12 replies to this topic

[Darkdragon]

Hello Nerf haven community,

I am new to making homemades, so go easy on me. I'd like to request some help on my SNAP.

Ive reviewed the SNAP write up, and for the life of me, i cant see what i did wrong, But my snap is getting around 20-25 ft with Hot glue dome stefans, and im pretty sure it should get more, no? I'll include pictures below. Here are some things im using, that i think could be the problem but ive messed around with to the point of frustration:

1) My Spring combination is as follows: "Orange Mod Works" Longstrike replacement spring(6-KG,i believe ) + Stock Longstrike Spring ... ... Is this too weak?

2) The SNAP plunger i have uses a 3/8 in. hole, not a 3/16. is this a no-no? My washer, rubber washer and screw are all 3/8, and the seal i have is okay.(i guess. See number 3.)

3)As for my seal, i can plug the end of my SNAP with a 1/2 in. PVC cap, and the plunger will depress completely after about 3 -5 seconds. Is this a Bad seal? my first plunger head(Which was scraped!) would barely even slow down after i plugged the barrel, so i'm guessing this is better.

4) Im horrible with power tools! So, when i drilled my 3/8 hole in the center of my 3/4 plunger endcap, it... wasnt exactly in the center. Perhaps a little bit off. Is this a horible mistake?

I think that's about the extent of my questions so far.

Pictures:









Please, Help me out here.

[MrPzowned]

Based on the information given I would suspect that the actual problem is the darts, or the barrel, or both. How long is your barrel and what are your darts like? I've built a snap carbine using springs of similar strength (then upgraded to a k18 spring) and got 50-60 foot ranges.

[Carbon]

Your springs are a little weak, but not 25 feet weak. It's possible that you're leaking air at your plunger head with a badly drilled hole, but your plunger slows significantly when it's capped, so it would seem like you're getting a good seal...which leaves us with your darts and barrel. What are you using, and do you get good range with that combination elsewhere?

Is it just me, or is your plunger travel only about three inches before the priming handle hits that bump where the slot narrows? That's a really short plunger stroke.

It'd be helpful to show us pics of your plunger. Also, what did you lube the plunger with?

And, for love of all things holy, swap out that priming handle for something less lethal. The SNAP carbine design makes me wince enough as it is, but that's just dangerous.

Edited by Carbon, 22 August 2012 - 09:59 PM.

[snakerbot]

How far off from centered is the hole in your 3/4" endcap? Those don't have a lot of room around them, so if your plunger head is off center, you could have the endcap scraping against the wall of your PT and slowing the plunger down.

[Darkdragon]

Based on the information given I would suspect that the actual problem is the darts, or the barrel, or both. How long is your barrel and what are your darts like? I've built a snap carbine using springs of similar strength (then upgraded to a k18 spring) and got 50-60 foot ranges.

Yeah, my darts arent of the best quality. errrr.. Frost King foam backer, and hot glue dome weight. :3 Pure noob.

Your springs are a little weak, but not 25 feet weak. It's possible that you're leaking air at your plunger head with a badly drilled hole, but your plunger slows significantly when it's capped, so it would seem like you're getting a good seal...which leaves us with your darts and barrel. What are you using, and do you get good range with that combination elsewhere?

It'd be helpful to show us pics of your plunger. Also, what did you lube the plunger with?

And, for love of all things holy, swap out that priming handle for something less lethal. The SNAP carbine design makes me wince enough as it is, but that's just dangerous.

Oh my! Carbon Himself! Haha. anyway, i can get pics of my plunger, but only tommorow. my camera is currently in use somewhere else in the house at the moment. The barrel system i have is a hopper, 12 inch clip and about 12 inches of copper barreling, i believe the size was something like 15/32 or something. i cant remember because my brother bought it for something else, and i got a scraped piece and cut 12 inches off. My 1/2 inch domes seem not to have a tight fit in them, but i thought this was good, since its easier for them to move from the hopper clip to the barrel that way? or am i mistaken?

As for using them somewhere else, i did produce a HAMP a while back(THANKS KANE!!) and with the same hopper system, i get at least (Estamating here...) 40 - 50 feet with my domes.

And yeah, i just realized that the nail was not the greatest idea. I got that thought after i fired with my hand too close to it, and got a nasty pinch. I will attach either a cushion, or remove the nail completely a bit later.

[Carbon]

The barrel system i have is a hopper, 12 inch clip and about 12 inches of copper barreling, i believe the size was something like 15/32 or something. i cant remember because my brother bought it for something else, and i got a scraped piece and cut 12 inches off. My 1/2 inch domes seem not to have a tight fit in them, but i thought this was good, since its easier for them to move from the hopper clip to the barrel that way? or am i mistaken?

That's a huge part of your problem right there: you have relatively weak springs, a rather tiny air output (due to the short plunger travel), and a loose barrel fit...all trying to push darts out of a hopper. You want a snug dart fit for a springer, to allow pressure to build behind the dart. Also, by my experience, even a SNAP-1 has problems with hoppers, and I'm pretty certain a #62 is stronger than your spring combination, not to mention the longer plunger stroke.

