229 replies to this topic

[wohnson89]

Ok i took the advice i got from cannotaim and went to ace hardware to get 17/32 size brass pipe and guess what they didn't have it. So i thought ok I'll try Lowes or Home Depot. They didn't have it either! So now where do i go? websites? lumber yards? hardware stores? other stores?

Did you ask anyone at Ace whether or not they had brass? They usually have it in a little display near the nuts and screws and stuff like that. You won't find it at Home Depot or Lowes.

As for finding it online, I've seen it for sale on Amazon. It's such a well known website that you might be able to convince what/who ever isn't letting you order stuff online.

Yes i did ask at ace but the lady was stupid and said i quote "i like dont really know?" So im not sure. And do you mean like right around the pvc by the nuts and bolts or in a different area than that?

[cheesypiza001]

Ok i took the advice i got from cannotaim and went to ace hardware to get 17/32 size brass pipe and guess what they didn't have it. So i thought ok I'll try Lowes or Home Depot. They didn't have it either! So now where do i go? websites? lumber yards? hardware stores? other stores?

Check your phone book for a local hobby shop. They should have some brass.

Edited by cheesypiza001, 28 August 2009 - 05:34 PM.

[wohnson89]

thanks for the help everyone im going all around town tomorow looking in all the places you said.

[cheesypiza001]

Just a tip to anyone using 17/32" brass as their main barrel material. If you drill out CPVC with a 1/2" drill bit, it will have the same ID as 17/32" brass.

[venom213]

Just a tip to anyone using 17/32" brass as their main barrel material. If you drill out CPVC with a 1/2" drill bit, it will have the same ID as 17/32" brass.

But when you do that it often becomes uneven on the inside, at least in my experience. They make such a thing as thinwall CPVC too, which is fairly close in ID to 17/32 Brass.

[Keith]

Just a tip to anyone using 17/32" brass as their main barrel material. If you drill out CPVC with a 1/2" drill bit, it will have the same ID as 17/32" brass.

But when you do that it often becomes uneven on the inside, at least in my experience. They make such a thing as thinwall CPVC too, which is fairly close in ID to 17/32 Brass.

I don't think it specifically says "thinwall" on it, but I use Genova Flowguard brand CPVC. It has a larger inside diameter than other types I've tried. I find it at Lowe's.

[mystefansdontflystraight]

I just tried Cheezy's advice on the CPVC, it worked great. No uneveness. I can now make a CPVC RFDG that actually works with foam I have.
Now time to go drill out 12 10 inch long pieces. Joy.

[venom213]

I don't think it specifically says "thinwall" on it, but I use Genova Flowguard brand CPVC. It has a larger inside diameter than other types I've tried. I find it at Lowe's.

Chances are, it will not be labeled as thinwall, yeah. You just have to test it. It might depend on what kind of drill bit you use too, perhaps the drill bit I used was not the best one for the job.

[mystefansdontflystraight]

I don't think it specifically says "thinwall" on it, but I use Genova Flowguard brand CPVC. It has a larger inside diameter than other types I've tried. I find it at Lowe's.

Chances are, it will not be labeled as thinwall, yeah. You just have to test it. It might depend on what kind of drill bit you use too, perhaps the drill bit I used was not the best one for the job.

You need to use one of the lower end 1/2 inch bits, not the ones that are wavy. Yes, the wavy ones are MUCH easier to use, but they really cut up the inside of the CPVC, to the point where it starts hurting ranges and accuracy.

You want one that looks like This and not one that looks like this.

[cheesypiza001]

I find the inner surface to be much smoother whenever I use a bit like this:

[Zorns Lemma]

CPVC varies from .49 to .51 ID. The upper end is your "thinwall" and is around the ID of K&S 17/32 brass.

[debandgeek12]

I realize that using a tight barrel for springers is preferred, so I've been using CPVC, but how tight is too tight?

[Draconis]

I realize that using a tight barrel for springers is preferred, so I've been using CPVC, but how tight is too tight?

It completely depends on how powerful your plunger is.

[debandgeek12]

I realize that using a tight barrel for springers is preferred, so I've been using CPVC, but how tight is too tight?

It completely depends on how powerful your plunger is.

So without more power to push the plunger, the air will not move with enough force. Due to this, the friction of the barrel will be too much?

[Rec0n Industries]

I am re-barreling some guns with 17/32 brass.
1. How long should a longshot's barrel be?
2. How long should a recon's barrel be?
3. How long should a raider's barrel be?

[hawkshot]

I am re-barreling some guns with 17/32 brass.
1. How long should a longshot's barrel be?
2. How long should a recon's barrel be?
3. How long should a raider's barrel be?

1. Usually with a spring upgrade Longshots can handle a 12 inch barrel.
2. Recons are so weak that if you try to brass breech one it won't turn out well.
3. I believe Zorn's Lemma's brassed Raider contract had the barrel the same length as the original barrel. I would recommend checking with him first, though.

