NationStates Jolt Archive


Good tips on potato guns.

Skager
24-04-2004, 23:52
I'm making myself a kick-@$$ potato gun and could use some tips. What I have is a 3.5-4 foot long piece of PVC pipe, 1.5-2 inches around, with a pistol grip cut off of a toy MP-5 and a 1/2 inch touch hole. I would like to know a few things such as:

Is the touch hole big enough?
What can a use to block off the hole on the other side? Preferably something free.
How much propellant/what kind of propellant should I use for something this big?
Skager
25-04-2004, 01:38
:BUMP: I want to get this gun done by Monday and need those tips!
Lunatic Goofballs
25-04-2004, 01:41
What kind of punk potatoes are in your neighborhood that you feel you need adequate protection?!? :shock:
Eynonistan
25-04-2004, 01:45
What kind of punk potatoes are in your neighborhood that you feel you need adequate protection?!? :shock:

Decent mortar style spud guns can pack quite a punch...
Skager
25-04-2004, 01:46
............punk potatos? I don't follow. Do you not know what a potato gun is?

Oh, I guess I should mention, mine is shoulder fired like an RPG.
Majesto
25-04-2004, 01:50
A shoulder fired potato gun? Wow! That's interesting...
Eynonistan
25-04-2004, 01:51
A shoulder fired potato gun? Wow! That's interesting...

Take a look at this fella...

http://internettrash.com/users/beigepage/spud.html
25-04-2004, 01:52
I used to use hairspray as a propellant when I was in gradeschool, but you should have no problem making something a bit more advanced than a potato gun, no?
Majesto
25-04-2004, 02:02
http://internettrash.com/users/beigepage/spud.html
What in God's name is that thing? That's crazy!

LOL, I only made one cheap spud gun in my life. I was out in rural Pennsylvania with my cousin, I thought it was the coolest thing I ever saw, some small metal pipe, an elbow, a potato, some hairspray and BANG! :P You see, I live in NYC, so that's not something I get to do too often.
The North Krindel
25-04-2004, 03:42
WD-40 works well.
Talkos
25-04-2004, 03:48
Is the touch hole big enough?
What can a use to block off the hole on the other side? Preferably something free.
How much propellant/what kind of propellant should I use for something this big?

Why don't ya just use a grill lighter, and form the hole to the size of the steel lighter.

Hairspray...lots of hairspray. lol
25-04-2004, 04:16
I have access to air at 2400 psi...


Hmmmm
25-04-2004, 04:48
Well when we had our yearly contest with the engineers we used methyl alcohol and a gasket sealed fuel loading port. Then we used epoxy to further seal all the joints. A standard bbq ignitor works well when placed on the side (not the back as it causes too much leakage of fuel and fuel leakage seems to be one of the biggest problems to overcome).
Hope that helps. :wink:
Skager
25-04-2004, 16:49
Eynonistan-My god, that thing is a tank!!
Talkos- Hmmm, interesting. Now I've just got to steal a BBQ lighter.

Anyhoo, to everyone else, thanks very much. Feel free to keep posting however if there is anything else interesting.