Propane POP

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.
patchystar04
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Mon Oct 23, 2006 7:59 pm

So I just started using PROPANE way cleaner but alittle weaker than my hairsrpay. Hair spray contains butane(or propane) and alcohol while propane lacks the alcohol making a lame wooooomp sound rather than the loud bang from when you shoot just paper towel wads. If i were to spray high proof rubbing alcohol into the chamber with the propane would i get near the same results I may test this tomarrow Wadda ya say
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mark.f
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Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:45 pm

I say you're doing something wrong.

Are you actually metering in the propane, or are you just "spraying and praying"?

My tennis ball cannon runs off metered propane and it makes you lock your jaws when that sucker goes off.

My assumption is that your fuel mixture is way too rich, or you're not distributing it properly through the chamber. What size is your chamber and how are you fueling with your propane?
patchystar04
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Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:12 pm

well that may be but i tried 3 sec. (just direct injection) to 6 to 8sec and all were very lame. ive tried distributing with a hose (starting at the bottom and moving it up to even it out alittle) again with the 3 to 8 seconds but still lame When theres a potato loaded it fires quite loud (with propane) but not as loud as hairspray and toilet papper wads. i had a thought of putting about 12mL (i belive 1mL=average dropplet) of rubbing alcohol into a 2 liter bottle and shaking it until atomized then presurizing it with air and using a ball valve (or something) to inject into the 3''X13'' chamber (wiht a 1.5''X36'' barrel) so i would have around a 3 parts alcohol to 1 part propane in chamber -=-= thats about the same ratio in hairspray without the glues and stuff (testing to perfect the ratio) IDK ill keep trying thanks for your help
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Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:56 am

I'd say that's a fairly useless solution or whatever you wanna call it. Metered propane baby, that's all you'll ever need.
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Pete Zaria
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Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:27 am

I used to use everything aerosol under the sun (car starter fluid [which contains ether] worked best by far), then propane out of a torch, and then moved to metered propane. You can build a meter system for about $35. It kicks ass. Way more power than you can get with anything aerosol that I know of.

The sound the cannon makes is dependent on a lot of things, but mostly the c:b ratio and how tight a seal the projectile has in the barrel. Tight-fitting projectiles seem to produce more of a "crack" while looser ones produce more of a "thump". For instance, caulk cans with 3 wraps of duct tape in a 2" barrel make a sound like a f***ing .30-30 winchester.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.
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