174 replies to this topic

[rork]

17'? I would be willing to speculate that his thing will make you a god in the eyes of your peers. You could just expand it up with a stub of 1/2", a 1/2"x1 1/2" bushing, and a 1 1/2" coupler. ~Rork

[Foam Shooter]

Just to let you know Rork I am in the process of building one right now. I have the main parts done (plunger, body trigger). I have been shooting around and I am surprised to say the least. The gun is very easy to prime and is very comfortable even without a handle, grip, or stock. The darts shot out of it shoot at least 45'(across my basement) with much more velocity to spare. I haven't even drilled holes to prevent the vacuum effect in it and it is very powerful. I'll have pictures up tonight. Very magnificent, I commend you Rork.
Just to add to the person wanting to use a #62 spring, these don't fit around CPVC.

[BustaNinja]

Just to let you know Rork I am in the process of building one right now. I have the main parts done (plunger, body trigger). I have been shooting around and I am surprised to say the least. The gun is very easy to prime and is very comfortable even without a handle, grip, or stock. The darts shot out of it shoot at least 45'(across my basement) with much more velocity to spare. I haven't even drilled holes to prevent the vacuum effect in it and it is very powerful. I'll have pictures up tonight. Very magnificent, I commend you Rork.
Just to add to the person wanting to use a #62 spring, these don't fit around CPVC.

You should be using aluminum rod anyway. It is much stronger and less prone to breaking. CPVC can shatter.

[sam]

But, CPVC is lighter and easier to use. I would think it would bend before it breaks also.

[zadjii]

Yeah, i just bought most of the materials, looks like fun seeing how I'll have all of the machining equipment to work with. however, the entire assembly has to fit on a 11 3/4" square board and we have to get the ball in a similar square 17' away, I'm just using a slightly smaller spring. Pics should be up in a weeks or so.
then of course comes the 3d modeling and such, so I will certainly have my hands full.

[rork]

@Bustaninja: Actually, I haven't had any problems with the cpvc plunger rod. I'm sure aluminum would be fine, but the cpvc has a TON of flex to it, so I don't have to worry about kinking, etc. I may get around to trying aluminum one of these days, but as long as you make sure to construct the plunger properly, cpvc is fine. Mostly, I went with it for the sake of simplicity; it's easy to find, and you can use a T fitting directly on it for the charging handle. Whatever works. ~Rork

[AssassinNF]

Just to let you know Rork I am in the process of building one right now. I have the main parts done (plunger, body trigger). I have been shooting around and I am surprised to say the least. The gun is very easy to prime and is very comfortable even without a handle, grip, or stock. The darts shot out of it shoot at least 45'(across my basement) with much more velocity to spare. I haven't even drilled holes to prevent the vacuum effect in it and it is very powerful. I'll have pictures up tonight. Very magnificent, I commend you Rork.
Just to add to the person wanting to use a #62 spring, these don't fit around CPVC.

You should be using aluminum rod anyway. It is much stronger and less prone to breaking. CPVC can shatter.

Cpvc that's been under your house for 5-10 years can shatter. New Cpvc used for nerf applications does not, unless you enjoy violently and rapidly beating your gun against a tree. (even then it would just bend, warp, and eventually tear)

[rork]

If you abuse it enough, cpvc will shatter, no matter how new. The thing is, "enough" is in fact a hell of a lot, which is why it makes a good exposed plunger rod. If I was running the plunger rod inside the stock like the SNAP 1.5, I would be using aluminum. However, I've had a friend who wasn't familiar with the mechanism bend the plunger rod about 2 1/2-3" off center while priming, with no ill affects. ~Rork

[BustaNinja]

If you abuse it enough, cpvc will shatter, no matter how new. The thing is, "enough" is in fact a hell of a lot, which is why it makes a good exposed plunger rod. If I was running the plunger rod inside the stock like the SNAP 1.5, I would be using aluminum. However, I've had a friend who wasn't familiar with the mechanism bend the plunger rod about 2 1/2-3" off center while priming, with no ill affects. ~Rork

And i suppose with using the AR15 buffer spring, having a more fit plunger rod is a good idea.

However, aluminum comes in larger sizes.... I was thinking about looking into it as a barrel material.

[rork]

I believe you may be looking for this: McMaster part #89965K49. I'm fairly sure that this is what Slug recommends.

[Draconis]

I believe you may be looking for this: McMaster part #89965K49. I'm fairly sure that this is what Slug recommends.

Though he has now switched to polyester tubing. It's a little thicker than PETG or brass. More like thinwall PVC.

[rork]

I meant for aluminum barrels. It's pretty low-friction (from what I've heard), so it wouldn't be the best choice for powerful springers. As soon as I get back from vacation, I'm ordering some of the ultra-tight McMaster petg for SNAPbow barrels.

