Brobdingnagian Bertha (Giant Fiberglass cannon)

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.
Zorrowannabe9
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 61
Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:53 pm

Mon Jan 08, 2007 1:49 am

This cannon is constructed of appox 8 feet of 6" Fiberglass steam pipe, rated to 280 PSI. I got the stuff from my grandfather when I was visiting him over the winter break. The bushing in the bell towards the bottom is a 6" slip to 4" female PVC bushing, purchased fom mcMaster. because the pipe however is fiberglass, it didnt fit perfectly, it is therefore rammed in as far as i coul get it, and bolted into place. The ammo stop is a piece of 1/2" threaded rod. Much more infor about this project available over at spudtech in <a href="http://forums.spudtech.com/topic.asp?TO ... 5381">This Thread</a>.

<b>Combustion Chamber</b> - 39" x 6"
<b>Barrel</b> - 54" x 6"
*approx ratio is .72:1
<b>Ignition</b> - BBQ ignitor producing a single spark towards the rear of the chamber.
<b>Primary Fuel</b> - Metered propane, there is a 53" piece of 3/8" PVC tubing. It takes 15 shots with this meter to fuel the chamber.
<b>Ammunition?</b> So what fits in a 6" diameter pipe? Plant pots. And old Large Yuben coffee cans...[twisted]

<a href="http://img243.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0606nm2.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/4417 ... nm2.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
<i>how the pipe was after the insulation was stripped off

<a href="http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0607ri8.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/3322 ... ri8.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>

<a href="http://img243.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0618av9.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/5344 ... av9.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
post-priming and bushing installment

<a href="http://img201.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0619nt2.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7893 ... nt2.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
ignition on left, fuel injector top-right

<a href="http://img224.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0635eb9.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7113 ... eb9.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
full cannon shot

<a href="http://img167.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0637hv5.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/2203 ... hv5.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
propane meter

<a href="http://img132.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0636ym3.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1287 ... ym3.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
projectile stopper

<a href="http://img132.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0638ty7.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1880 ... ty7.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
flower pot

<a href="http://img411.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0641ew2.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/990/ ... ew2.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
holy coffee can batman!
User avatar
MrCrowley
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 10078
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:42 pm
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Been thanked: 3 times

Mon Jan 08, 2007 1:53 am

Cool! How many propane canisters have you gone through yet?
Zorrowannabe9
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 61
Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:53 pm

Mon Jan 08, 2007 1:55 am

Crowley...thats just creapy...you almsot posted the exact same thing as mark over on spudtech
Neat! How many propane canisters have you gone through yet?
anywho...not one yet, havnt done enough testing.
User avatar
MrCrowley
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 10078
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:42 pm
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Been thanked: 3 times

Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:02 am

:roll: hmm umm yeah creepy....I dont post on spudtech... :roll:










I saw this cannon on SGTC and when i saw it on here that just poped to my head. :lol:
sgehring
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 71
Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:36 pm
Location: Idaho

Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:41 pm

have you tried a cantalope. They make a hell of a mess when :lol: they hit
Zorrowannabe9
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 61
Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:53 pm

Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:43 am

theyre too small, and expensive...6" is larger than it may seem at first.
User avatar
Torch
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 180
Joined: Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:08 pm
Location: Maryland

Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:08 am

Wow, great idea! That would be perfect for winter/cold areas. You could put like 7 rolled up t-shirts in there and launch them into a crowd.


Kudos my friend!
User avatar
akaddis
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 100
Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2006 4:56 pm

Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:11 pm

holy crap THATS HUGE!!! That thing can be used in war!! lol I wouldn't want to mess with THAT!!!
garrettee
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 173
Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2006 12:18 am
Location: Louisville,Ky

Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:36 pm

You say cantaloupes are too small. What about small pumpkins?
" It's ok for a man to commit adultry if his wife is ugly" Howard Stern
User avatar
zeigs spud
Corporal 2
Corporal 2
Posts: 657
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:39 pm

Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:02 pm

hella tight man!
Zorrowannabe9
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 61
Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:53 pm

Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:36 am

pumpkins are expensive too...Though I might have to try one just for the mess..

Thanks for the kudos from ye all 8)
User avatar
medievalman
Specialist 3
Specialist 3
Posts: 319
Joined: Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:52 pm
Location: Central Minnesota
Contact:

Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:08 am

I think you might be one of the first to make a fiberglass cannon. Great Job!
Join the AirAssault Army!

Welcome to Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes, and 10,000,000,000 Mosquitoes.
Zorrowannabe9
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 61
Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:53 pm

Wed Jan 24, 2007 1:11 am

I have intermittent access to that fiberglass pipe for free. My grandfather owns over 2000' of the stuff. All I have to do is go cut it and drive it back though its a 400mi drive).
LGM
Specialist 3
Specialist 3
Posts: 320
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:06 pm

Sat Jan 27, 2007 4:25 pm

Would it be possible to make fiberglass pipe by putting fiberglass coating over PVC pipe?
Zorrowannabe9
Private 4
Private 4
Posts: 61
Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:53 pm

Sat Jan 27, 2007 8:38 pm

I suppose, not sure how strong it would be. Be sure though that it would be a messy and expensive process.
Post Reply