13 replies to this topic

[Watari]

Well, I wanted a home-made, after seeing many new write-ups about "SNAPS" and such...I decided that a home-made that uses a plunger mechanism would be too complicated for me. I remembered linish22's "stefanzooka" and decided to make it...
It got less than 40' and blew up 3 times, I PM'd linish and he/she suggested to make the entire gun a home made, so this is what I came up with:

Close up of "trigger mech"

Size comparison to Vulcan:


As you can see, the bottom of the stock is an "elbow" I didn't have any more endcaps so I just filled it with Hotglue and it holds air. It uses a plugged Magstrike pump and I have to pump it about 20 times until it gets hard to pump. After my first range test today it got an average of 70-80', any shorter a barrel and it got 30-50'...which isn't good...

EDIT:
Well...I did hot glue the internal parts before putting them inside the coupler and hot glued the parts externally too, which I then covered in e-tape.

I'm guessing you're talking about that "PVC cement" stuff, well I didn't use normal SCH40, I used some "IPS" pipe (accidentally bought in thinking that it was PVC) the stuff says "350PSI @ 73 degrees F" but it also does say PVC on there...
You can buy PVC adhesive at Lowe's or something right?

Edited by Watari, 09 January 2009 - 11:28 PM.

[Carbon]

Yup, that's a basic nerf pump gun...good job getting it done.

From the sound of it, I'm guessing that you didn't use PVC adhesive in your assembly. You need to do that, from a durability and safety standpoint. Hot glue isn't going to hold. Otherwise, you will have many more explosions.

[Flaming Hilt]

If the only place you used hot glue is the elbow, that should be fine... hot glue in very, very large concentrated amounts (ie inside tubes) can hold pressure well. If hot glue is under that e-tape though, then some problems might be arising very soon. : o,

[rork]

It is PVC, and it needs PVC cement in order to be safe. The relatively low ranges you're getting are probably a result of the stock/tank; a single tank of larger diameter, without all the bends, would be more efficient. More positively, I like your trigger.

[Watari]

Well...3 people said that hotglue alone wasn't good enough, then this is bad. The entire gun is held together with hot glue and e-tape, it has started leaking so I need to fix it!
I just have a few questions:
1.) Will Plumbers Goop help?
2.) Will epoxy work?
3.) Where do you buy Plumbers Goop
4.) Can you buy epoxy at your local hardware store (Home Depot, Ace, Lowes)
5.) Will epoxy PUTTY work?
6.) Where can you buy EPOXY PUTTY?
7.) Out of all the materials used to glue the gun together (Plumbers Goop, epoxy, epoxy putty or PVC adhesive) which one would be best for this job?
8.) If PVC adhesive will do the job, then is there any specific type that I should get?
9.) Last question, WOULD IT BE BEST if I bought all that crap and used it all together?!?!?

Edited by Watari, 06 January 2009 - 08:09 PM.

[A side of nerf]

Answers:
1. That will be good for patching leaks but shouldn't be used as your primary adhesive. Use PVC Cement.
2. Epoxy putty will be good for patching leaks or attaching parts.
3. Plumbers goop can be bought at almost any hardware store...even walmart.
4. I find a wide variety of brands at my local Ace hardware ranging from ACE to JB Weld.
5. Epoxy Putty is good for patching leaks or reinforcing seals, check it's rated pressure.
6. ACE
7. PVC Adhesive, only good if the pieces match up (couplers, joints, threaded, etc...) do not use it for bonding two peices with out a coupling joint of some fashion.
8. I buy ACE Brand.
9. Don't just start gunking crap, only use what you need for the intended purpose.

Words of Advice:
Just stick with it. My first homemade consisted of a bike pump connected to an air-tank fashioned out of a Sweppes bottle. Experi menting and trying new design's led me to build my first Springer and eventually The L+L.

Good Luck!

[Watari]

Woah, answered each of my questions, thanks alot man!
Just another one...Does plumbers goop actually say, "plumbers goop" or does it say something else?
I've seen plumbers "something" but not sure if I should've bought it 'cause it didn't say "goop"

[A side of nerf]

Look for something that says either "Plumber's Goop" or "Amazing Goop".

[Watari]

UPDATED PORTION:
I hate epoxy putty...or maybe i'm just retarded.
Anyways, THANK YOU for all your help and suggestions (mainly to "a side of nerf"). I have a new, revised homemade which is V2.0 as my "V1" is now ripped apart.
I used PVC CEMENT and EPOXY PUTTY and a PVC ball valve, instead of a CPVC one. One of the biggest changes that I made is that I also used a PVC check valve. I did this because I have had a check valve blow out on me and send the other end of the pump flying out. Since that part of the pump is near my eye/face...we don't want that happening. Now for some pictures:

Didn't have vulcan next to me so I couldn't get it...

Double the check valves (ones in the NERF pump and the other is that big PVC thing):

Double the seal (putty & PVC cement)


PVC ball valve and PVC to CPVC barrel:


I [currently] don't have any ranges or any of that...my V1 got ~70' but this actually has less volume, yet I CAN turn the valve faster (eliminating the need for a "trigger") and I also can probably pump it to a higher PSI because of the double check valve/PVC cement/Epoxy Putty.

P.S. I hate epoxy putty 'cause it's like clay (well no DUH) but that clay that sticks to your hands, then when you [are stupid enough to] let it dry, it is really hard to get off...lesson learned.

Edited by Watari, 09 January 2009 - 11:30 PM.

[veginator]

Good job but you don't need both putty and cement. The reason why is that pvc cement isn't a glue because it physically fuses the pipe. Also on your next homemade use purple primer before the pvc cement, you will get a much stronger bond.

Edited by veginator, 10 January 2009 - 09:27 AM.

[A side of nerf]

Awesome, you finished it! I'm sure that PVC one-way valve is working for you, but if you ever experience problems with it, try pumping the air through faster because the seal on that takes a fast amount of air to move up and down efficiently. It should be fine though because of the primary check valve in the pump.

For the epoxy, when your finished and it's on your hands, try using warm water or a strong base (Dish Soap works good) and it should come off if it hasn't cured.

[Watari]

For the epoxy...it should come off if it hasn't cured.

...then when you [are stupid enough to] let it dry, it is really hard to get off...lesson learned.

...or maybe i'm just retarded.

Now if you put 2 and 2 together, you could figure out what happened...
HEHEHE, anyways a significant addition to this post is that it does get a little more range than my other one...probably because i'm able to pump ALOT more, like 40 times instead of 20...
I won't be doing any more additions to this gun, so thanks everyone

[s3an967]

Today I started making one. All I need is and end cap and a ball valve.

[Pineapple]

Basic ball-valve homemades are a fun way to get started on the air-powered home made route.

My son and I made him an RPG-type home made (he's too addicted to COD4-Modern Warfare), using stomp rockets and Max Shot bombs.

Pictures in another thread when the sun comes up here and the paint dries.


-Piney-