7 replies to this topic

[UpperHand]

Hello everyone. I recently completed a homemade airgun, a snap springer, and I have modified a big bad bow. I have in the past made magazines for them, which were gravity fed. I plan to soon try to build a spring fed magazine, and I was wondering if anyone knows what springs I should use, and if I would be better off using shells with the darts or not. Also, I will try to get pictures of the airgun and springer up soon, if you are interested, I just have to find my digital camera.
Thanks in advance,
-Upperhand

[Foam Shooter]

If I recall correctly Boltsniper used a 1/2" coil spring. These are the springs used in drink coolers that you would see at 7/11. When you pull a drink out the force the next one to the front. As for the shells I would suggest it because the springs are usually a little to strong and squish the darts a little bit. Best of Luck.

[Carbon]

Most magazines have had custom springs bent from .025 music wire (or somewhere around that size). Check out ompa's and boltsniper's designs.

As far as shells or not, it depends on what you intend to do. Shells are undeniably cool, and aren't as touchy about how strong of a magazine spring you choose. They also greatly increase complexity of the blaster, and aren't particularly practical for a war.

Edited by Carbon, 02 August 2008 - 11:06 PM.

[Doom]

If I recall correctly Boltsniper used a 1/2" coil spring. These are the springs used in drink coolers that you would see at 7/11. When you pull a drink out the force the next one to the front. As for the shells I would suggest it because the springs are usually a little to strong and squish the darts a little bit. Best of Luck.

"Coil springs" are helical springs. I know what you're talking about though. I didn't know that boltsniper used them, but I looked at the FAR can see that he didn't know what they're called. McMaster-Carr calls them constant force springs and Wikipedia calls them Negator springs (which is a brand name from what I know). I call them constant force springs.

I was considering using the same type of spring in an magazine, and I thought it was an original idea, but I guess it's not now. You can't argue with success though. I'd highly suggest using some of these springs. McMaster-Carr part number 9293K42 is what I plan to use, but I don't know if that's too strong. I might switch to a spring with less force.

Shells don't make much sense to me in Nerf. They can protect the darts from being squished with too strong a spring or destroyed if the cycle is too violent but they're a nuisance to make and work with. They're definitely not practical for a war unless you put a bag over where the shells are ejected to collect them, which isn't very practical either. I wouldn't suggest them if you have the right strength spring.

[Foam Total War]

I believe Starbuck once used stretched air restrictor springs, although the clip may have been top mounted (and therefore aided by gravity and the springs).

EDIT: The clip was for the Titan, if that makes any difference.

Edited by Foam: Total War, 03 August 2008 - 11:34 AM.

[Gyrvalcon]

I've found a pretty good material in the springs that drive crappy little measuring tapes. I originally intended to use it as a constant-force spring, but I found that it works great if you just bend it into a zigzag shape. It's not strong enough to really squish my darts, and it's easy and clean to make.

The measuring tape I used sold at my hardware store for around a dollar, and had a magnet on it to hold it to whatever. It was tiny, too, maybe 1.5" square in profile.

[ejrasmussen]

For my homemade logshot clips i used reactor spring.

[Doom]

I've found a pretty good material in the springs that drive crappy little measuring tapes. I originally intended to use it as a constant-force spring, but I found that it works great if you just bend it into a zigzag shape. It's not strong enough to really squish my darts, and it's easy and clean to make.

The measuring tape I used sold at my hardware store for around a dollar, and had a magnet on it to hold it to whatever. It was tiny, too, maybe 1.5" square in profile.

Nice source of the springs. I would not recommend bending the constant force type springs though... from what I've read it greatly reduces their lifetime. I'd imagine bending them into a zigzap shape would eventually cause the spring to break at one bend point. Though, if they're that cheap, replacement shouldn't be much of an issue.