The Evolution Of My Combustion Cannons

Boom! The classic potato gun harnesses the combustion of flammable vapor. Show us your combustion spud gun and discuss fuels, ratios, safety, ignition systems, tools, and more.
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Jakal444
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Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:38 pm

Even though I prefer pneumatics, I still dabble with my combustion cannons. I have only made three and they are all just derivations of each other. So here is the evolution of my combustion cannons.

One day I logged onto advancedspuds and came across the mini, I liked the idea, but I wondered why people insist of making them out of little nick nacks one finds around the house with a very shoddy looking end result. So using narrow PVC pipe, that I had been previously using as a barrel for my pneumatic cannons, and some extra fittings I created my first mini, which removes the need for wires by putting the end of the Peizo ignitor directly into the chamber using a tee fitting and a cork. This was very comfortable to hold and fire with relatively good performance.

But after watching a show on TV about The evolution of the rifle, I decided I wanted to make a musket. So I modified my mini combustion to have a remote ignitor, so I could mount the gun on top of a stock and put the trigger next to my hand. The end result was a horrible, unreliable, Shoddy looking piece of work which had nowhere near as much performance as I had hoped. So I left that cannon at that and stopped my combustion making for a while.

I again picked up where I left of when a pneumatic project I was working on came up short. I used the parts from that project to make a marble cannon which is what I am working on right now. It is similar to my second mini in the way that it has remote ignition and I the fact that I plane to shape it into a real steel weapon when I get the parts. Which one though you will have to wait and see.

Well thats it basically, if you have a question about these cannons just ask.
Unless its for complete plans that is, since if you dont know how its done you shouldnt be doing it in the first place.
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This was my first mini combustion cannon. Look how integrated it is. Its a lot of fun to fire and easy to make plus its very reliable, and just look at that black PVC, thats just classy..
This was my first mini combustion cannon. Look how integrated it is. Its a lot of fun to fire and easy to make plus its very reliable, and just look at that black PVC, thats just classy..
Pic_3.jpg (11.3 KiB) Viewed 5348 times
My second and worst combustion cannon. Yes, I know you can see my shadow taking the photo. This thing has horrible performance.
My second and worst combustion cannon. Yes, I know you can see my shadow taking the photo. This thing has horrible performance.
Just a shot of the new ignitor I use to fire my marble cannon. Small isnt it?
Just a shot of the new ignitor I use to fire my marble cannon. Small isnt it?
My marble cannon, the printer should give you a good size comparism. This thing is a beast.
My marble cannon, the printer should give you a good size comparism. This thing is a beast.
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Andrew52
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Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:57 am

nice yes i also prefer newmatic over combustion esiar to use better perfomance no weird smells lol but those are cool nice work
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rl93
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Sun Jun 11, 2006 12:01 pm

what kind of igniter was that
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Jakal444
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Sun Jun 11, 2006 12:16 pm

A black peizo ignitor from a small push-button lighter.
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rl93
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Sun Jun 11, 2006 12:40 pm

ok
djt
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Sun Jun 11, 2006 1:05 pm

does the piezo that small actually work well? sometimes i even have trouble with it igniting minis.
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frogy
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Sun Jun 11, 2006 4:08 pm

If you buy a good Lighter like a Scripto with 2 taps instead of 1 and the brass bottom they work great!


Is that just like a 1/4" nipple with the igniter inside? lol
-FrOgY-

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djt
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Sun Jun 11, 2006 4:35 pm

ooo. thats why they never work too good for me. i always get the cheapest crappiest lighter i can find cause i know im gunna tear it apart.
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Jakal444
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Sat Jun 17, 2006 9:06 am

I contantly replace the ignitor since they are so cheap.

And yes that is a half inch nipple.
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frogy
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Sat Jun 17, 2006 10:08 am

djt get a Scripto... they're like $3... then you take off a little cone thing on the front of the lighter where the Black rod goes into the Red handle thing...

Then unscrew the rear screw and spike the igniter to the ground :D

I have used the igniter from my Purell mini hundreds of times and it still works fine... I soldered on some lowe resistance thick insulated wire and on the other end of the wire I put on some of thoose ring things that screws go through... I forget what there called...

This is what the igniter looks like in a Scripto:
<img src="http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/ech ... gnitor.jpg" alt="">

EDIT!!!: The good igniters only come in the fireplace igniters, not the Scripto cigarette lighters...
-FrOgY-

I wish people would stop needing a better signature!
Benny
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Sat Jun 17, 2006 8:27 pm

what the hell is a fireplace lighter?
Join the spudshot forum!!!!!

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huse_spud
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Sat Jun 17, 2006 9:37 pm

something we'll never be able to get, benny. you know, the fake fireplaces in rich people's houses? do those burn on propane or what? it would be smart to ask frogy if he's used one before.
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Shrimphead
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Sat Jun 17, 2006 9:50 pm

I think they usually burn natural gas.
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huse_spud
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Sat Jun 17, 2006 9:54 pm

yeah, natural. i didn't know there was a difference.
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Jakal444
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Sun Jun 18, 2006 6:17 am

The fake fireplaces arent really fake if you have to ignite them and they burn gases.
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