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Element EX-6 Overhaul

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#1 hamoidar

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 03:12 PM

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In this guide, I will be showing you how to overhaul the Element EX-6. Quite underrated, the Element has not enjoyed the booming success of the internally similar Nightfinder. Both guns share the same plunger rod, and the same catch, although the Element is more bulky in comparison with the Nightfinders streamlined shape. I personally favor the Element because of its large dart capacity, and its mod-friendly, spacious shell.

NOTE: This is a post-mod write-up. I have tried to make it a clear as possible.

Materials:
5.5” of 1” PVC
One-half of a ½”PVC coupler
3.3” of ½”PVC
2” of CPVC
Electrical tape
Hot glue/epoxy (hot glue is acceptable in this application because it is not under high stress)
One Element EX-6
Tech-Target plunger rod, or a piece of 3/8” nylon rod.
A cutting board, or a piece of 3/8” thick plastic sheet.
1 3/16” o-ring.
1” long screw. (You can use just about any small screw)
½” nut.
Scraps of 1/8” Plexiglas or polycarbonate.
AS-20 spring and a recon spring. (You can also use a piece of a [k26] spring)

Tools:
Misc. screwdrivers
Dremel tool. (I used a 300 series)
Dremel sanding drum and cutting bit thingy.
PVC cutters or a hack saw.
Hot glue gun.
Superglue.
Drill with a 1/8” drill bit.
Hammer
Dremel circle cutter. (Comes with 300 series)
1/8” metal rod.
You (Emoticon )


All right, time to begin.
Start by unscrewing the gun, and removing the internals.

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You will now need to dremel all of the areas pictured, until your gun matches mine. (Ignore the nut)
Here is what you will need:
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Ready, set, cut!!
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Whew… that was a lot of pictures.

Time to make the plunger tube.
Cut a piece of 1” PVC to 5.5”, de-burr the edges.
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Now, cut a ½” PVC coupler in half.
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Dremel off the couplers casting nub, and wrap it in a few layers of electrical tape, until it fits snugly in the plunger tube. Then superglue it in.
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In the end, it should look like this:
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It is now time to modify the tech target plunger rod. I chose to cut a second catch notch, and to reinforce with hot glue…..ha ha. You do not have to do either of these mods, and can simply leave the rod stock. You can also make your own plunger rod, out of 3/8” nylon rod.
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Time for the hardest part; the plunger head. Using you Dremel circle cutter, cut out a 1 and 1/16” diameter disc. (I am supposing you know how to use the circle cutter)
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You can fine-tune the disc by placing it on the centering spike, and, using gloves, cut off extra plastic and resize.
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Once you have your disc, put a 2” long, 1/8” thread screw all the way through the disc.
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Put this into the chuck of your drill.
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Put your drill in the brace, and set the height.
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I only have a faux drill press, but it works. A real drill press will work too.
Anyway, now take a 1/8” metal rod, turn on the drill to medium speed, and use it to cut a ¼” deep groove along the edge of the disc.
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Nice!!!

Now, it is time to put the plunger assembly together. Stretch the o-ring onto the plunger head, and lube it up. Then, screw the head on to the plunger rod with a 1” long screw. (Do not forget to put the catch and the springs onto the plunger rod BEFORE you screw on the head)
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Almost done! Glue a piece of 1/8” Plexiglas to the spot pictured, and then glue the 1/2” nut on top. (This is to hold the plunger tube in place, while still making it accessible)
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Next glue a scrap of Plexiglas right under the tactical rail.
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This is also here to hold the plunger tube
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#2 hamoidar

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 03:13 PM

Although I do not have a picture of it, I used hot glue to fill the gap between the spring rest and the catch track. You can kind of see it in some of the other pictures.

You can now put the plunger assembly into the gun.
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Don’t forget the trigger!!!

Screw the gun back together, wrap electrical tape around the front end, since there are no screws there. And you’re done. Well….except for the barrel. At the war I attend, homemade darts are banned, so I decided to go with a stock-dart-firing barrel.

With the large air volume of the new plunger tube, you could put a quite long barrel on this gun.
To make the barrel I did: take a 3.3” piece of ½”PVC, and a 2” piece of CPVC. Bevel the edge of the CPVC so that the darts will load smoothly.
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Then ram the CPVC into the pvc.
I ported my barrel, because the high amount of air that was not used, ended up blowing around the dart, and making it spin out.
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If you use a longer barrel you will not have this problem.

And….that’s it. Enjoy your overhauled Element EX-6.

Ranges with stock sonic micros:
100 to 110 feet flat.
With modified sonic micros:
70 to 80 feet flat (With much more accuracy than stock darts)

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Lots of draw! (About 3 and 1/4 inches)

EDIT: I forgot to mention that the custom plunger head gets a 100% seal.

Edited by hamoidar, 23 March 2012 - 03:42 PM.

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#3 The Manta

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 03:28 PM

A 100 ft. shooting Element? WOW! Nice job man, it's incredible how you can squeeze that much range out of a pistol.
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Get chance and luck

#4 hamoidar

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 03:45 PM

A 100 ft. shooting Element? WOW! Nice job man, it's incredible how you can squeeze that much range out of a pistol.

Thanks. With a longer barrel and well made custom darts, you could get even better ranges. I am planning on making a longer barrel soon.
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#5 Pause

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 03:53 PM

Great work! Really like the custom plunger head. :)
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#6 taerKitty

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 05:23 PM

Fantastic job! I'm so jelly of those who can cut their own (perfect) PHs!
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#7 hamoidar

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 05:23 PM

Here are a few pictures of the longer barrel I whipped up.
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It is 6” long and has a piece of CPVC inside the bottom.
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Even though it is twice as long as my original barrel, it still vacuum loads.
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Here is one of the modified sonic micros I used in testing this gun.
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Ranges with longer barrel:
100 to 105 feet flat. (with modified darts)

EDIT: sorry about the too big pics. :)

Edited by hamoidar, 23 March 2012 - 05:24 PM.

