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Here's some information on the potato guns I've built. My naming convention
for my guns is [X]SVR-[#], where [X] is "C" for combustion powered, or "P"
for pneumatic, and [#] is just the number of the gun, in the order that I built
it. "SVR" stands for "Sudden Vegetable Relocater". I don't really like this
convention anymore, and I'm trying to come up with something better.
Click on one of the above links to see information for that gun. Disclaimer: Do not build anything like what I've built as shown on these pages. You will hurt and/or kill yourself and everyone within a twenty mile radius. I will not be held responsible. You have been warned. The Basics There are two basic types of potato gun: combustion and pneumatic. In a combustion gun, a fuel/air mixture is exploded in a chamber to provide the force to launch the projectile. In pneumatics, a pressurized gas (usually air) is released through a valve to do the same thing. There are also "hybrid" guns (combustion in a pressurized environment). Combustions A combustion potato gun consists of three basic parts: A barrel, a chamber in which combustion takes place, and an ignition system. A basic combustion gun is extremely simple, but they can be quite complex with more advanced ignition systems and added accessories. Pneumatics A pneumatic potato gun consists of four basic parts: A barrel, a pressure chamber, a firing valve, and a fill valve. A very basic pneumatic gun can be made about as simple as a basic combustion gun, but performance will suffer. Well designed pneumatics are generally more powerful (and more complex) than combustions. Differences A combustion gun generates it's own power when firing, which translates into better portability. A pneumatic gun requires an external power source, such as an air compressor (onsite, or offsite if using a nurse tank), or if using a bike pump, your muscles. Combustion guns, because explosions are involved, are generally louder than pneumatics, which can be seen as a good thing or bad thing, depending on where they're being used. Pneumatics can quite easily adjust power output, by regulating the pressure in the pressure chamber. With combustions it's pretty much all or nothing. Adding extra fuel won't add power, it will only increase the mixure, and above a certain point, combustion simply won't take place. It's the same thing as flooding an engine. Hybrids Hybrids are still mostly in experimental stages right now. They are more complex than both combustions and pneumatics, and are more difficult to construct and operate, and they are potentially more dangerous. What sets aside all of those negatives, is the potential for far more power than a combustion or pneumatic can generate. |