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Spud gun propellant

Tjcoley
Tjcoley Posts: 3,551
in Off Topic
Breaking out the old spud gun for next weeks vacation. Test fired it tonight and discovered a better propellant. Used to use cheap hair spray, but it gums up the gun and stinks. Used Static Guard spray. Much more powerful and non sticky. Got to get more taters. Any body have anything better?
__________________________________________
It's not a science, it's an art. And it's flawed.
- Camp Hill, PA
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Comments

  • dougbacker
    dougbacker Posts: 277
    Use carb cleaner in mine

    --------------------------------------------------------
    South Dakota
    KBØQBT
    Large BGE, 
    Mini BGE
    36" Blackstone Griddle
    Phoenix Gasser
    Cyber Q WIFI
    And a deck box full of toy's

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  • RV10Flyer
    RV10Flyer Posts: 140
    Black powder, it creates a nice smoke ring.  :))

    North Texas

    XL and Small BGE

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  • GreenhawK
    GreenhawK Posts: 398
    Have used starting ether before.  It works great.

    Large BGE Decatur, AL
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109

    GreenhawK said:
    Have used starting ether before.  It works great.

    I've used that before.  I had a couple spud guns...we used to walk the couple of blocks to the levy and shoot potatoes towards the french quarter.   Since the river is about 3/4 a mile wide there, I'm certain they fell harmlessly into the water.  It felt good, anyway.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • Nsdexter
    Nsdexter Posts: 195
    Used to use raid...
    HFX NS
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  • Tjcoley
    Tjcoley Posts: 3,551
    I've tried many different propellents, and the Static Guard is the best by far - great flame out of the barrel.  Got ten pounds of potatoes for this weeks reunion, and will probably need more.  Maybe a bag of Key Limes as well - perfect size for the barrel.  May have to make some sabot's to use frozen peas as a shotgun.  
    __________________________________________
    It's not a science, it's an art. And it's flawed.
    - Camp Hill, PA
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  • SteveWPBFL
    SteveWPBFL Posts: 1,327
    I was told by a lawyer friend here in Flarida several years ago now that potato guns were a felony, so I parked mine. Hairspray was the best propellant we could find back then and we tried everything butt static guard. So if it's not a felony (anymore) I might have to retrieve mine from storage and 're-engage'!
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  • stlcharcoal
    stlcharcoal Posts: 4,706
    In college we use hairspray or carb cleaner.......but first we would fill the chamber with pure O2 off our oxy-acetylene tanks.  Pretty dumb idea since it could have blown up in our faces with that kind of fire power.  But we could launch a potato over a city block.
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  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,522
    Static Guard is the goto for my cousin, a spud gun fanatic. Cheap and as noted lots of flame....
    Enjoy your family reunion, bet it will be fun!
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spud_gun_legality
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • Tjcoley
    Tjcoley Posts: 3,551
    Thanks Nola - going to be in NY and I'm over 16 so I'm good

    The advantage of static guard over hair spray, other than being more flammable,  is it doesn't gum up the insides.  We once used propane, which we bled off the gasser tank.  That got a little scary.  

    It's also amazing how much more accurate this thing is with a rifled barrel.  Really makes a difference.
    __________________________________________
    It's not a science, it's an art. And it's flawed.
    - Camp Hill, PA
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  • stlcharcoal
    stlcharcoal Posts: 4,706

     

    stlcharcoal said:
    In college we use hairspray or carb cleaner.......but first we would fill the chamber with pure O2 off our oxy-acetylene tanks.  Pretty dumb idea since it could have blown up in our faces with that kind of fire power.  But we could launch a potato over a city block.
    I take that back......not hairspray.  I think we used that spray deodorant.  Right Guard???
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  • Tjcoley
    Tjcoley Posts: 3,551
    The old Right Guard was one of the best to use.  They've since changed it and it no longer works.  Something about the environment, and global warming.
    __________________________________________
    It's not a science, it's an art. And it's flawed.
    - Camp Hill, PA
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  • Eggcelsior
    Eggcelsior Posts: 14,414
    Aqua net super hold (purple can?) Never tried anything else.
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  • TurtleCreek
    TurtleCreek Posts: 140
    I always used Aqua net too.  

