Posted 14 December 2004 - 12:09 PM
I'm here in similar weather...and right now it's very very cold....about 70 degrees.
All kidding aside, when I first started to modify Nerf blasters about three years ago, I was in the same dilemma. I bought 1/2" FBR, and it was way too loose to fit 1/2" SCH40 PVC.
What I did was to get 1/2 " wide electrical tape, and build up the dart at the front until the diameter was just under the ID of the PVC pipe, allowing for smooth movement without heavy resistance. Once I found the ideal diameter, I unrolled the tape off the dart, and measured it out on our worktable. I then could use that as a benchmark, varying from dart to dart to insure perfect fit. We got incredible range off of our air-powered blasters (SM 1500s, AT 3000s), though performance was nominal with our spring powered ones (SM 350s).
Later, I discovered that what I did was a variation of what Hunter said, a Zero Dart, but instead of using craft foam as the collar, mine was made of e-tape. Using different colors allowed us to identify darts (beside the fact that many of my darts were curved like hot dogs.)
I now have and use 5/8" FBR to make normal Mega Stefans that fit well in 1/2" PVC, but with 1/2" FBR Micro Stefans I'm still using SCH 80 (dark gray) PVC risers (threaded on both ends), and an experimental plastic barrel material for spring powered weapons, until I can get my hands on more brass (only have one tarnished piece, now living in a Nite Finder).
Hope that sheds some light for you. Good luck.
-Piney-
EDIT; I'm just wondering if it IS his FBR that's not good. I had a new glass storefront door installed over the weekend, and the crew left me a spool of some leftover FBR that was 1 INCH in diameter! BUT...it was really soft, and had no rigidity that would lend itself to making a good, large dart. Humm.
-Piney- of White Dog Hobbies Armory
<!--quoteo(post=209846:date=Feb 5 2009, 06:27 PM:name=boom)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(boom @ Feb 5 2009, 06:27 PM)

</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
It's to bad you live in hawaii I bet there are not many wars there.Wait what am I saying<b> you live in hawaii you lucky bastard.</b>
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->