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Tornadowbow help


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#1 Kilomona

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Posted 19 May 2016 - 05:04 PM

Hello everyone. As some of you know, I thrifted a Koosh Vortex Tornado a while back, and now I want to turn it into a Tornadobow. This thread is intended to request help and ask a few questions about doing this because 1: I have no money to spend, and 2: I have no power tools. So, lets ask some questions. Maniacal coyote, maybe you can use this thread too.
1: Plunger tube? I currently have the tube part of a squirt gun (the long tube kind, begs to be made into a plunger tube) taped into my tornado. I dod this because I didn't have anything else to use, and it fit right. I can cut the plunger head off of the other piece, it has a perfect seal.
2. Catch? I have access to most hand tools outside of a rasp and rat tail file, and yes aeromech, I saw your youtube video. That probably will work, but I need polycarb or pvc sheets, which I would have to buy online unless I can find it at ace.
3. Spring? Ace spring could work, other than that I don't have many options. Maybe buying cheap ones online?
Please help. I also have as raw materials: Tapes of various kinds, 1/2 inch pvc and cpvc, a local ace hardware, milk jugs(?) wood, metal bar, junk in general.
Sidenote: the ring launcher is completely functional outside of the shell. It just looks HIGHLY phallic.image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpg
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#2 blitz

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Posted 19 May 2016 - 05:56 PM

Ditch the watergun tube. They tend to bend with movement of the seal and the plastic is super thin and soft. Your best bet would be to do something like Buffdaddy did, but with 1.25" pvc. Look around for seal parts. 

 

http://nerfhaven.com...2-tornadowsnap/


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#3 Kilomona

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Posted 19 May 2016 - 07:26 PM

Ditch the watergun tube. They tend to bend with movement of the seal and the plastic is super thin and soft. Your best bet would be to do something like Buffdaddy did, but with 1.25" pvc. Look around for seal parts. 
 
http://nerfhaven.com...2-tornadowsnap/


I can replace the water gun with pvc, but the washers and the polycarb plunger tube will be hard. And by hard, I mean I can't because I don't have any money. I also am very opposed to cutting the ring launcher apart...
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#4 Maniacal Coyote

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Posted 19 May 2016 - 08:32 PM

I'm working on templates in AutoCAD. Once I've gotten everything to work, I'll upload my write-up. Maybe here first, maybe to Nothin' Foam first, but I'll have the templates available here once I've got all my ducks in a row.


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#5 Spud Spudoni

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Posted 20 May 2016 - 12:19 AM

There's a whole writeup for it here: http://nerfhaven.com...the-tornadobow/


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#6 Kilomona

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Posted 20 May 2016 - 05:49 AM

There's a whole writeup for it here: http://nerfhaven.com...the-tornadobow/

Yeah, I read that and the alternative one. The materials are the problem.
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#7 The2ndBluesBro

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Posted 20 May 2016 - 07:36 AM

Dont do it until you have the money for the right materials. Especially since the priming handle has to be aluminum or maybe polycarb to withstand the force. You won't find polycarb at ACE but call plastics shops in your area they usually have scrap pieces you can buy that are more than large enough for nerf applications.
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#8 Kilomona

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Posted 20 May 2016 - 07:50 AM

Dont do it until you have the money for the right materials. Especially since the priming handle has to be aluminum or maybe polycarb to withstand the force. You won't find polycarb at ACE but call plastics shops in your area they usually have scrap pieces you can buy that are more than large enough for nerf applications.

For the priming handle, can it just be reinforced with epoxy putty or other material? I don't have tools to machine stuff for a homemade one. Also, I think i will just use pvc for the plunger tube, wood (really solid, i think its oak) for the plunger rod, and any spring I can find at ace or home depot. Also, no plastic shops around me unless home depot has that kind of thing.
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#9 The2ndBluesBro

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Posted 20 May 2016 - 08:54 AM

For the priming handle, can it just be reinforced with epoxy putty or other material? I don't have tools to machine stuff for a homemade one. Also, I think i will just use pvc for the plunger tube, wood (really solid, i think its oak) for the plunger rod, and any spring I can find at ace or home depot. Also, no plastic shops around me unless home depot has that kind of thing.


No, it cannot. It is a poorly designed part that takes stress similar to the big blast trigger. To be honest I've heard of polycarb ones breaking. The wood rod might work but I dunno. I'd stick with Delrin. Nylon would work too but slotting that is really annoying. Home depot does not carry polycarb or any other good machinable sheet plastic. They gave plexiglas (acrylic) but it isn't suitable for this application. Point I'm making is this is a nice gun you don't want to ruin by modding it before you get the right materials. PVC is fine for the PT. You might want to look into the tornadobowSNAP by buffdaddy. Cheaper materials cost and far better than your current plan IMO (it will last way longer and give you good snapbow performance).

