14 replies to this topic

[Kamen]

No, not for coating the darts, though that might be fun.

I'm talking about a Teflon Valve Packing Kit, ACE# 4200374. I saw it when I went hunting for O-rings. Its a 36" long string of 3/32" thick teflon that you wrap around a valve stem. I replaced the O ring in my night finder with 2 layers of this stuff and it seems to be holding an excellent seal. Has anyone else tried this?

[tcorr911]

It seems like a good new material because I have never heard of it being used in a nerf gun. Does it get a better seal than 2 o-rings, if so good find.

[Pineapple]

The only thing about using teflon cord as a substitute for an o-ring is the fact that the cord, in fact, will have a gap, somewhere. It's not a fused circle like a precision o-ring. However, you've got me thinking about teflon sealing tape, which is near the plumbing stuff where we get all of our nice PVC fixtures and stuff. I'm thinking along the lines of wrapping the plunger (with single o-ring) with layers of teflon tape until a good, solid airtight seal is attained (without impeding good movement). Teflon is, after all, the world's "slipperiest" substance?

One more experiment to add to the list. I have a Hornet in pieces on the workbench right now, so it'll have to wait a bit. But good observation. Try it and post some high-usage tests (like if it will become undone under heavy usage.)

Go for it!


-Piney-

[Kamen]

Well heres what I did for the NF. I took off the stock o ring, then began winding the teflon string where the o ring was. I ended up with 3 wraps total all wedged in there tight against one another, like a split ring keychain. The teflon forms so well there was no gaps at all, so long as you wrap it tight and cut the length right, which means cutting it when you are done wrapping and trimming as needed to get the loose end wedged in tight.

Then I took another length of the string and used my screwdriver like a rolling pin to flatten it into a thin strip and wrapped this once around the plunger head, making a second layer directly over the 3 wraps. Its easier to measure for length after you flatten the string since it will get longer as you flatten it.

Getting the plunger head into the NF cylinder was a trick because the cylinder has a kind of lip around the back. I had to work around the edge a few times using my fingernails to shove the teflon under the lip but with some patience, you can get it in there. The end result is a gasket that will not budge or bounce around like an o ring will, and forms itself to the cylinder wall.. The seal has performed very well as far as I can see and since I had to compress the second layer a bit to get it in there, I assume it will expand to form an even better seal. I have not noticed any slowdown on the plunger from this, as Pineapple pointed out teflon is wonderfully slick stuff.

I'd love to see some of the more experienced modders who already have custom barrels and the like give this a go and post some results! I'm still a modding newbie so my results probably wouldnt reflect what is really possible.

[LnLKing]

What you said about coating darts with teflon wouldn't that give you some range seeing how its realy slick.

[Kamen]

Uh, no. Coating the darts with teflon was a joke (in poor taste) reference to coating bullets in teflon which makes them armor piercing.

Coating nerf darts in teflon, assuming molten teflon did not in fact destroy the dart, would be useless as the now very slick dart would have next to no resistance in the barrel. This means no air pressure would build up behind it and your range and power (thankfully, with a teflon dart) would be crap.

On the other claw, some way to make the front half of the longshots streamline darts slicker might be a good thing. Reduced friction through that barrel would be a benefit. I still wouldnt advise teflon though

[LordoftheRing434]

I've heard somewhere that there was a teflon recall a while ago. I don't remember exactly what products, but there was something toxic about them. Just be careful if you mod using it.

It sounds like an interesting idea, but I would be a little too cautious to use it.

[Pineapple]

I've heard somewhere that there was a teflon recall a while ago. I don't remember exactly what products, but there was something toxic about them. Just be careful if you mod using it.

It sounds like an interesting idea, but I would be a little too cautious to use it.

If it's what I'm thinking, it might have to do with frying pans and such.

When a Teflon-coated pan is overheated without food in it to transfer heat out, it emits very toxic vapor...for birds. Like 100% fatal.

I'm not sure if there are any detrimental health effects to humans, but in my book, any vapors given off by applying heat to substances is a no-no. Even green leafy ones.

I use Teflon tape as a pipe-sealing component for both irrigation, and domestic plumbing on the facility I manage/ take care of. It's generally pretty okay, as it doesn't give off any fibers, vapors, or harmful particles.

Then again, geeze, just about everything in the world is harmful to you in one way or another; plastic wrap in the microwave, freezing plastic water bottles, too much sun, too little sun, evil rays given off by computer monitors...
...which reminds me! All you new people, hurry, log off and turn off your computers! NOW!


-Piney-

[ShadowSniper]

freezing plastic water bottles

What? I freeze plastic water bottles to make the water inside turn to ice, then drink the meltoff sometimes, is there something I should know about that makes this dangerous?

[Snazzy Q]

If you were a jerk you could wrap your stefans in teflon tape to get even MORE speed and accuracy from a modded Titan. I may try it, but definetly not in wars. More like a pop can target practice thing.

[ShadowSniper]

Just warning you guys about something I ran into. I tried wrapping teflon tape (Stuff for sealing pipe threads etc.) around the plungerhear of an AT3K pump. After puttint it back in, it got an excellent seal, but moments later I took the pump out again to make sure it wasnt coming off and the tape had been melted. I guess the silicone lubricant that I had put in the pump awhile ago had eaten the teflon tape.

[elf avec gun]

How much does a roll of teflon tape cost usually?

[Deaths Avatar]

How much does a roll of teflon tape cost usually?

I get mine for $.59 or something at ace.

-DA

[elf avec gun]

Thank you! Wow that was cheaper than I was expecting.

100th post!!!

Edited by elf_avec_gun, 17 August 2006 - 03:38 PM.

[Snazzy Q]

Yep, teflon tape is pretty widely used and is very inexpensive.
I tried wrapping a mega stefan with teflon tape, but because the melting point of the FBR is much lower than the melting point of teflon (or whatever material they impregnate with teflon to make teflon tape) I couldn't get the tape to fuse to itself so it wouldn't come off. The dart just died. Oh well, it was worth a try.