Thunderpipe FX-1

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Temple
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Mon Feb 20, 2006 10:28 am

Ok this is a question on how to ask a question.

How do I ask a how they did something with out getting in trouble?

Specificaly related to the Thunderpipe FX-1 listed at http://www.spudtech.com/detail.asp?id=55
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bboymatty
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Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:10 am

I am going to assume you are just being cautious, but want to know in depth how the thunderpipe works. So ill try to tell you from how i think it works.

Firstly understand that the internet is about the sharing of information, and that any assumed information about how the thunderpipe works is not subject to censorship because we are only assuming how he made the gun, not reciting stolen plans or a reverse engineered copy.

So no matter what anyone says, you can freely converse about any piece of technology and how it works. Remember that Spudtech makes money out of potato guns, but does not control the exchange of information about them.

Anyways on with the show!

THE GLORIFIED FLAMETHROWER AKA "THUNDERPIPE"

Its quite simple how the device works, looking at its structure you can see that the device is constructed to be used as a special FX prop, because its size is at a minimum. However this also serves another purpose.

The copper barrel is filled with a flammable liquid, such as diesel or meths, whatever that doesnt matter, at the bottom of the chamber there would be a simple one way valve, to prevent the liquid to be fired from self-leveling inside the smaller air valve to the left of the barrel, as this would create interial problems, possibly structural problems if the air had to push the liquid through a U bend.

the high pressure air is dumped from the chamber and travels to the bottom of the barrel where it rapidly expells the liquid with enough force to push most of it past the passive lighter device at the top of the barrel.

This device may be electrically operated, as having a lit flame above a large tube of vapour giving, flammable material seems perilous to say the least.

As the liquid is pushed past some of it will combust, which as any chemist would know expells chemical energy which self sustains the reaction throughout the rest of the moving spray of liqiud above it, creating the awesome fireball effect.

Ive attached some pictures to help you understand, this thing would be a breeze to make but you would want to stand a fair way back when beta testing it!
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schematics_243j.JPG
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boilingleadbath
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Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:45 pm

The thunderpipe is essentialy a pneumatic with an electric (un modded) sprinkler valve, and a bent, copper barrel. It may or may not have a no-return valve.

Now, how that particular client did the fireball, I'm not entirely certain. Meh, if you can't figure out to do it, you shouldn't be playing with fire anyways.
Temple
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Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:06 pm

I understand how the Thunderpipe works it is fairly a straight forward design. I also have some ideas on how to create the fire ball effect, safely. And that is my question how exactly did they make the fire ball, I don't see an external ignition source?
Hitler_the_spud
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Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:16 pm

i did it today releasing propane ans rapidly pushing on my BBQ saprker and it did a plume of fire...........now but i did it not mening too..... brefor i look inside i burn my fuel........
:twisted: and check this out spent to day making it
;;;;;;;;;;;:¸_____________, :;;;;;;;;;`¸
`:;;;;;;;;;;;`;__________, :;;;;;;;;;;;`¸
_ `:;;;;;;;;;;;`, , _______, :;;;;;;;;;;;`¸
___`:;;;;;;;;;;;;_______, ;;;;;;;;;;;;:
____.`·¸:;;;;;;;;;¸_____¸;;;;;;;;;;`
_______`·¸:;;;;;;¸_____¸;;;;;;;:´
___________`·¸:;;;;¸., .¸;;;;;;·
______¸.·;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
____.´;;;;;´D`;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
____`;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
_____`:;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
_______`·.;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
___________.;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;.
____(`*·.¸ (`*·.¸ ¸.·*´) ¸.·* )





anyways sory i had to do :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
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Shrimphead
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Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:18 pm

Ok, who else thinks that the thunderpipe is way overpriced? $250 for a very simple pneumatic. The only thing about it is that it's made of copper. It'd be a lot cheaper for people to just make their own.
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bboymatty
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Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:19 pm

nice grammar hitler.

anyways, yeh i would think it is electric ignition, or some sort of flame producing ignitor that is electrically operated at the same time as the solenoid is opened.

if it was like a zippo above the barrel chances are the fuel would detonate inside the barrel.
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CS
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Tue Feb 21, 2006 12:40 am

Shrimphead wrote:Ok, who else thinks that the thunderpipe is way overpriced?
Thats Spud Tech for you...

I disagree with the rather high prices, but hey if your going to complain about over-pricing bark up ACE's tree. Thats why we also have free enterprise...

This cannon reads:
Special offer!!!! Limited time only!!
<img src="http://www.spudtech.com/images/products ... pecial.jpg">
This basic pneumatic for 103$? Special offer? Ya its a little over priced, but there in some of those gun in the google links that charge hundered for guns costing only around 50$ in parts...
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Rambo
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Tue Feb 21, 2006 3:36 am

I have never spend more the 10lv=6.25$ for a gun.
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nicholai
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Tue Feb 21, 2006 5:20 am

wow that is a gross price for a dinky little pneumatic, im guessing joel didnt spend more than $30-$35 for that

go to his order form and add all the options to it, dual 36" chambers, dual sprinkler valves and a 3" sch 40 barrel and a... wait a minute... $50 for a friggin ball valve and quick disconnect nipple? its an extra $50 for that?!?!
unless he puts a one way valve instead of a ball valve for an air compressor feed but still... cmon joel... it doesnt cost $50 to hook up your air compressor to a piece of pvc


lets see.. that brings the grand total to... $267.99
wow....
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Temple
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Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:35 am

Ok this is getting a little off topic but, Yes i agree some of the things are a little over priced. But you also need to include man hours for construction. I didn't do the math but it would be interesting to see what the dollar amount is.
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nicholai
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Tue Feb 21, 2006 5:39 pm

true, nobody works for free, and all his work is clean and professional
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bboymatty
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Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:49 pm

haha u want overpriced check out his latest contraption, the bolt action semi auto tennis ball launcher.

$1000!!!!!

a grand for a tennis ball launcher with semi auto functionality! buy a god damn real gun instead! in australia you could buy a real pistol for $700
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nicholai
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Wed Feb 22, 2006 12:32 pm

in america you can get a single shot 410 gauge shotgun for $100 :)
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Shrimphead
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Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:46 pm

My friend's brother bought a WWII Mauser for about $200. It's pretty sweet.
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