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Airgun with eXplosive air-Release Valve

by chluaid on May 26, 2008

Table of Contents

intro: Airgun with eXplosive air-Release Valve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 1: Materials and Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 2: the valve housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

step 3: the valve shaft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

step 4: Valve air flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

step 5: Plugging up the shaft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

step 6: Add a nut to the shaft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

step 7: Important! Allow the glue to dry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

step 8: Spring loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

step 9: Seal it off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

step 10: How it works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

step 11: Attaching to a bicycle pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

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http://www.instructables.com/id/Airgun-with-eXplosive-air-Release-Valve/
intro: Airgun with eXplosive air-Release Valve
Forget amateurish sprinkler valves. Look no further than this type of valve for making airguns or anything where you need the air released explosively. This is my own
design inspired by the valve inside an airbrush.

This instructable shows you how to make what I call the XRV (explosive release valve), which can be attached to a bicycle pump. This in turn allows you to turn an
ordinary blowgun or pea-shooter into something a bit more serious.

The video does a lot of explaining, but for more detail including how it works, see the next steps.

Video

step 1: Materials and Tools

To make the XRV, you need a handful of easy-to-find components:

Materials

1. Flexible bike pump hose - comes with most bicycle pumps)

2. Brass or aluminium tubing (about 1-2mm) - available from hobby stores
3. O-Rings (tiny) - available from hardware stores
4. Small spring - also from hardware stores
5. Tiny screw that fits into the end of the 1-2mm tubing
6. Tiny nut or washer that fits onto the brass tubing (see video)

Tools

1. Hand drill & very small drill bit

2. Fine file
3. Blade
4. Precision screwdriver
5. Pliers or multi-grips (pictured)
6. Hand clamp
7. Superglue

http://www.instructables.com/id/Airgun-with-eXplosive-air-Release-Valve/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. hand drill 1. there's one!
2. very small drill bit(s)
3. blade
4. precision screwdriver
5. pliers or multi-grips
6. hand clamp
7. super glue
8. O-Rings (you'll need really really small ones)
9. small spring (like that from a pen)

Image Notes
1. found this in an old clock radio

http://www.instructables.com/id/Airgun-with-eXplosive-air-Release-Valve/
step 2: the valve housing
We need the valve to attach conveniently to any bicycle pump, so cut the MALE connector out of your bike pump's flexible hose.

Image Notes
1. the male connector is the one with the thread on the outside.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Airgun-with-eXplosive-air-Release-Valve/
step 3: the valve shaft
Now you need to find a piece of brass or aluminium tubing that fits nicely inside the housing. It is absolutely necessary that this tube slides freely through the housing,
while being a snug fit.

Image Notes
1. there's one!

step 4: Valve air flow

Air will explode through this small tube, but we need to drill tiny holes to allow this to happen.
With a tiny drill bit, carefully drill two or three small holes into the shaft.
File any rough edges smooth so the tube glides through the housing without sticking at all.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Airgun-with-eXplosive-air-Release-Valve/
step 5: Plugging up the shaft
The end of the shaft must be blocked off, so that the only escape for the air is through the tiny holes we've just drilled.

I found that a tiny screw works best, so you'll need to hunt for the perfect screw. The head of the screw MUST be very slightly larger than the shaft itself. The screw must
also be very short (we don't want to obstruct the holes). I found the perfect screw inside a dead clock-radio - - old electronic components are a great source of tiny
screws!

Drop a bit of super glue onto the screw and turn it in to the end of the tube. If the screw is a bit too small for the tube, you could very carefully crimp the tube a bit with
pliers. Then the screw should be a tighter fit.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Airgun-with-eXplosive-air-Release-Valve/
 Image Notes
1. found this in an old clock radio

Image Notes
1. if the screw is a loose fit, try crimping the tube slightly.

step 6: Add a nut to the shaft

A nut, washer or bush of some kind needs to be added to the shaft, so find something that fits and glue it about halfway along. Once the glue has dried, this valve will be
difficult to disassemble, so be sure everything's in place before you apply the glue.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Airgun-with-eXplosive-air-Release-Valve/
step 7: Important! Allow the glue to dry
Allowing the glue to dry deserves its own step because in the next step we're going to add a spring that holds the valve closed. If your glue isn't dry when you add the
spring, then you'll glue the valve shut!

