18 replies to this topic

[AlbinoCow]

Okay...I'm planning to go and make a couple homemade nerf guns and start a small Nerfing group. I also need to make a couple sets of stefan darts for these guns.

The homemade I'm planning to start on is a variation of the Ball Valve gun on this site, instead of having a breech (too hard to make right now), I'll put in a 1" PVC to 1/2" PVC converter right after the ball valve (because I don't want to make the whole thing out of 1/2" PVC as I would like a larger air tank (out of 1" PVC).

Now, I was wondering. do any you have any tips on how to make such a gun (I plan on making about 2-4 of them)

Also, what size foam backer rod would fit in a regular modded gun (after this, I plan on getting one or two NFs and an Uruk-Hai Xbow to mod.) and what size would fit in the 1/2" PVC I plan on using?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[One Man Clan]

Follow the basic ball valve homemade on this site. The only tips I can offer are:

-Dry fit everything before you glue it together, because gluing is a permantent process.
-See if you can adapt a brass or copper valve over to PVC. They open faster than crappy ball valves.
-Go with a design that works for you


As far as darts and FBR are concerned, 5/8" FBR will fit snuggly in 1/2" PVC snuggly and should be all you need. Welcome to NH, good to see more ambitious people popping up all the time.

Also, where are you from?

Edited by One Man Clan, 14 May 2005 - 12:08 PM.

[AlbinoCow]

I am from Minnesota

Thanks a lot.

{Edit}- Ah yes, would 1/2" FBR still work in a 1/2" PVC? What is the size of a regular Nerf micro compared to the Stefans? (And final question): Which of these works for 9/16" Brass: 5/8" or 1/2" FBR

Edited by AlbinoCow, 14 May 2005 - 05:40 PM.

[Whiplord]

I am from Minnesota

Thanks a lot.

{Edit}- Ah yes, would 1/2" FBR still work in a 1/2" PVC? What is the size of a regular Nerf micro compared to the Stefans? (And final question): Which of these works for 9/16" Brass: 5/8" or 1/2" FBR

1/2" FBR will not work in 1/2" PVC due to the fact that the ID of the PVC is really 5/8"
For the brass, the 1/2 FBR is what you would use.

[Team Slaya]

For the brass, the 1/2 FBR is what you would use.

I must admit, i've heard that a lot, but my Tech Target doesn't fire them (micros) very well, and i'm guessing it's from the small amount of space between the dart and the brass. Any ideas to why it is doing this/remedies?

Edited by Team_Slaya, 14 May 2005 - 10:03 PM.

[userjjb]

Yes, I too have experienced a similar problem. My micro stefans fit too loosely in my nested 17/32 and 9/16 NF barrel. For some odd reason stock micros with the rubber suction tip cut off (so they fit in the barrel) fly nearly twice as far.

[cxwq]

It's just the size of your particular FBR causing the problem. The whole point of nested brass is the snug section - since brass is available in 1/32" increments just adjust to fit your FBR.

[LordoftheRing434]

Huh, I've used 1/2" FBR in 1/2" PVC and it works out fine.

By the way, glad to see another Minnesotan here!

~Rings

[cxwq]

Huh, I've used 1/2" FBR in 1/2" PVC and it works out fine.

By the way, glad to see another Minnesotan here!

~Rings

1/2" SCH40 PVC is generally pretty close to 5/8" ID. You might be using SCH80, the grey stuff, or CPVC, the beige stuff. Both of those are quite a bit closer to 1/2" ID.

No PVC is a great fit for FBR that is actually 1/2" diameter which is the reason crayola, brass, and PETG are so popular.

[LordoftheRing434]

CX, you hit the nail on the head. I was using the Sch80 PVC. It's some sun-resistant stuff that's grey. I do use crayolas placed inside of my PVC barrels too.

[Bishop]

While youre on the subject of micro stefans fitting into brass. Is the size really 9/16 or is it 7/16? 9/16 dosent seem to make much sense.

[flamebo388]

It's 9/16 for alot of people but if your darts are smaller then 7/16 might work. I'm assuming you asked that because 9/16 is bigger than 1/2. It's the variation in foam size, most of that isn't what they label it as either.

[cxwq]

Brass is sold by OD and K&S has 1/64" wall thickness. Therefore, 9/16" brass is actually 17/32" ID and 17/32" brass is actually 1/2" ID. The 1/2" ID tends to hold pretty tightly to 1/2" FBR due to friction and inconsistencies in the FBR while the 17/32" ID allows the 1/2" FBR to slide freely.

So, to recap, if your FBR is really really close to 1/2" diameter - say, +/- 1/64" - I would use 17/32" K&S for a snug fit and 9/16" K&S for a smooth sliding fit.

[Bishop]

So for a spring gun I want the tight fit from 9/16~17/32 brass? Plus on their site they say that the ID of 7/16 is .4 which is a bit less then one half so it is smaller then the .54 of the ID of thr 9/16 meaning the 7/16 ID is smaller therefore a smaller fit.

Edited by Bishop, 22 May 2005 - 07:33 AM.

[cxwq]

.4 is an awful lot less than 1/2" and there's no way you're going to stuff 1/2" FBR into it. Plus you'd need to nest about 4 levels to get out to something that fits properly for a barrel.

[Bishop]

Allright that seems right. Ill go order some of that 9/16. Also if 1/2 pvc dosent have an ID or OD of 1/2 where do they get the 1/2 from. Also will 5/8 PETG fit micro stefans or will it be too big, I know 5/8 is mega size but 5/8 is the OD and the wall should make the ID closer to 1/2.

[cxwq]

[Bishop]

Yeah, that would help if it worked for me, but it dosent. Everytime I use search I get an error message. Instead of flaming me you could have answerd my simple question.

[cxwq]

When people constantly ask questions that have been discussed numerous times in the past it makes them seem unappreciative of the wealth of information at their fingertips. When I signed up on NO I read every single non-off-topic post on the forum before I posted my first question.