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Simple Combustion Mini Nerf Gun


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#1 ChrisP

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Posted 23 June 2006 - 03:10 PM

I got bored with my main project (a rendition of Boltsniper's BS-1 rifle) a couple of days ago and decided to make a simple combustion nerf gun out of this cool aluminum energy drink bottle one of my friends gave me. I wanted to keep it small so I could take it with me and hide it in inconspicuous places. It utilizes the same basic firing principles as a potato gun: alcohol in a spray bottle and a grill ignitor. Despite its size, it gets pretty decent range (I'd say around 50 ft with very light weight darts). I think if I increase the mass of the darts, I will get longer ranges. The darts I am using now just kinda spin out of control after a while. I want to try firing some 1/2" ball bearings if I can find them, even though that might be a little dangerous. :blink:

Anyway, here are some pics. Remember, I did try to keep it simple, so don't go looking for any bolts or magazines or anything like that. :blush:

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This is a shot down the barrel so you can see the two pieces of copper I crossed to prevent the ammo from falling into the main chamber where the alcohol explodes. I put the two pieces of copper in the coupler you see in the first picture and then glued the pipe in to secure them.

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Here's the sparker assembly. The inside of the cap was really smooth so I had to grind it down to the metal and use a special epoxy to get the wires to stay in.

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And here's the entire thing put together and ready to fire. It makes a pretty loud report. Loud enough to scare a few of the birds out of the trees around my house.

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Enjoy,

Chris

Edited by ChrisP, 23 June 2006 - 03:11 PM.

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#2 nerfer34

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Posted 23 June 2006 - 04:43 PM

Nice! I really don't know a thing about combustion powered things, so do you plug in that wire to make it shoot? YOu need to refill the alchohol right? How many shots can you get off in a minute with that?
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#3 ChrisP

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Posted 23 June 2006 - 05:51 PM

Nice! I really don't know a thing about combustion powered things, so do you plug in that wire to make it shoot? YOu need to refill the alchohol right? How many shots can you get off in a minute with that?

Yep. You spray the alcohol in the chamber, screw on the cap, load the dart, and hit the red button. The problem is, you have to spray the alcohol just right so that all of it doesn't end up on the side of the bottle. There's a lot of things that you have to do perfectly to get it to fire consistently. This probably wouldn't be a reliable nerf weapon to use if you were in a battle. Someone with a regular nerf gun would most likely own you first. I just built this for fun... and because I didn't know what to do with that damn bottle. <_<
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#4 WratH

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Posted 23 June 2006 - 09:25 PM

That looks pretty nifty, what kind of ranges do you get? And what type of barrel system are you using for those tagger darts?
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#5 ChrisP

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Posted 24 June 2006 - 12:20 AM

That looks pretty nifty, what kind of ranges do you get? And what type of barrel system are you using for those tagger darts?

I get ranges of about 50 feet or more. I am going to try heavier ammo later today (after I get some sleep!) and see what happens.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by barrel system. I just stick the darts down into the 1/2" PVC until they hit the two crossed copper wires (which prevent them from going into the aluminum bottle). They fit snugly, but not tight. The velcro on them leaves gaps for some of the force to escape, so they are not totally efficient.
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#6 meiser5

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Posted 24 June 2006 - 12:00 PM

If you want to fix the gap problem when you load a dart into the barrel use micro stefans, since they do not have a collar if you make them right you will have a near 100 percent increase in the seal of the dart.



Meiser----- :o
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#7 ChrisP

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Posted 24 June 2006 - 01:22 PM

If you want to fix the gap problem when you load a dart into the barrel use micro stefans, since they do not have a collar if you make them right you will have a near 100 percent increase in the seal of the dart.



Meiser----- :o

Yeah, I was planning on running to Home Depot some time today to get the foam to make them. I'll need it for my other rifle anyway. The micro stefans have a diameter of about 0.54", right? I think I read that somewhere on here.
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#8 LastManAlive

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Posted 24 June 2006 - 04:24 PM

Try Hairspray. It seems to linger in the chamber more, thus not setteling in the chamber.

I reccomend AquaNet level 3 spray WITH odor.

I also reccomend swithing to a PVC chamber. PVC does not shadder so much into small peices as metal would.
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#9 ChrisP

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Posted 24 June 2006 - 05:30 PM

Try Hairspray. It seems to linger in the chamber more, thus not setteling in the chamber.

I reccomend AquaNet level 3 spray WITH odor.

I also reccomend swithing to a PVC chamber. PVC does not shadder so much into small peices as metal would.

Hairspray is a good idea, but I like alcohol because it burns clean and doesn't leave any residue behind.

So far I have seen no stress on the aluminum bottle. It obviously hasn't blown up in my hand yet. :wacko:

Oh yeah, I tried firing a metal ball bearing today. Let's just say that I have no idea where it wound up. :blink:
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#10 WratH

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Posted 24 June 2006 - 08:07 PM

That PVC definitely won't fit micro stefans, if you want to fire those dart tag darts just put a hollowed out crayola barrel at the bottom of your barrel, you won't need the coupler though, and make sure you glue the crayola in so it doesnt fly out. What the crayola barrel does is it fits inside the PVC, but fits the body of the stock dart, so it has something to sit in instead of wobbling around.
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#11 Gramanam

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Posted 24 June 2006 - 09:52 PM

Just a tip on shooting darts. Micro stefans don't fit in 1/2" PVC. YOu want to use mega stefans. They are made with 5/8" Fbr and 1/4" steel slingshot ammo.

Cool gun though, very nice and clean.
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#12 davidbowie

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Posted 24 June 2006 - 11:12 PM

Hairspray is BAD.
Right Guard (RIP) was better.
Alcohol is even better.
Better than all, however, is METERED PROPANE.

Build a propane meter. You will love it.

http://burntlatke.com/lp.html

His is a bit more complicated than necessary, but reading the page will help give you the general idea even if you don't want to build his exact setup.

http://burntlatke.com/ft_splash.html

Learn to love FuelTool.

Also, join some spudgun forums. Spudtech or Spudfiles are the only ones with much real knowledge behind them.
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