Edited by The2ndBluesBro, 20 May 2016 - 08:57 AM.

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#10 Meaker VI

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Posted 20 May 2016 - 11:20 AM

The wood rod might work but I dunno.


I feel like I've used wood as a plunger rod before. Oak especially should be plenty strong.
 

I'd stick with Delrin. Nylon would work too but slotting that is really annoying. Home depot does not carry polycarb or any other good machinable sheet plastic. They gave plexiglas (acrylic) but it isn't suitable for this application. Point I'm making is this is a nice gun you don't want to ruin by modding it before you get the right materials. PVC is fine for the PT. You might want to look into the tornadobowSNAP by buffdaddy. Cheaper materials cost and far better than your current plan IMO (it will last way longer and give you good snapbow performance).

A SNAPoid is definitely the way to go if you're only going to HD and are trying to keep cost down.


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#11 The2ndBluesBro

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Posted 20 May 2016 - 11:37 AM

I feel like I've used wood as a plunger rod before. Oak especially should be plenty strong.


The problem is the slot you need. I predict it would weaken the wood too much.
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#12 Carbon

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Posted 20 May 2016 - 11:38 AM

I feel like I've used wood as a plunger rod before. Oak especially should be plenty strong.
 

A SNAPoid is definitely the way to go if you're only going to HD and are trying to keep cost down.

 

Early SNAPs used wood for the plunger rods. They're fine, just use your head as far as how big of holes get drilled in them so they aren't unduly weakened.


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#13 blitz

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Posted 20 May 2016 - 01:30 PM

I can replace the water gun with pvc, but the washers and the polycarb plunger tube will be hard. And by hard, I mean I can't because I don't have any money. I also am very opposed to cutting the ring launcher apart...

 

Build a Snapbow, then put it in the shell. Dremel to fit. If need be, search around online for seal parts (there are also more than a few sellers on this site). You don't have to do a thing to the ring firing assembly.

 

 I totally understand your money problem, but if you can't afford to make a snap you shouldn't be attempting to make any kind of homemade yet. Also, avoid slotted wood. Just don't. Have a standard set pullback handle on a wood plunger rod if need be. 


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#14 Maniacal Coyote

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Posted 20 May 2016 - 04:22 PM

Wait for me to finish. I should have an initial version posted soon. I just have to find somebody tools in my family's garage. Btw, ACE Hardware is useful; I got some of my stuff from there.
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#15 cheerios

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Posted 23 May 2016 - 01:27 PM

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I can replace the water gun with pvc, but the washers and the polycarb plunger tube will be hard. And by hard, I mean I can't because I don't have any money. I also am very opposed to cutting the ring launcher apart...

 

Check out drain extension tubes at your local hardware store that has plumbing materials.There might be some that are close to the same dimensions as the polycarbonate tube Ice Nine used. The plastic ones are generally pretty cheap.

 

http://www.homedepot...790BG/205153709


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#16 Kilomona

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Posted 23 May 2016 - 04:25 PM

 
Check out drain extension tubes at your local hardware store that has plumbing materials.There might be some that are close to the same dimensions as the polycarbonate tube Ice Nine used. The plastic ones are generally pretty cheap.
 
http://www.homedepot...790BG/205153709



I'll definitely check those out. In the meantime, I have a barrel from a vulcan I want to test out. Its thin, strong, the right length, and fits in snugly. Only problem is the ridges on the inside of the barrel, which hopefully will be filled with grease and act as a self-lubricating feature. I plan to use a bath plug or something as a plunger head, and I have yet to find a suitable spring and plunger rod material.
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#17 Justin Andrews

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Posted 31 May 2016 - 04:46 AM

 

Early SNAPs used wood for the plunger rods. They're fine, just use your head as far as how big of holes get drilled in them so they aren't unduly weakened.

Indeed, I can also recommend wood. My early prototypes used wooden plunger rods, and they were just 1/2 inch pine rods with a 1/8" wood screw used to attach the plunger head to the rod. (or something like that, sorry everything is metric here in the UK these days, so I'm having to convert to Imperial on the fly. ;) )

Anyway... something like nylon will always be more durable (and easier to machine), but if budget or availability is an issue, then wooden doweling / rods will work, and work well enough.


Edited by Justin Andrews, 31 May 2016 - 04:47 AM.

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