My first WBL

[the oncoming storm]

Now that my first water gun is complete I have decided to make a WBL "The Fire Strike"




This is my basic design for a multi shot per pressurization WBL, I would like Input on it so I can refine a little before building it (so I won't have to spend as many $)







This is my 200th post

[Poseidon2000]

Basically a douchenator with an added over-under PC and a shutoff Ball valve. It's been done, and it works. Pics of your APH?

[DX]

Some ideas. I would not put the 2nd ball valve in the handle section of an over-under launcher. That would make it very tall and thus very fragile. You want to keep an over-under compact, or you'd need to build a frame to support it. Regardless of the design, a multiple shot WBL is very large and unwieldy. I made an inline one that got 4 shots and it was totally not something I'd want to run with. Also, the power of each shot falls unless you have an air regulator.

[the oncoming storm]

Wow DX nice concepts I like the one at the top best and will likely use it rather than mine. Also I would have a Pressure Gauge on both PC's so I can adjust and get about the same Pressure Per shot and It would be a shorter barreled version (for lightness and mobility) made for use as a primary. About how long would you make the Barrel ?

[Poseidon2000]

I think a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio is best for PCs and Barrels. If your PC is 1 1/2 ft. long, your barrel should be near 3'.

[the oncoming storm]

since 1/2 and 1/3 are the main ratios used and no one is sure exactly which is better I think I will use a 30" barrel (2.5') as it is middle ground.
I will make a parts list and start buying the I will need parts needed soon.

[Fishfan]

Is it possible to connect Drain pipe to Sch 40 pipe? Because if so, we could use drain pipe as a barrel for the WBLs, which would make them lighter. If that's not possible, is it possible to connect DWV to Sch 40?

[Poseidon2000]

Drain is ideal. FOR BARRELS ONLY. yes, 3" Drain can connect to a 1" to 3" Sch. 40 reducer/bushing.

[DX]

Where do you guys even find unrated drain pipe in 3"? They don't sell it around here.

[Fishfan]

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.a ... &catid=730
Can you show me where the adapter is posidon? Drain pipe diameters are different than DWV or Sch 40.

[Poseidon2000]

Test; I'm no different in experience than you.

[Fishfan]

I know DWV doesn't fit on Drain, so I doubt Sch 40 will.

[Drenchenator]

Do not use drain pipe for a barrel. It's for unpressurized situations only (letting water flow in the open atmosphere). That's why it's great for structural components like tanks.

Drain pipe isn't designed to handle any pressure. Once you open the firing valve, the pressurized air will rush into the barrel and pressurize it. If the barrel didn't become pressurized, the object wouldn't leave the barrel (there would be no force pushing it out).

Yes, the barrel isn't always pressurized, but it does become pressurized during every shot, so it must be able to withstand presssure. Given that drain pipe has no pressure rating, a drain pipe barrel will likely explode before the object shoots out of the barrel. And by explode, I mean a very long crack would appear suddenly and the air would rush out of that. It probably wouldn't kill you, but it certainly would be loud and a waste of money.

[Fishfan]

Make sense. I'm thinking of building a WBL myself, and found that drain CAN connect to DWV, with certain fittings. And SCH 40 can connect to DWV. Anyways, I'm glad I found that out now, rather than later. By the way Drenchenator, the DWV at my lowes here say non pressure. can I still use it? It definitely doesn't look like it would explode under 100 PSI.

[Drenchenator]

If it says non-pressure, do not use it. Non-pressure means that it can't take any pressure at all.

If weight is an issue, just make the launcher smaller. A short barrel and chamber may hurt performance, but it certainly will make the launcher much lighter.

[DX]

Lowes usually has 2-3 types of pipe - DWV pW, which is pressure-rated, DWV, which is not, and the lightweight cell core stuff that may say non-pressure. When someone says DWV pipe, I don't picture the light stuff, I picture the fittings that look like the pW ones, but have shallower sockets or are a bit thinner. They are unrated, but definitely can take pressure. WBLs using 3" to 2" bell reducers have unrated fittings and I've seen them taken as high as 150 PSI (do NOT replicate this though). There's a difference between no rating and non-pressure. The big box stores used to have 3" and 4" pW fittings, but I have not seen them in a long time now.

If you want a lightweight launcher, look into aluminum. The prices on McMaster made me dizzy, but it would have been so sweet.

[Fishfan]

I don't want that expensive, I just want to make a WBL that isn't too bulky. Would it be better to use 2" or 3" for a barrel? What diameter pipe would I use for the connectors from the PC to the barrel? I want to make an over-under design, unless the inline is easier to port around.

[HBWW]

Having built a launcher with a 2" barrel, I can say it's annoyingly small for water balloons. 3" or close are better diameters to go with, though it also depends on the kind of balloons you have.