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Couple of pnuematic cannon questions

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 3:46 pm
by crcowboyfan
What is the best way to mount a tire valve on an end cap? Can I just drill a hole and pull it through? Do I need to use any sort of sealant or epoxy?

Also, would steel ball bearings like these make good ammo in a 1/2" barrel since they are an exact size match?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 7588319838

Thanks

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 5:29 pm
by cannon freak
Well you are using a pnumatic so put in the weight and dimensions into the GGDT to see how far you could shoot them, or if you just want to cause destruction with them, and there a good fit than ya they will be a good ammo.

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 5:34 pm
by SpudStuff
1/2 inch pipe is not 1/2 inch inner diameter it is 68/100 inch ID

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 6:02 pm
by drac
No... 1/2 inch pipe has an inner diameter odf .58 if I recall correctly. You're thinking 3/4 inch CPVC, that has an ID of .68, perfect for paintballs may I add.. :D

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 6:36 pm
by crcowboyfan
Ok thanks for the tips on the pipe sizes. Any tips about mounting the tire valve?

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 9:47 pm
by Shrimphead
Is it a pop-in shrader valve, or a screw in?

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 9:51 pm
by carlbelcher
I like to plumb my fittings into my cannon to reduce the leaking and or flying fittings problem. Here is how I mounted my pressure gauge. I did the same with my Schrader (tire) valve.

<a href="" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/53/167592506_35ea7df606.jpg" width="500" height="354" alt="Gauge"></a>

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 10:01 pm
by huse_spud
if youre going to drill a hole in the gun, sometimes its a good idea to drill thru places that have two layers of pvc so more of the threads (from the gauge or whatever) can grip the plastic.

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 10:02 pm
by SpudStuff
that is always a good idea

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 10:09 pm
by carlbelcher
Also if you are going to drill and tap your fitting I would use some epoxy to make sure you don't have any flying fittings. Like huse_spud and SpudStuff said always drill though a fitting and the pipe.

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 10:42 pm
by crcowboyfan
It is a pop in valve, there are no threads.

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 7:25 pm
by frogy
Well, for thoose I recomend putting through the bottom of your end cap, they're not really long enough to go through 2 layers of pipe\fittings...

For your next gun I would try to buy a "Tank valve" off of McMaster.com or somewhere because they have NPT threads and will stay in the pipe good and be safer...


EDIT:
Note... End Cap, not a cleanout cap (cleanouts aren't good for pressure)

If you do want a cap that screws on, put a Male adapter on your pipe, and then buy a threaded Cap.... Or else buy a female for your gun, and then buy a threaded plug...

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 8:22 pm
by crcowboyfan
Thanks for the tips. I actually built a simple pnuematic cannon today. For the tire valve, I just drilled a hole in the cap and pulled it through. I used a rubber/plastic glue to seal it to the cap. The gun itself works very well, it will launch a "AA" battery a good distance.

Image

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Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 8:31 pm
by Pete Zaria
Great low-budget gun.
Ball valves aren't exactly desireable, but you can make it open a bit faster by putting some teflon or silicon lubricant in it, and opening/closing it a few hundred times (litterally). Do it while watching TV.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 6:07 am
by crcowboyfan
Thanks for the tip. I've noticed that most people use sprinkler valves for their pnuematic guns. Could you explain to me how that valve works and how people modify it to make it work better. Does it really work that much better than a ball valve?