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Fork in the road here...

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 3:58 am
by Blitz
I've been deciding for a long time, on and off, what to do with this.

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It's 6" x 60" -- I found it among some spare pipe somewhere I once worked last year, with epic plans in mind. Meanwhile, I got married and a new job last summer and pretty much forgot about it.

I once had a pneumatic I made with a 6" x 42" chamber and a piston valve I made from a 3" endcap. It was kind of ghetto, but it worked reasonably well with a 2" x 20' barrel. But I discovered chronic leakage around the chamber endcap and coupling (due to my own mistake)... I scrapped it in fear of my safety (After all, 6" PVC sch40 is only rated to 180psi).

So, I've been leaning towards a combustion. I have a pretty much limitless supply of propane gas, making that part cheap. I've also wanted to experiment with a new breech design I've been batting around inside my head recently, which would be unsuitable with a pneumatic (unless I made a chamber-sealing piston valve).

I also have a few 10' lengths of 4" and 3" pipe here, I will likely use 3" for whichever I go for.

So whatcha think, go ahead with the combustion or make a pneumatic again? This will definitely be the largest cannon I've made to date (and the first I've felt was worth posting about since I started posting here again!)

All those fittings are dry-fitted right now. 6" endcap and coupler, 6" socket-weld to 4" female threaded bushing, 4" threaded on one side nipple, and 4" tee.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:06 am
by XxtriviumxX
Well sinse you have a limitless supply of propane gas, and a new breech design i think go for the combustion and try something new :) ...

Dont forget to show us some carnage when its done :D

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:14 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
Here's a good piece of equipment to have if you plan on forkin' a road :D

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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:29 am
by XxtriviumxX
No picture... :(

Edit: Oh wait its working now :D

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:32 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
A pneumatic would be more challenging to make, but in my opinion the power benefits and versatility over a combustion would be worth the effort if you made a good enough valve. With larger pneumatics, you can get good power without needing to resort to higher pressures too.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:18 am
by Jared Haehnel
I agree with Jack, combustions are great but get old after a few launches unless of course your launching grape fruit...

...pneumatics have a lot more versatility...

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:53 am
by MaxuS the 2nd
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I think that a giant Coax. would be awesome, but as you said..You would like a breech loading system. So yeah, combustion is the way to go.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:09 am
by scottcrete
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i didnt know what kind of fork in the road you meant man?

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:13 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
I bet Blitz is really regretting using that expression in the title now :roll: :D

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:16 am
by scottcrete
can you pour water down the barrel of a pneumatic.. then launch an entire barrel full of water?

if so.. let me see....

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:19 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
scottcrete wrote:can you pour water down the barrel of a pneumatic.. then launch an entire barrel full of water?
Definitely, great for clearing wasp nests without damaging your house. Depending on the size of the launcher, mind the recoil though ;)

By the way, it helps if you use a light saboy like a paper cup or similar.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:20 am
by scottcrete
i think this guy got screwed by the fork in the road.. what do you think?

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Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:09 pm
by potatoflinger
I say that you should make a combustion for launching footballs.

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:01 pm
by Maniac
No use another six pipe so you can launch midgets.
not

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:11 pm
by pizlo
Maniac wrote:No use another six pipe so you can launch midgets.
not
Pshhh man be realistic!
8'' baby luncher anyone??