed a nice dense propane/butane mix comes out, only use less than a second's worth though, and dont seal it up straight away! Good thing about lighter spray is that its all designed to burn as opposed to aquanet and it burns clean with no residue at all! Happy spudding team! From ben, british spud cannoner!

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 4:36 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
bmaher6 wrote:Best thing to use is a bbq ignitor but when it comes to fuel, i swear by lighter gas, the sort of stuff thats used for refilling pressurized lighters, when held upside down and sprayed a nice dense propane/butane mix comes out, only use less than a second's worth though, and dont seal it up straight away!
You can go a step further and use a syringeto eliminate the guesswork ;)

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 1:28 pm
by jsefcik
bmaher6 wrote:Best thing to use is a bbq ignitor but when it comes to fuel, i swear by lighter gas, the sort of stuff thats used for refilling pressurized lighters, when held upside down and sprayed a nice dense propane/butane mix comes out, only use less than a second's worth though, and dont seal it up straight away! Good thing about lighter spray is that its all designed to burn as opposed to aquanet and it burns clean with no residue at all! Happy spudding team! From ben, british spud cannoner!

i disagree. bbq i think suck, i have a twist flint sparker from walmart(3.75)works everytime, and i use carb cleaner, and a chamber fan!!

chamber fans do wonders!!! i suggest adding one in

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:47 pm
by jimmy101
jsefcik wrote:[
i disagree. bbq i think suck, i have a twist flint sparker from walmart(3.75)works everytime, and i use carb cleaner, and a chamber fan!!

chamber fans do wonders!!! i suggest adding one in
Been using the same BBQ piezo for about 10 years. Started with a flint lantern igniter and only used it a couple times because they are impractical for anything but a tiny gun.

Done correctly a piezo will last forever and is a lot easier to build into a pistol grip than is a flint based system.

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:53 pm
by jsefcik
jimmy101 wrote:
jsefcik wrote:[
i disagree. bbq i think suck, i have a twist flint sparker from walmart(3.75)works everytime, and i use carb cleaner, and a chamber fan!!

chamber fans do wonders!!! i suggest adding one in
Been using the same BBQ piezo for about 10 years. Started with a flint lantern igniter and only used it a couple times because they are impractical for anything but a tiny gun.

Done correctly a piezo will last forever and is a lot easier to build into a pistol grip than is a flint based system.
you can always have both =)all the bbq ignitors i had lasted only a little while

but it could have just been me, even try multiple spark gap!!

Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 9:47 am
by 8tonsemi
You should try an electric grill sparker they are more reliable.

Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 4:13 pm
by jsefcik
8tonsemi wrote:You should try an electric grill sparker they are more reliable.
then a stungun? i think not!!

read up this

http://www.advancedspuds.com/bbq.htm

look at this website, this guy is putting out 4 spark gaps which is alot better then a piece of $hit bbq ignitor

Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 12:43 pm
by jimmy101
jsefcik wrote:
8tonsemi wrote:You should try an electric grill sparker they are more reliable.
then a stungun? i think not!!

read up this

http://www.advancedspuds.com/bbq.htm

look at this website, this guy is putting out 4 spark gaps which is alot better then a piece of $hit bbq ignitor
Advanced spuds doesn't know his donkey from a hole in the ground. Flint are just about the most impractical of all ignition systems. Yes they throw lots of hot sparks but it takes 100% of one hand to operate, which leaves only one hand to control the gun and the recoil. That's fine for a small gun but impractical and unsafe, in a typical sized gun.

BBQ piezos (or hacked piezo lighters) cost about $2-$10. For a couple bucks more, say $15, you can get a stungun. For about the same price you can get an electronic BBQ igniter. All of these are more practical than a flint based system.