    I remember my buddy asking "what damage can that thing do?"  I told him to stand about twenty yards out and try to dodge the shot .... he promptly declined when he saw the giddy excitement on my face.
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  • SmokinDAWG82
    SmokinDAWG82 Posts: 1,705
    Pictures or it didn't happen
    LBGE
    Go Dawgs! - Marietta, GA
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    Tjcoley said:
    The old Right Guard was one of the best to use.  They've since changed it and it no longer works.  Something about the environment, and global warming.
    The really old, banned propellants were CFCs - they didn't burn very well - and one of the by-products of combustion was phosgene gas.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • Hibby
    Hibby Posts: 606
    I'm on a thread resurrection stint today. When I had mine, ether was our go-to. Showed some hydraulic shop workers my gun and they built one but began using Oxy/acetylene as their fuel. Scary. . . And loud.
    I cook. I eat. I repeat. Thornville, Ohio
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  • yzzi
    yzzi Posts: 1,843
    nolaegghead said:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spud_gun_legality
    According to Florida law, making or possessing a potato gun is a felony. That is ridiculous... you can buy a gun at a garage sale, but you can't own a potato gun. Yikes. My kids will never know some of the fun things in life.
    Dunedin, FL
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    Hibby said:
    I'm on a thread resurrection stint today. When I had mine, ether was our go-to. Showed some hydraulic shop workers my gun and they built one but began using Oxy/acetylene as their fuel. Scary. . . And loud.
    Dude.  Do not mess with oxy-act mixes.  Especially if you get the correct ratio of gases.   Trust me on this. 
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • BREWnQ
    BREWnQ Posts: 219
    2nd starting ether.  Also used a shot of NOS a few time.  Gets hairy when you have a misfire and you feel the whole combustion chamber swell inches for you 'parts'.

    I made one that was really simple and ran off of compressed air that I think worked better then combustibles, but wasn't very portable and less exciting.
    Brewer, BBQer, Softballer, RCer, Father, HomeTheaterer, and trouble maker.
    Orange, CA
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  • danv23
    danv23 Posts: 956
    I ALWAYS used WD-40. Nothing sticks using it!

    The Dude: This is a very complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's. And, uh, lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder's head. Luckily I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber.

    Walter Sobchak: Nihilists! *uck me. I mean, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos. 

    Cumming, GA

    Eggs - XL, L, Small

    Gasser - Blaze 5 Burner

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  • Fred19Flintstone
    Fred19Flintstone Posts: 8,173
    BREWnQ said:
    2nd starting ether.  Also used a shot of NOS a few time.  Gets hairy when you have a misfire and you feel the whole combustion chamber swell inches for you 'parts'.

    I made one that was really simple and ran off of compressed air that I think worked better then combustibles, but wasn't very portable and less exciting.
    +1 on starting ether.  Spud guns are funny.  Performance is vital, but the danger is also part of the experience.  That's why your safer version isn't as fun.
    Flint, Michigan
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  • Cyclops42
    Cyclops42 Posts: 64
    I am living proof, it can put an eye out...........

    Atlanta, Ga. LBGE and Mini BGE

    Wants:  More time and beer.....

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  • MrCookingNurse
    MrCookingNurse Posts: 4,665
    A little glass cleaner bottle with gas works good


    _______________________________________________

    XLBGE 
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  • Tjcoley
    Tjcoley Posts: 3,551
    SmokinDAWG82 said:
    Pictures or it didn't happen

    Ok, someone in the family finally sent a pic. The spud gun in action.
    __________________________________________
    It's not a science, it's an art. And it's flawed.
    - Camp Hill, PA
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  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    Cyclops42 said:

    I am living proof, it can put an eye out...........

    Are you for serious?
    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
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  • CajunEggHead
    CajunEggHead Posts: 189
    For a good Bang use Starting Fluid          Wam!
     
     1 Large Big Green Egg
     1 Weber Kettle
     1 Weber Weber Smokey Mountain 18"
     1 Long Horn Off Set
     1 Bradley Smoker
     1 Weber Silver Gasser
     1 Weber Smokey Joe Small
     1 Orange Thermapen
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  • Austin Egghead
    Austin Egghead Posts: 3,966
    edited August 2013
    Never used a gun.....as kids we would jam taters into the tractor's exhaust pipe and turn her on.....those things could really fly too.  Have fun!

    Large, small and mini now Egging in Rowlett Tx
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  • warwoman
    warwoman Posts: 279
    We used to have one that shot tennis balls. Not too impressive, till you soaked them with lighter fluid, and they would be flaming tennis balls! Used to give the "Kimchee Cabs" in ROK fits!
    From the NE Georgia Mountains! Me, SWMBO, and two spoiled ass Springers!
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