[Rec0n Industries]

Thanks. I'm using Flying Chickens poor-mans re-breech from Nerf revolution. The Longshot has a 3b spring, 1st gen longshot spring, and a reaaaaaally streched 2nd gen recon spring. It's REAAAAAALLY easy to cock, what other springs should I put in?

[Draconis]

Thanks. I'm using Flying Chickens poor-mans re-breech from Nerf revolution. The Longshot has a 3b spring, 1st gen longshot spring, and a reaaaaaally streched 2nd gen recon spring. It's REAAAAAALLY easy to cock, what other springs should I put in?

Really just a section of [k26] or [k25] springs work nicely, but this is not the topic to continue this conversation in.

[moosa]

So I recently went out and picked up some 1/2" CPVC from Home Depot. This stuff is surprisingly flexible though. And due to its inherent flexibility, the 10 foot rods seem to have some degree of permanent curvature to them. I'm worried about using this stuff for barrel material. Barrels need to be straight.

Does the CPVC that everyone's using flex under its own weight like this, or did I just get some weird crap? It's sort of a darkish beige color, and it was the only 1/2" CPVC they had there.

Edited by moosa, 08 March 2010 - 08:09 AM.

[Hipponater]

So I recently went out and picked up some 1/2" CPVC from Home Depot. This stuff is surprisingly flexible though. And due to its inherent flexibility, the 10 foot rods seem to have some degree of permanent curvature to them. I'm worried about using this stuff for barrel material. Barrels need to be straight.

Does the CPVC that everyone's using flex under its own weight like this, or did I just get some weird crap? It's sort of a darkish beige color, and it was the only 1/2" CPVC they had there.

Yes, that's likely CPVC, it's usually a darker beige like you described, not white like PVC. It does have some degree of bend to it. Whenever I go to the store to get CPVC, I take a piece and try to roll it on the ground. If it's too bent, it won't roll easily, so put it back and try again. I can usually find a pretty decent piece. When you take it home, just let it sit on the ground for a little to try to straighten it, and store it somewhere where it can't bend, supported on a few spots throughout its length.

When you cut it down, it doesn't bend so much. It's just a little floppy as a 10' piece.

[reconsareweird]

I've found that Pilot markers make excellent barrel material, they're slick, easy to cut, lightweight but easy to bend. I can squeeze over 100' out of them, depending on the gun.

[stuper bunny]

My question isn't one of material, but rather length. I shoot BB weighted streamlines, and I've found that CPVC works really well with them. The catch is that I don't have an infinite supply of CPVC to experiment with (~5 feet). So I would like to know the right length for springers (NF, Pistol Splat) and for air powered guns (Big Blast) before I waste a lot of CPVC. Thanks in advance.

[Draconis]

My question isn't one of material, but rather length. I shoot BB weighted streamlines, and I've found that CPVC works really well with them. The catch is that I don't have an infinite supply of CPVC to experiment with (~5 feet). So I would like to know the right length for springers (NF, Pistol Splat) and for air powered guns (Big Blast) before I waste a lot of CPVC. Thanks in advance.

That depends entirely upon two things: The fit of your darts in the CPVC, and the air output of the blaster in question. There is no one barrel length for all instances of one blaster, either. There are general rules concerning barrel lengths for individual blasters, or rough plunger volumes.

[stuper bunny]

My question isn't one of material, but rather length. I shoot BB weighted streamlines, and I've found that CPVC works really well with them. The catch is that I don't have an infinite supply of CPVC to experiment with (~5 feet). So I would like to know the right length for springers (NF, Pistol Splat) and for air powered guns (Big Blast) before I waste a lot of CPVC. Thanks in advance.

That depends entirely upon two things: The fit of your darts in the CPVC, and the air output of the blaster in question. There is no one barrel length for all instances of one blaster, either. There are general rules concerning barrel lengths for individual blasters, or rough plunger volumes.

What are the general rules for springers versus air powered guns? I've lurked for a while and I've always wondered how people come up with their barrel lengths. I have a NF and Pistol Splat with CPVC couplers, and the Big Lots knockoff Big Blast that has some CPVC glued in the barrel. If you had to guess for the length of a proper barrel for those what would it be?

I'm not trying to be a newb and have people do my modding for me, I just can't afford to screw it up. Measure twice cut once as they say.

[Hipponater]

What are the general rules for springers versus air powered guns? I've lurked for a while and I've always wondered how people come up with their barrel lengths. I have a NF and Pistol Splat with CPVC couplers, and the Big Lots knockoff Big Blast that has some CPVC glued in the barrel. If you had to guess for the length of a proper barrel for those what would it be?

I'm not trying to be a newb and have people do my modding for me, I just can't afford to screw it up. Measure twice cut once as they say.

Around me, CPVC is 3.44+tax for 10'... hardly expensive, even for a college student, less than $.40/foot.

I got a 10' section and cut a 4", 5", 6", 7", 8", 9", 10", 11", 12", and 13" barrel, then I test my blasters to find the best length. It cost less than $4 to get all the barrels, worth the investment.

However, if you really can't test, I would guess 4-5" for the NF, 5-6" for the pistol splat. Not sure on the big blast thing.