229 replies to this topic

[MavericK96]

To everyone saying you can get working PVC/CPVC from Home Depot, Ace, or Lowes, I have no idea what you guys are talking about. I went to both of my local ones and took some darts with me. NONE of the 1/2" CPVC I've found will fit darts comfortably (they're all way too tight), and the 1/2" PVC is obviously way too big. Do you guys all just buy it on McMaster now? Because without drilling out the CPVC with a 1/2" bit (which is a pain in the ass), none of it is workable as a barrel.

[thedom21]

I buy all my cpvc from a plumbing supply store called Gopher Plumbing because I get a discount since my bro is a plumber and, it is close to my house. But I did buy some from Lowes and Home Depot about a week ago since I was already there and it works fine for me. Do your darts usually fit into cpvc?

[Ryan201821]

To everyone saying you can get working PVC/CPVC from Home Depot, Ace, or Lowes, I have no idea what you guys are talking about. I went to both of my local ones and took some darts with me. NONE of the 1/2" CPVC I've found will fit darts comfortably (they're all way too tight), and the 1/2" PVC is obviously way too big. Do you guys all just buy it on McMaster now? Because without drilling out the CPVC with a 1/2" bit (which is a pain in the ass), none of it is workable as a barrel.

No, I think you have no idea what you're talking about. Mostly everyone here gets their PVC and CPVC from those stores.

Just because other people use CPVC as barrel material, doesn't mean you should. It all depends on your foam, and how it fits. If you have a springer, you're going to want a pretty tight fit. Generally CPVC varies quite a bit (I've seen it range from .470" to .500"), and it's usually towards the smaller end. If you want a barrel material that's actually 1/2" ID, you can get Polyester or Butyrate tubing off McMaster. If that's still too tight, the next step up would probably be 1/2" Schedule 80 PVC, which is .526" ID. You can also get that off McMaster.

1/2" Sch. 40 PVC won't do you really much good unless you're using it for mega darts (5/8"), or taggers. You can also nest CPVC inside PVC if you ream it out with a 5/8" bit.

[MavericK96]

There must be a huge variation because, like I said, I went to each store and took a variety of darts with me, and none of them fit well enough to use. 1/2" Sch. 80 PVC is way too big, and 1/2" CPVC is way too small (i.e. can't even force the dart all the way in)

So far the only success I've had with CPVC is by reaming it out with a 1/2" spade bit. Pain in the ass but at least it sort of works then.

[thedom21]

There must be a huge variation because, like I said, I went to each store and took a variety of darts with me, and none of them fit well enough to use. 1/2" Sch. 80 PVC is way too big, and 1/2" CPVC is way too small (i.e. can't even force the dart all the way in)

So far the only success I've had with CPVC is by reaming it out with a 1/2" spade bit. Pain in the ass but at least it sort of works then.

Yes, plumbing varies.
But foam varies even more, and it's much easier to believe your foam is just fat.

That is exactly what happened to me. My mom bought me some foam and it was 5/8" and wouldn't fit into cpvc and so I went to the store and got new foam. it fit cpvc perfectly.

[MavericK96]

Except among the darts I tried in the store, even stock darts wouldn't fit. My white FBR is a little fat, but it works fine in stock barrels.

I guess the only option is to order from someplace that has better tolerance control, like McMaster.

EDIT: The CPVC I bought from ACE is almost exactly 15/32, a full 1/32 too small to even consider using a dart in.

Edited by MavericK96, 30 October 2010 - 01:46 AM.

[Inferno Falcon]

1/2" CPVC is way too small (i.e. can't even force the dart all the way in)

Sorry if you've already tried this, but when I first tried using cpvc as a barrel material I also thought it was way too tight. I, however, was just trying to push it in, instead of twisting. If you haven't already, try twisting the foam into the cpvc.

Sorry if that doesn't help you.

[MavericK96]

1/2" CPVC is way too small (i.e. can't even force the dart all the way in)

Sorry if you've already tried this, but when I first tried using cpvc as a barrel material I also thought it was way too tight. I, however, was just trying to push it in, instead of twisting. If you haven't already, try twisting the foam into the cpvc.

Sorry if that doesn't help you.

Yeah, that does help, thanks, but that's even only after drilling out the CPVC with a 1/2" spade bit, and even then it won't twist in all the way. It's just really, really too small.

[HasreadCoC]

Something I discovered (It may have been previously discovered, if so, I re-discovered it on my own) that may be helpful to those of you having trouble getting raw foam to fit in stock CPVC (i.e. not drilled out).

One method of straightening FBR is to hang it in about 10ft lengths with a small weight at the bottem for a few weeks. As I found out, you can take raw foam that won't fit in stock CPVC, hang it with a decent ammount of weight, and leave it alone for about 3-4 months and the diameter will just slightly enough decrease to give you a perfect fit in CPVC. Keep in mind that the longer dart you want to make, the smaller you want the diameter to be. For example, I make my dart 1in long, if I try using the same foam to make 2in long darts, the fit is still to tight.

Theoretically, you could use heavier wieghts on the end of the hanging 10ft foam lengths to speed up the whole process, just make sure you don't make the foam TOO thin.

