Sparkplug powererd spudgun

Boom! The classic potato gun harnesses the combustion of flammable vapor. Show us your combustion spud gun and discuss fuels, ratios, safety, ignition systems, tools, and more.
mr.potatohead
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Sat Nov 10, 2012 12:55 pm

well has any one made a potato gun using the spark plug as an ignition like it should work
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D_Hall
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Sat Nov 10, 2012 1:03 pm

Vera uses plain ol' spark plugs.
Simulation geek (GGDT / HGDT) and designer of Vera.
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Brian the brain
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Sat Nov 10, 2012 1:56 pm

I've heard and read about several.

The very first time I read about the existance of a cannon using flammable gas to launch large caliber projectiles, in this case oranges..was in a local newspaper.

Some guy got caught and made the news.
He had made a large combustion cannon with wich he shot at busstop cabins.
He liked to shoot out the glass windows.

The article said it was made out of stainless steel using a sparkplug to ignite the mix.
Possesion of a combustion cannon equals possesion of an illegal firearm where I live.

Too bad for all those that just want to have some harmless fun with it..
I'm just glad they caught one that abused his knowlegde like that.

He was caught because people had seen him selecting oranges by fitting them through a section of pipe at his local store..

people notice that kind of thing..
The incident happened around 2002..
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Oh my friggin god stop being so awesome, that thing is pure kick ass. Most innovative and creative pneumatic that the files have ever come by!

Can't ask for a better compliment!!
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MrCrowley
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Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:08 pm

mr.potatohead wrote:well has any one made a potato gun using the spark plug as an ignition like it should work
Image

I've used a spark plug (not the same one pictured) on a hybrid cannon for many years.
jsefcik
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Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:53 pm

MrCrowley wrote:
mr.potatohead wrote:well has any one made a potato gun using the spark plug as an ignition like it should work
Image

I've used a spark plug (not the same one pictured) on a hybrid cannon for many years.
i dont know much about hooking a plug up, but how did you connect wires to the plug? did you rig something up?

do you have pics of how you hooked it up?
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jrrdw
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Mon Nov 12, 2012 6:06 am

"I dont know much about hooking a plug up, but how did you connect wires to the plug?"

Positive to the top of the spark plug, (use a old spark plug wire the ends are crimp on) and ground through the chamber wall.
jsefcik
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Mon Nov 12, 2012 2:27 pm

jrrdw wrote:"I dont know much about hooking a plug up, but how did you connect wires to the plug?"

Positive to the top of the spark plug, (use a old spark plug wire the ends are crimp on) and ground through the chamber wall.
for the ground, can i just install just a small nut and bolt and put a ring termial around the bolt?
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jrrdw
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Mon Nov 12, 2012 4:15 pm

As long as it all contacts the hex (ground) on the spark plug and conducts electricity, yes.
mr.potatohead
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Tue Nov 13, 2012 6:56 pm

itested it today and it worked good i just took my 5hp briggs engine, screw the sparkplug in and put a ground wire,pulled the cord and it threw a potato into the fence
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jrrdw
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Wed Nov 14, 2012 9:16 am

mr.potatohead wrote:itested it today and it worked good i just took my 5hp briggs engine, screw the sparkplug in and put a ground wire,pulled the cord and it threw a potato into the fence
So you used a engine to/as a driver to launch a spud...FANTASTIC! :lol:
mr.potatohead
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Thu Nov 22, 2012 3:00 pm

lol yah i created a new type of spudgun
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jrrdw
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Fri Nov 23, 2012 11:58 am

The worlds 1st 5HP potato! :lol:
mr.potatohead
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Sat Dec 01, 2012 8:33 pm

yes.. definitly
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