[Draconis]

I meant for aluminum barrels. It's pretty low-friction (from what I've heard), so it wouldn't be the best choice for powerful springers. As soon as I get back from vacation, I'm ordering some of the ultra-tight McMaster petg for SNAPbow barrels.

Right, sorry.

[zadjii]

Well, the SNAPBallista is not as cool as i thought it would be. Ping pong balls aren't airtight with PVC so i have to use the impact alone to propel the ping pong ball.
Due to the fact that i really don't have time/means (parents don't like internet buying) to buy the god spring the range is really bad. REaLLY bad. only about 10'. so i am gonna need more springs.
dam.
More soon...

Edited by zadjii, 08 October 2008 - 09:35 PM.

[rork]

A minor update: I've vastly simplified the vent system; now it's just a 5/8" hole in the top of the pressure chamber. Works great.

[Foam Shooter]

Right now it's pretty much a SNAP but by tonight I hope to have a CrossSnap and have a breech made by tomorrow. Right now I don't have the right spring in it, it's coming today, and I have no vents drilled in it. Also I have a coupler going to a 1 1/4"x1/2" reducing bushing in it. I hope to change that to a 1"x1/2" bushing tonight. The ranges are impressive at about 90 ft. with a weak spring. I'll post pictures when I finish it. Thanks for the writeup Rork.

Edited by Foam_Shooter, 10 October 2008 - 02:07 PM.

[nerfboi]

Looks REALLY REALLY clean Foam_Shooter. Good Job.

[BustaNinja]

Right now it's pretty much a SNAP but by tonight I hope to have a CrossSnap and have a breech made by tomorrow. Right now I don't have the right spring in it, it's coming today, and I have no vents drilled in it. Also I have a coupler going to a 1 1/4"x1/2" reducing bushing in it. I hope to change that to a 1"x1/2" bushing tonight. The ranges are impressive at about 90 ft. with a weak spring. I'll post pictures when I finish it. Thanks for the writeup Rork.

Wait. You are using my templates and designs to make one before me? For shame. im kidding, I hope it turns out well. it looks really good right now, so it should.

[rork]

That's a nice SNAP. Be advised, though: the teflon tape/e-tape/bushing setup requires a significantly longer pressure chamber than the coupler/bushing version: 12 1/2" versus 10 3/4". Good luck.

[Foam Shooter]

NerfBoi:Thanks, it means a lot getting a compliment. It's like Nerfhaven's version of a salary.

BustaNinja:I meant SnapBow Rev.3. For some reason I thought Rork called it a CrossSnap.

Rork: Thanks for the heads up but it already is 12 1/2". I just threw the coupler and bushing on to make sure it could fire a stefan. I'm about to add the 1" bushing and the stock. Expect pictures within the hour.

[needak]

Quick question rork, you said in the other snapbow thread that "streamlines are fine" i'm using streamlines on a pvc barrel and it's not firing at all. is it that i need a different barrel or dart, or is it the seal on the plunger? the possible problem with the plunger is that it has a small slit in the 1 1/2 inch rubber washer. Thanks in advance

-needak

[rork]

Please don't tell me you're using a sched. 40 barrel. 1/2" Cpvc, not pvc, makes an acceptable stefan/streamline barrel, unless you're talking megas, which are quite retro. In fact, if that's the problem something should have told you--and by "something," I mean the quarter inch of fucking empty space around the dart. Next time, THINK and do your own research. The slit in the washer would not hurt your ability to launch a projectile; a SNAP can achieve around 40' with no washer at all.

Edited by rork, 10 October 2008 - 07:59 PM.

[Foam Shooter]

Finished it. I am really happy with how comfortable it is. It took much longer than I thought it would due to my handle falling of. I had the handle on with Fishin' Glue. Now I have it screwed in. Just a quick question Rork, is the spring your using 11". Right now I have two 4" springs in it. I have a third and would like to know how long I should cut it to. Thanks.

[rork]

Wow. That is the nice. To answer your question: The plusbow spring is advertised as being 11", but actually tapes at about 10". Just cut your spare to whatever length will make sure that it is SNUG (that is, compressed 1/2" or so) against the endcap when the rubber washer is against the front bushing. I recommend just using a plusbow spring, as it will make your life easy and your gun powerful. It's really gratifying seeing my design being replicated. And yes, it is comfy. As for the handle issue: I have tried method after method, and anchoring the damn thing with multiple screws is the one that works.

Edited by rork, 10 October 2008 - 09:14 PM.

[Foam Shooter]

Right now I am fine tuning the springs. I'm cutting one coil off at a time and it seems like one more will do. As for the handle, I started by hot gluing it. I meant to screw it in but forgot to. After some test firing the handle broke off. Next I used Fishin' Glue. That worked for a while but also eventually broke off. With all the hot glue it gave me a base to screw my screws into. I put two #6-32 x 1" screws it. I can prime the gun while holding the handle and it is very firm. I will post back when I get the spring finished.