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#8 ACE11

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 08:01 PM

Wow, I still can't get over the overall awesomeness that this blaster has. That PH idea is fabulous, I will definitely try it out! Thanks for the contribution, it's worth it!
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#9 hamoidar

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 08:03 PM

Fantastic job! I'm so jelly of those who can cut their own (perfect) PHs!

Making good plunger heads is easy, all you really need is a dremel circle cutter.(http://www.dremel.co...spx?pid=678-01' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Dremel)
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#10 makeitgo

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 10:20 PM

A decent enough mod but I do hold your 100' ranges suspect. With a plunger tube that size, I couldn't see much more than 70', tops. The darts you're using don't look like they can fit inside your barrel.
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#11 taerKitty

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 10:45 PM

He's using PVC and modified stock darts, so they fit just fine. As for hitting 100', I can't do it w/stock darts no matter how I try, so I will gladly yield the title of "a better modder" to him.
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#12 iamthatcat

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 10:55 PM

He's got that cpvc stub in the back of the barrel too. I've never used a setup quite like that. I might try those modified darts for indoors.

Nice mod and a good guide to re-doing the guts of many pistols as well. I see that I need to rig up a circle cutter for my janky dremel. Thanks for showing us your method for making a plunger head. Very nice. I am a bit concerned about safety with the use of a rod to make the o-ring slot. Knowing me there would be blood. I have some good gloves though.
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#13 hamoidar

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Posted 24 March 2012 - 08:13 AM

A decent enough mod but I do hold your 100' ranges suspect. With a plunger tube that size, I couldn't see much more than 70', tops. The darts you're using don't look like they can fit inside your barrel.

I said I only got 100ft ranges with stock sonic micros, at least with the short barrel. The darts I am using are simply stock sonic micros with the top cut off. Last time I checked, stock darts fit into 1/2" PVC.

@iamthatcat: you could bend the rod into a loop were you hold it, eliminating the risk.

Edited by hamoidar, 24 March 2012 - 08:35 AM.

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#14 Nurf Doctor

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Posted 24 March 2012 - 07:15 PM

If 100' is possible with a NF, then it's probable with an Element. Of course, having all your pictures from the 2 posts showing the mod not working makes it hard to see if this is possible.
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#15 hamoidar

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Posted 24 March 2012 - 08:39 PM

If 100' is possible with a NF, then it's probable with an Element. Of course, having all your pictures from the 2 posts showing the mod not working makes it hard to see if this is possible.

Whoops, I will get them back up as soon as possible.

EDIT: are the pictures working now? I can see them, can anyone else? Thanks.

Edited by hamoidar, 25 March 2012 - 09:56 AM.

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#16 ZoMbIe HuNtEr

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Posted 25 March 2012 - 03:36 PM

Dang, seeing this makes me actually want to go out and buy an element. Such a powerful sidearm and worthy of hvz. Is there a way to minimize the element?
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#17 hamoidar

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Posted 25 March 2012 - 04:48 PM

Dang, seeing this makes me actually want to go out and buy an element. Such a powerful sidearm and worthy of hvz. Is there a way to minimize the element?

Yes, you can cut the dart holder off, but then, you would have to cover the gap with something.
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#18 Shoopy

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Posted 25 March 2012 - 05:04 PM

Yes, you can cut the dart holder off, but then, you would have to cover the gap with something.


http://nerfhaven.com...showtopic=18448

Maybe?
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#19 hamoidar

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Posted 25 March 2012 - 05:11 PM

http://nerfhaven.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18448

Maybe?

Yeah, that would work really well. I would do it, but I actually use the dart holder. :)

Edited by hamoidar, 25 March 2012 - 05:12 PM.

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#20 ShaNayNay

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Posted 25 March 2012 - 08:34 PM

Wow, nice job on this mod as well as the writeup! I can't do any of this since I don't have a dremel. Trying to hollow out shells with wire cutters and utility knives is killing me...
Anywho, is there a reason you put PVC over the CPVC barrel, or is it just for looks?
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#21 taerKitty

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Posted 25 March 2012 - 08:48 PM

Speaking from experience with an overhauled TTG, stock foam fired from only CPVC will spin out of control. The PVC guides the dart head further, and the 'porting' helps diffuse the 'muzzle blast' from the barrel after the dart head leaves the 'muzzle' of the PVC.
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#22 hamoidar

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Posted 26 March 2012 - 01:06 PM

Speaking from experience with an overhauled TTG, stock foam fired from only CPVC will spin out of control. The PVC guides the dart head further, and the 'porting' helps diffuse the 'muzzle blast' from the barrel after the dart head leaves the 'muzzle' of the PVC.

Exactly. Another reason is that by using the PVC coupler I greatly widened the range of attachments I can put on the gun. Since not much can fit in CPVC.
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#23 Blue

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Posted 26 March 2012 - 11:12 PM

I have an element with a [k26] spring (I had to put in plastic on the spring rest because it would bend so much that it would mess with the catch) draw extension, and near perfect seal. With a 6" CPVC barrel and ball bearing dome darts it busts through cardboard like a splat; I'd guess it shoots at least 90' flat. I have no doubt that this plunger tube replaced one hits 100' with stefans. I tried to do something like this but gave up awhile ago nerfhaven.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18651

This kind of mod is exactly the same no matter what pistol you do it to, if a DT3 pistol breaks 100' and no one questions that a different shell won't make a difference.
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