At any rate, try an RSCB with a CPVC barrel (probably more like 8", if that) and see if that improves matters.

Edited by Carbon, 22 August 2012 - 10:23 PM.

[bhajj94]

I agree with carbon, you can't really hopper a snap carbine. I've built three in my times, one in the past day, and I have not been able to hopper any of them. The draw is too short to have them hoppered. That is, unless you have extra draw. All of mine have about 5 inches, which doesn't seem to be enough. Usually, I like to say that anything with 6-6.5 inches of draw is hopperable, other than that, speed loader it is.

Also, all of my snap carbine's have a k18, which seem to be stronger than the one that you are using, making it even less likely to be hoppered.

Edited by bhajj94, 22 August 2012 - 11:05 PM.

[Shoopy]

I've built three in my times, one in the past day, and I have not been able to hopper any of them.

Baja, your such a huge noob! JK. PA POWER FTW! Haha.

Back on topic. I can supply you with a 11" K18 for a small price. Just send me a PM if your interested. This way you don't have to buy a pack of 5 of them on Mcmatercarr.com

Also, since you said your not good with power tools, I can cut it down to the length you want for free.

Just a few side notes too to help ya out. Get a few Walmart brand clothes pins. They hold up better than wooden ones. I also suggest screwing your trigger and handle to the body with #6 screws. Screws are a lot more reliable and cleaner than Epoxy Putty.

Edited by Shoopy, 23 August 2012 - 07:52 AM.

[Meaker VI]

It'd be helpful to show us pics of your plunger. Also, what did you lube the plunger with?

OP, I did not see an answer to the bolded and very important question. Lube is important and not to be ignored - a large toothpaste-tube-shaped tube of the stuff (I used white lithium, some use silicon(e?) grease) at lowes was ~$4.

It does sound like your springs are weak, especially if you're using a hopper and a 12" barrel. I've discovered I aesthetically prefer an RSCB setup though, since it lays flat on top of the plunger body and keeps the whole thing more compact.

And, for love of all things holy, swap out that priming handle for something less lethal. The SNAP carbine design makes me wince enough as it is, but that's just dangerous.

Pfft... I've got a prototype with ~5 or 6 of those things sticking all the way through the plunger tube and out the side; it makes the blaster ideal for pistol-whipping! [/sarcasm][no, really, once I get a non-prototype up and running I'll be disassembling that thing, it's scary]

[Carbon]

Get a few Walmart brand clothes pins. They hold up better than wooden ones.

Which means they "never, never break", as opposed to just "never break". It's like double-secret probation.

(Seriously, it a preference thing, as a breaking clothespin is the sign of other problems, not inherent in the pin itself. If wood is working for you, don't feel like you're missing out on durability.)

[Darkdragon]

Success!!



The RSCB IS PERFECT! I just switched from using domes though. I couldn't find anything that fit my domes snug, so i popped in some taggers into a 1/2 in. Schedule 40 PVC barrel, and this thing hits what looks like about 60-65 feet. Thanks! I am thinking about cutting the taggers to 1 and 1/4 in. Will making them stefan size affect the range positively? How about accuracy?

To answer some other questions, I use silicone grease and i have just changed ammo to Tagger Darts until I can find a snug fit for my domes at my hardware store. As for my draw length, i think i have 4.5 to 5 inches. How much lube should i apply? I used a small amount... not sure if its good to use a lot?

I will Change the nail, to something less deadly, but thats a WIP, lol

And again, Thank you all for your help! Im happy i was able to go from doubting i was any good at this to making a half-century gun! XD

Edited by Darkdragon, 24 August 2012 - 11:04 AM.

[Meaker VI]

Success!!

To answer some other questions, I use silicone grease and i have just changed ammo to Tagger Darts until I can find a snug fit for my domes at my hardware store. As for my draw length, i think i have 4.5 to 5 inches. How much lube should i apply? I used a small amount... not sure if its good to use a lot?

Congrats! I put a ring of grease on the plunger head, but if the plunger is sliding easily and sealing well you're using enough. If you take a dart or two to the store, 1/2" CPVC sometimes fits. Different pipes fit differently, they are horribly inconsistent. If they have different length sections, try them all, I've found that the shorter stuff at my local Lowes has a different fit than the long stuff.

[Darkdragon]

Congrats! I put a ring of grease on the plunger head, but if the plunger is sliding easily and sealing well you're using enough. If you take a dart or two to the store, 1/2" CPVC sometimes fits. Different pipes fit differently, they are horribly inconsistent. If they have different length sections, try them all, I've found that the shorter stuff at my local Lowes has a different fit than the long stuff.

Heheheh!

Okay, ill try a couple then. Thanks for the tip, and i have to say, im staying with this nerf community! i love the help. Now, to build another one of these things....