7 replies to this topic

[DJ Mashbot]

This project was largely inspired by this old thread on rotary breeches. I tried to make one out of a ball valve, and found that it's just too much of a pain because: 1) your stefan size is limited to the length that rotates inside the valve, and 2) getting it to seal nicely with a barrel is more trouble than it's worth. So, in order to alleviate both those issues, I decided to create a type of hinging breech out of a ball valve.

Materials:
1" slip ball valve
Barrel (I used CPVC)

Tools:
Drill
Dremel
Plumber's Goop
Oral Syringe
Electrical Tape

First off, take your ball valve and rotate the opening roughly 45 degrees. The opening aligns with the handle, so line up your drill with that and drill a 3/8" hole.


This should be large enough to wiggle a dremel in there to open it up just a bit more. If you really wanted, you could just drill a 1/2" hole to start, I could not so I used a dremel to get me there. Make sure to keep the hole centered vertically and at least large enough for your darts to fit through.

Now, either drill through the center of the valve or flip the breech over to repeat this process on the opposite side. This time, make sure the hole is large enough for your barrel to fit through.


Next, use your dremel to grind out a channel down this side. It does not need to be perfectly straight, but it must be wider than your barrel, as it will need to swing through to function.


Wrap electrical tape around your barrel to fit the inside of the ball valve. Leave a small gap (maybe 1/4") between the tape and the end of your barrel, as this is where your adhesive will go. Place the barrel and tape inside the ball valve, so that the end nearest the tape is not sticking out of the ball. This is a good time to test and make sure everything can rotate and the holes line up with the barrel, as gluing comes next.


Using the oral syringe, apply Plumber's goop around the end of the barrel inside the valve. It is important that you not use too much, otherwise it can seal the ball to the PVC case.


Let it all cure for a day or two, then you have a functioning hinge breech. The good thing about it is that it is easy to operate, easy to make, and easy to afford. Unfortunately, it does not lend itself well to any sort of clip system, and it is easier to do with a larger size ball valve, which means your blaster's air output needs to be larger than the typical 1/2" to accommodate it.

[imaseoulman]

Very interesting idea. If I ever get bored enough and have the time, I may play around with this. Maybe this should go in the homemades directory, or some sort of directory. Nice job.

[Carbon]

Maybe this should go in the homemades directory, or some sort of directory.

Yup, it should. I've posted it in the breeches section.

I like it. Ball valve always feel like they have so much potential, but nothing ever gets done with them. Can you just pull the barrel to the side, as opposed to using the knob on the valve?

[DJ Mashbot]

Can you just pull the barrel to the side, as opposed to using the knob on the valve?

As is, it isn't solid enough to operate via the barrel. The Plumber's Goop is too rubbery, and that little bit of play inside the valve translates to a large amount of wiggle room for the other end of the barrel. In order to make it more stable, I would recommend cutting some tape off and using hot glue or gel epoxy (this would also be good to apply with the oral syringe) on the side opposite the plumber's goop.

[Kid Flash]

I don't really understand how it works... I looked at the other topic and it seems that you will try and make it have a clip?

[CaptainSlug]

I don't really understand how it works... I looked at the other topic and it seems that you will try and make it have a clip?

Now, either drill through the center of the valve or flip the breech over to repeat this process on the opposite side. This time, make sure the hole is large enough for your barrel to fit through.

There's a hole on both sides. You rotate the valve exposing the backside of the barrel so you can load a dart. If the valve were rotated on it's side it would function almost the same as a break breech like you'd find on a double-barrel shotgun.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 17 January 2009 - 11:03 PM.

[Kid Flash]

I don't really understand how it works... I looked at the other topic and it seems that you will try and make it have a clip?

Now, either drill through the center of the valve or flip the breech over to repeat this process on the opposite side. This time, make sure the hole is large enough for your barrel to fit through.

There's a hole on both sides. You rotate the valve exposing the backside of the barrel so you can load a dart. If the valve were rotated on it's side it would function almost the same as a break breech like you'd find on a double-barrel shotgun.

Oh... I understand now... I really didn't even think of a shotgun when I first saw this. This is a good alternative to ramrodding.

[adama]

This will work wonderfully on my mega shooting Big Blast.

Thanks a lot!