12 replies to this topic

[J cobbers]

Now I know most people here use micro stefans with hot glue tips but for those who still use regular microdarts with their rubber tips one of the things that limit performace in PVC barrels is friction between the barrel and the dart tip. So with that in mind while tooling around with my crossbow (trying a longer barrel) I figured I should find some way to reduce the friction too.

What I came up with was baby powder, or in my case Goldbond foot poweder. I use a altoids tin to hold ammo on my cross bow so I just poured a little goldbond into the tin, threw in 4 yellow micro darts with the suction cup cut off and shook it. I then tested the darts against unpowederd darts. While I don't have measurements, I can say the powdered darts fly significantly farther and maintain a more level flight than unpowered darts.

I'd like someone to try it with normal stefans and give me some feedback.

Edit: one cool benifit I forgot to mention is that the powder will also give the barrel a nice gunsmoke effect, which looks neet to be sure.

Edited by J_cobbers, 22 December 2003 - 09:10 PM.

[superadaquabat]

I spray silicone down my barrels to reduce friction. I haven't got any actual evidence that it works, but logically it should. Then again logic often fails in the subject of nerf.

[J cobbers]

I spray silicone down my barrels to reduce friction. I haven't got any actual evidence that it works, but logically it should. Then again logic often fails in the subject of nerf.

Have you tried spraying the silicone on the darts as well?

[xedice]

I hate using grease cuz it gets everywhere, especially on the handles of my guns somehow. Then every time i use the gun, it feels slippery. But the powder idea sounds cool, might have to try that. I've used flour before, not as a lubricant, just for the big poof effect, it looks really nice.

[Ice Nine]

Before I use my guns, I ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS spray WD40 into my barells and onto a couple of my darts. It does seem to increase range, for me at least.

[Ares]

zzi know someone who, through Eastman, was able to get me a sample of one ingredient in thins coating to use for barrels. This chemical is slicker than tefflon. THAT's what you call slick.

[Black Blade]

I've really never used lube before (on my guns).

[Jappo]

zzi know someone who, through Eastman, was able to get me a sample of one ingredient in thins coating to use for barrels. This chemical is slicker than tefflon. THAT's what you call slick.

Slicker than teflon? How is that possible? (Lol) And how would it ever stick to anything? Man if you had a sheet of that and put it on your feet you would just keep going downhill.... even uphill.

[Blaster]

Cobbers you were saying something about the micro dart creating friction because of the rubber tip. Why not remove the tip of the micro dart and replace it with a fishing weight in the center and some hot glue like a stefan. Since i keep hearing so much about how stefans fly farther than normal darts this should probably increase the darts range and you wouldn't have to use any kind of lubricant. Also since you're using a normal nerf dart it might not have that bend that all stefans seem to have. Just a thought, and the only real problem i can think of is that it might make the micro dart to top heavy but some experimentation with the idea until you find the right weight and amount of glue and such should fix that problem. i think i might try something like that but before i do is there anyone who has already done this and would like to give me some feedback?

[J cobbers]

Blaster,

I use Schedual 40 pvc on my barrels, due mostly to it's wide availability. Nerf micros fit very well and the drag is not huge, but I am looking at ways to optimise performance thus the gold bond powder. I also make my home mades by reusing the tips off of dead nerf darts. 1/2 foam backer rod is just a little too skinny for schedual 40 PCV without a tip on it. The reason I don't use fishing weights is that my primary use of my guns is in a Live Action Role Playing Game (LARP) which has rules about safty. Thus guns that I mod and ammo I use must still be safe enough to shoot someone point blank without fear of hurting them too much.
There are some exceptions, I use my crossbow and sm5k only for nerf wars.
One final reason I use normal darts is that they always fly straight, and are safe on my friends.

I suppose I could make weighted micro stefans for my guns and layer electrical tape on them to fit in the barrels for exclusive use for nerf wars but it takes much more time and I'm lazy.

[Blaster]

i see. the lubricants a pretty good idea i was just making a mild suggestion. sorry i thought you were talking about modding for a nerf war. just out of curiosity were can i find some of this gold bond stuff? i've seen other goldbond stuff but were would you find the powder?

[J cobbers]

try any pharmacy, like walgreens. It'd be the foot care section. Baby powder would work just as well.

[Zero Talent]

Sounds a lot nicer than what I've always used; WD-40. Not to say the WD-40 gets gummy or anything, but baby powder would certainly smell nicer.

Yeah, large range increase on tipped Nerf microdart ranges with some kind of barrel lubricant; Ranges I have yet to surpass with homemade darts of any kind.