I need to clear a grove of 100ft pine trees and it just ain't
happenning. My sling shot is only making it to a height of about 70ft.
Way short.

I've built a canon from sched 40 PVC with a 4" section reduced to a to
1" section which is about 4ft long. I'm using lighter fluid and a spark
ignition. A 1" dowel weighted with 2oz of lead fits in the 2" PVC with
a close fit. This still doesn't get over the grove of trees. It seems
the lighter fluid just doesn't have enough power. Maybe I'm putting in
too much or not enough fluid. How do you know if you have the right
fuel air mix? I've heard that some use butane or propane in these.

Thanks
Bob Brunius

AC7PN wrote:
I need to clear a grove of 100ft pine trees and it just ain't
happenning. My sling shot is only making it to a height of about 70ft.
Way short.

I've built a canon from sched 40 PVC with a 4" section reduced to a to
1" section which is about 4ft long. I'm using lighter fluid and a spark
ignition. A 1" dowel weighted with 2oz of lead fits in the 2" PVC with
a close fit. This still doesn't get over the grove of trees. It seems
the lighter fluid just doesn't have enough power. Maybe I'm putting in
too much or not enough fluid. How do you know if you have the right
fuel air mix? I've heard that some use butane or propane in these.

Thanks
Bob Brunius


Is this April 1 and my calendar is incorrect--you are kidding, right?
shock-and-awe!

chuckle
Regards,
JS

chuckle
Regards,
JS
Do you need a picture?

i used a "surf rod", a fishing rod built for fishing from the beach, big and
strong. i tied about 4-5 old wheelnuts (or anything heavy), worked really
good. make sure the spool is full of fishing line first, and that its strong
line. and you may snap the line trying so you want to start small and build
up the weight.

This is presuming there is nothing/no one nearby that can be
damaged/injured.

Good luck.

Gary

"AC7PN" wrote in message
oups.com...
chuckle
Regards,
JS
Do you need a picture?

In message , Gary Smith
writes
i used a "surf rod", a fishing rod built for fishing from the beach, big and
strong. i tied about 4-5 old wheelnuts (or anything heavy), worked really
good. make sure the spool is full of fishing line first, and that its strong
line. and you may snap the line trying so you want to start small and build
up the weight.

This is presuming there is nothing/no one nearby that can be
damaged/injured.

Good luck.

Gary

"AC7PN" wrote in message
roups.com...
chuckle
Regards,
JS
Do you need a picture?



In the past (1961) I have used a bow and arrow (borrowed from an archery
enthusiast), and also a rocket (fireworks type) launched 'mortar style'
from a cardboard tube. Both pulled up linen thread (carefully coiled up
on the ground), which I then used to pull up nylon twine, then thicker
nylon etc.
Ian.
--

There is a "weighted tennis ball launcher" similar to a potato gun, but
it runs on compressed air and has great range. They may be available
from several sources, but I bought mine from K8TAT, who makes them.

Bob W8ERD



In article ,
Ian Jackson wrote:

In message , Gary Smith
writes
i used a "surf rod", a fishing rod built for fishing from the beach, big and
strong. i tied about 4-5 old wheelnuts (or anything heavy), worked really
good. make sure the spool is full of fishing line first, and that its strong
line. and you may snap the line trying so you want to start small and build
up the weight.

This is presuming there is nothing/no one nearby that can be
damaged/injured.

Good luck.

Gary

"AC7PN" wrote in message
roups.com...
chuckle
Regards,
JS
Do you need a picture?



In the past (1961) I have used a bow and arrow (borrowed from an archery
enthusiast), and also a rocket (fireworks type) launched 'mortar style'
from a cardboard tube. Both pulled up linen thread (carefully coiled up
on the ground), which I then used to pull up nylon twine, then thicker
nylon etc.
Ian.

For about ten dollars in PVC pipe & cement, you can build a "spud gun" in
about two hours. It's a novelty cannon which shoots raw potatoes. If you
had a length of string laid out on the ground (for easy lifting), a potato
lofted out of the spud gun would carry the string hundreds of feet Thread
the end through the potato and secure it, perhaps with a coat button.

Although I have never shot a potato that had anything in it or through it, I
can personally attest to sending potatos high and clear hundreds of feet.
The propellant is ordinary hairspray. (Must use flammable propellant; not
all brands do.) The igniter is usually the spark lighter from a barbecue
grill or discarded stovetop.

The thing does not build itself; it requires some effort and craftsmanship
.... but what are we? Are hams not a creative and resourceful bunch?

In some areas, the law regards a spud gun as a weapon, despite the fact that
nobody has has ever used one to stick up a liquor store, etc. Check with
your local PD before showing up at Field Day with your new spud gun.

Searching "spud gun" on google.com returns 136,000 links. That should keep
you out off the street for a while.


"Gary Smith" wrote in message
...
i used a "surf rod", a fishing rod built for fishing from the beach, big
and
strong. i tied about 4-5 old wheelnuts (or anything heavy), worked really
good. make sure the spool is full of fishing line first, and that its
strong
line. and you may snap the line trying so you want to start small and
build
up the weight.

This is presuming there is nothing/no one nearby that can be
damaged/injured.

Good luck.

Gary

"AC7PN" wrote in message
oups.com...
chuckle
Regards,
JS
Do you need a picture?

On Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:27:31 -0800, "Sal M. Onella"
wrote:

For about ten dollars in PVC pipe & cement, you can build a "spud gun" in
about two hours.

Built one of these for quite a bit more than ten dollars but it works
pretty well: http://www.antennalaunchers.com/csv19/index.html

I recall that the sprinkler valve was $11-12 at Home Depot just by
itself.

S.T.W.

AC7PN wrote:
chuckle
Regards,
JS
Do you need a picture?


AC7PN:

I fear for your safety. If you really are going to fire that "potato
gun", please do use the proper safety equipment and especially safety
glasses.

Frankly, any gun made out of pvc sched 40 pipe stands the hair on the
back of my head up ...

It is a free country, use caution and proceed at your own peril.

Warmest regards,
JS

"AC7PN" wrote in message
oups.com...
I need to clear a grove of 100ft pine trees and it just ain't
happenning. My sling shot is only making it to a height of about 70ft.
Way short.

I've built a canon from sched 40 PVC with a 4" section reduced to a to
1" section which is about 4ft long. I'm using lighter fluid and a spark
ignition. A 1" dowel weighted with 2oz of lead fits in the 2" PVC with
a close fit. This still doesn't get over the grove of trees. It seems
the lighter fluid just doesn't have enough power. Maybe I'm putting in
too much or not enough fluid. How do you know if you have the right
fuel air mix? I've heard that some use butane or propane in these.

Thanks
Bob Brunius

Based on my last experience, I suggest that you borrow a compound hunting
cross bow
and no-point fishing arrows (they are substantially heavier) with at least a
50 lb pull.
Use a fishing reel with fishing line that is light but strong. If the line
is too light it will
probably break. Use the fishing line to pull over twine or something heavier
and
then a multicore Dacron rope. Allow for enough line to go over the "grove"
by about 3 times

I use the end ropes to support pulleys and lines through the pulleys to
support the
antennas. One pulley rope is tied off. The other has 5 8-gallon containers
of
anti-freeze that serve as the balancing counterweight for the 220 foot
antenna
of #10 copperweld that is centerfed with 600 ohm ladder line.

Regards,
Ed, N5EI