[Jtest]

I have an Ertl rapid fire shotgun on the way, and was hoping the NIC could assist me with choosing proper barrel material. For it to meet the rules of where I will be using it, only the stock spring and stock ammo may be used.

I was able to find an ACE in my area that carried brass; I picked up a section of 17/32 and 9/16 for testing. My initial reaction after observing the dart fit was to go with the 17/32, from what I have read this is the best choice for a spring gun. However I am worried the stock spring will not be enough with the snug fit streamlines have in 17/32. I have been experimenting with the 9/16 and tighting rings, but it still seems too loose.

I plan to make it rear loading, so ease of sliding the streamlines in from the back is also important.
Currently I am considering making telescoping barrels from the 9/16 and 17/32, just long enough to easily load the streamline and have the tip be pushed into 17/32.
I will have to request the Ace order the brass as they do not have enough in stock to support twelve rebarrels, so I any advice that would cut my parts cost down would be most welcome.

[Ozymandias]

For streamlines, use CPVC. Consider this: you need 12ft. of barrel material to make a Doomsayer. Brass is not cheap.

If you have a drill, ream out the back 2.5in. of each barrel.

Popatachi (sp?) made a CPVC Doomsayer. Search for it.

[Abyss Mods]

For streamlines, use CPVC. Consider this: you need 12ft. of barrel material to make a Doomsayer. Brass is not cheap.

If you have a drill, ream out the back 2.5in. of each barrel.

Popatachi (sp?) made a CPVC Doomsayer. Search for it.

CPVC is usually too tight for stock darts to be used effectively. Crayola markers have a much better fit with stock darts.

[durka durka]

For 90% of my projects I use cpvc. It's cheap, light, and widely available.

The fit is tight on stock darts. To get around this, make your barrels shorter than usual, or invest in stefans.
You can't go wrong with cpvc. At worst you're out $3-5.

[Jtest]

For streamlines, use CPVC. Consider this: you need 12ft. of barrel material to make a Doomsayer. Brass is not cheap.

For 90% of my projects I use cpvc. It's cheap, light, and widely available.

The fit is tight on stock darts. To get around this, make your barrels shorter than usual, or invest in stefans.
You can't go wrong with cpvc. At worst you're out $3-5.

The fit is way to tight in cpvc with stock darts and just a stock spring. I may just make one barrel and try it on a gun with similar power.

[Inferno Falcon]

One last suggestion:

Nest cpvc in pvc and them ream it out as if you were constructing a barrel for a hopper. Try to make this as deep as possible.

This should significantly improve ease of loading.

[shardbearer]

Is sch 80 pvc and sch 80 cpvc the same dimensions? Cause every link to buy some is always cpvc and I cant find any in stores.

[spazzy nerf9573]

That's what I'm thinking.....

If you can find a 9/16 drill bit, LET ME KNOW!

But yes, I believe you can.

yes you can but i think acnerfshop said it was like $20

[Guitarzan]

I have a question about barrel/breech sizes. I'm currently just finishing up a 17/32 angel breech for my longshot. This is the first time I've ever entered the world of stefan modded guns, so I figured I would make the breech and BS my way into making darts that fit it. My question is, where can I buy foam that will fit a 17/32 breech? I currently have 1/2" frost king FBR which clearly is low quality, and it seems CLOSE to fitting my breech but not quite snug. Any thoughts??

[Guitarzan]

I have a question about barrel/breech sizes. I'm currently just finishing up a 17/32 angel breech for my longshot. This is the first time I've ever entered the world of stefan modded guns, so I figured I would make the breech and BS my way into making darts that fit it. My question is, where can I buy foam that will fit a 17/32 breech? I currently have 1/2" frost king FBR which clearly is low quality, and it seems CLOSE to fitting my breech but not quite snug. Any thoughts??

I apologize if this is more of an ammo question than a barrel question...

[KatanasPWN]

I apologize if this is more of an ammo question than a barrel question...

Have you actually tried making darts with the foam, or are you just checking if the raw foam fits? If it's the latter, make some darts with it, and see if they fit. Sometimes the foam changes when you put it through the drier, or however you straighten it.

[thesaz123]

Out of curiousity, has anyone used this as a barrel material? The mcmaster part # is 2044T43

[Swiftone1990]

Out of curiousity, has anyone used this as a barrel material? The mcmaster part # is 2044T43

That would be the PETG you see on here

[thesaz123]

That would be the PETG you see on here

So this is PETG? I was informed that it was just clear cpvc, which wouldn't work too well for airguns.

[Daniel Beaver]

So this is PETG? I was informed that it was just clear cpvc, which wouldn't work too well for airguns.

2044T43 tubing is the airgun PETG
9245K25 is the tubing usually referred to as "clear CPVC", even though it's actually PETG. It happens to be nearly the same dimensions as regular 1/2" CPVC, hence the naming convention.

[thesaz123]

2044T43 tubing is the airgun PETG
9245K25 is the tubing usually referred to as "clear CPVC", even though it's actually PETG. It happens to be nearly the same dimensions as regular 1/2" CPVC, hence the naming convention.

Thanks a bunch! That clears things up for me!