SpudFiles

Now be for this forum turns in to a "why did you use bondo you idiot." I would just like to say that bondo was the best thing i could get for the money. I did call several local places for other materials but it was either too expensive or not available. so....

before i build my block, from the plans at http://www.burntlatke.com/bb.html

I want to know if i can just immediatly fill the plug with bondo or ,as mentioned on the can, layer the plug with a 1/2" at a time and then wait 30mins each layer. burnt latke doesnt mention layering but i just wanted make sure.

Also when i have the raw block ready to cut how wide should the actual "vortex"(the round chamber) be? as wide as a bb or an inch i dont know im very new at vortex's. noname convinced me to make a vortex over a cloud so im hoping he can help

any thing helps thnx.

Dude on the spudfilewiki, it gives you all the sizes and everything. I'm pretty sure you can find it there if you do the search.

The size of the vortex can vary, with an inline block giving you the most versatality. A regular block requires you to drill the whole hole, therefore the BB has less energy and are fed slower because they have to travel up a small distance more. A "regular" vortex block also makes BBs circle around more than once, which eats up the Bondo soooo fast. A Bondo block will also jam, because there will be little flakes of Bondo in there also. I'm really not sure if you could layer the Bondo, it might make it weaker, and the layers might seperate during construction.
An inline block can be constructed with half the hole and therefore have more power and feed faster. The hole size....hmmm... Well, usually, I just use anywhere between 5/8" and 7/8," the bigger sizes being for airsoft.

Jrrdw, there's almost nothing on vortex strafers in the Wiki, I'll work on it a little (I already did, actually! ).

If you're going to use bondo for your vortex block, I'd suggest that you go ahead and make two or three of them while you have everything together. I've heard a bondo vortex block is only good for 30-50k BBs, which isn't that many in a bbmg with a 2000-bbpm ROF. Thus, having a few replacements would be nice.

I'd consider making one out of a really hard wood (oak, maple, ironwood, etc...) and putting lots of lacquer on it (inside especially). I'd bet that would be harder than bondo, and last longer.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

"I'd consider making one out of a really hard wood (oak, maple, ironwood, etc...) and putting lots of lacquer on it (inside especially). I'd bet that would be harder than bondo, and last longer. "

Which is why people make vortex blocks out of harder materials; PVC, ABS, acrylic, etc.

@noname
Oh, I know that. PVC rod is usually the material of choice. If I was going to make one, I'd machine it out of brass or another soft metal (this could be done with nothing but a drill press, I think). I was suggesting things that I thought subterranean might be able to get his hands on easily. Most people can go to a hardware store and buy a plank of hardwood and a can of lacquer - and that would probably beat bondo. Of course if you can access PVC rod, that's preferred.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

thnx for all the tips but i have one last question.

could i only drill half way through for the type of block im building(burnt latke stlye,im not sure what exactly it is called, inline or whatever) or will this not work? also how wide should the horizontal 3/4" vortex holw be? from the pic at burnt latke it looks like 1/2" ....

Pete Zaria, I was just stating that PVC, ABS, and acrylic are easy to get. You don't need to use the rod, unless your block is the T design, and almost any plastics store has sheet PVC, acrylic, and ABS.

Subterranean, your first question made no sense whatsoever. To answer the second question, the width of the hole doesn't matter a whole lot. I use 1/2," but the size can be anywhere from 3/8" to 7/8" and have it work fine.

noname, earlier you said certain types of vortex blocks are only drilled half way in order to increase the energy. My questions is can i only drill half way with the design from the plans im using

I meant the vortex hole is only half a hole. Read this <a href="http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/viewtop ... How-To.</a>
The hole is drilled through, then cut partially.

sorry about that i somewhat understand now but why did u cut it in half? or is this so theres less distance for bbs to travel? and from there do you just supply air from the bottom to power it?

It helps, the feeding, because more BBs can pile in, and the power is a little greater because the BBs don't travel as far. It also makes the block smaller and more compact, which you need if you're gun is 1" PVC (I needed sizes that small, you probably don't).

ok thank you very much for helping me. my next block will be from those plans for sure.

Glad to help, anytime.