Barrel & Chamber Ratios

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.
silentfox_02
Private
Private
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:55 am

Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:00 am

Hi I have not built a cannon and am going to start I am going for a 10' cannon and want to know whats a better & efficiant ratio :?:

7' Barrel and 3' Chamber

6' Barrel and 4' Chamber


any others?
User avatar
joannaardway
Corporal 5
Corporal 5
Posts: 949
Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:57 pm
Location: SW Hertfordshire, England, UK.

Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:07 pm

It depends on your chamber and barrel diameters, and your fuel.

So: What ID (internal diameter) are you going to use for your chamber/barrel
And: what fuel are you going to use?

Oh yeah - don't ever use hairspray. It gunks up the chamber. Use a different spray instead (but not one that can damage the plastic), or propane.
silentfox_02
Private
Private
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:55 am

Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:35 am

probably 2.5" barrel and 3" chamber I dont know what fuel but what I am asking is what should I use for C:B
User avatar
joannaardway
Corporal 5
Corporal 5
Posts: 949
Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:57 pm
Location: SW Hertfordshire, England, UK.

Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:50 am

If you are using a spray can, then you'll need a chamber about 1.5 times the volume of your barrel.

If you are using metered propane, then having a chamber about .8 times the volume of your barrel is more efficent.

As this is a ratio, the common factor of pi can be expelled from both of the volume equations.
SpudBlaster15
First Sergeant 3
First Sergeant 3
Seychelles
Posts: 2400
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:12 pm
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 10 times

Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:51 pm

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras nec placerat erat. Vivamus dapibus egestas nunc, at eleifend neque. Suspendisse potenti. Sed dictum lacus eu nisl pretium vehicula. Ut faucibus hendrerit nisi. Integer ultricies orci eu ultrices malesuada. Fusce id mauris risus. Suspendisse finibus ligula et nisl rutrum efficitur. Vestibulum posuere erat pellentesque ornare venenatis. Integer commodo fermentum tortor in pharetra. Proin scelerisque consectetur posuere. Vestibulum molestie augue ac nibh feugiat scelerisque. Sed aliquet a nunc in mattis.
Last edited by SpudBlaster15 on Wed Jul 14, 2021 11:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
silentfox_02
Private
Private
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:55 am

Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:32 am

I guess I will go with 7' barrel and 3' chamber with diameters of 2.5" for spuds and tennis balls and 3" for the chamber only question is where do I get the pvc, like what store? will they let you buy if they know it is for a cannon?
reaper613
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 75
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 12:42 am

Thu Nov 02, 2006 12:08 pm

i say do the 4' chamber, worst case you end up extending the barrel after you see how far your projectile goes and realize you can make it go farther. i mean the only thing better than a 10' cannon is an 11' right?
silentfox_02
Private
Private
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:55 am

Fri Nov 03, 2006 2:51 pm

you mean 7' barrel and 4' chamber?


then where can I buy the pipe what kind of hardware store
User avatar
SquishY
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 155
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2006 6:37 pm
Contact:

Fri Nov 03, 2006 2:59 pm

Try Lowes and Home Depot, I have the luxury of a really cheap plumbing supply house near me.
Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward.
Whoever cannot take care of themself without that law is both.
For a wounded man shall say to his assailant,
'If I live, I will kill you. If I die, You are forgiven.'
Such is the rule of honor.
Post Reply