Go have a coffee or climb a tree. When you get back and the glue's dry, scrape off any excess with a blade. Again, this valve shaft must be very smooth and glide
through the housing without any sticking or catching.

step 8: Spring loading

See the distance between the housing and the nut? You need to find a spring that's about 1.5 times as long. This will ensure that the spring is always holding the valve
shut.

If your spring is a little too short, you can always stretch it a little (that's why mine looks a little irregular in the image).

To how to turn the spring onto the shaft, look at the video in the Intro of this instructable.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Airgun-with-eXplosive-air-Release-Valve/
step 9: Seal it off
The final step is to make the valve air tight. To do this, you'll need a very small O-Ring.
Now you can see why the head of the screw needed to be larger than the shaft. The head of the screw stops the O-Ring from slipping off.

And with that, the XRV is complete!

The spring is always holding the valve closed so air will not escape.
You can test this with your mouth. Seal your lips around the housing of the valve and blow.. build up a little air pressure in your cheeks then pull the washer/nut
backwards (don't push it down your throat!) The air should escape through the tube.

Note: if air is leaking through the valve, then it could be that your O-Ring isn't sealing it too well. Try adding a second O-Ring.

step 10: How it works

The spring constantly keeps the valve shut.
When the valve is shut, the O-Ring seals off any escape.
Air cannot escape unless the O-Ring fails.

Pulling back on the nut (green arrow) opens the valve by exposing the holes in the shaft.
Once the holes are exposed, the compressed air explodes through the shaft.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Airgun-with-eXplosive-air-Release-Valve/
step 11: Attaching to a bicycle pump
As we made the XRV from a male connector, it will attach perfectly to any bicycle pump.

You will however, need a bicycle pump that doesn't allow air to go backwards. In other words, it needs to have its own built-in one-way valve. If you don't have this, you
won't be able to compress more than one plunge of the pump.

Many pumps (bicycle pumps, sports ball pumps) come fitted with a one-way valve, but the 'BBB Airshock' pump that I use has a one-way valve PLUS a reinforced hose.
When the end of this hose is blocked (with my XRV), it acts as a small air tank. Air will be compressed in that tiny space and will only be released when I open the XRV.

Opening the XRV into any type of blowgun (simple pea-shooter or deadly ninja blowgun) is the aim of the whole exercise :D

Image Notes
1. the valve will connect to any bicycle pump.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Airgun-with-eXplosive-air-Release-Valve/
 Image Notes Image Notes
1. The 'Airshock's hose is flexible but I glued the head to the body so that I could 1. Araldite or some other 'angry bastard' glue that doesn't mess around.
secure a blowgun more easily.

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Firebert010 1/2" Plywood lukeRAMBO (slideshow) by
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Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 129 comments

brundawg says: Oct 3, 2008. 7:07 PM REPLY

This is pure genius, gonna make my airsoft sniper MUCH simpler to make since i won't have to jack around with any springs

Mattrox says: Sep 28, 2008. 6:05 PM REPLY

Brilliant vid

scorcher says: Sep 26, 2008. 5:17 PM REPLY

this is awsome and super funny vid!!!!!

littledragon says: Sep 26, 2008. 10:22 AM REPLY

Wow! Thats probably the coolest Instructable I´ve ever seen! oO
Crazy evil idea! Five Stars!

The Expert Noob says: Sep 23, 2008. 1:22 PM REPLY

Bing!!! Is it ok if my scarf is blue?

disturbedreaper says: Sep 15, 2008. 2:10 PM REPLY

how did u manage to get starter with the hand drill on the brass pipe thats skill

chluaid says: Sep 16, 2008. 7:06 PM REPLY

yeah it was quite fiddly, but I put a small scratch in it and started drilling veeerrry slowly :)

technodude92 says: Sep 20, 2008. 8:54 PM REPLY

it also helps to have sharp bits...

Plasmana says: Sep 20, 2008. 10:02 AM REPLY

Wow! This is a great instructable! I want to try this!

thebluemartyr says: Sep 15, 2008. 2:19 PM REPLY

i love this instructable, and the video is absolutely hilarious! although i really want to make this, i don't think any of the local hardware stores have little
assorted boxes of stuff, id have to either buy like a pack of 50 tin screws or just steal one... and as for the 1mm brass tube, well i just cant figure out where to
get the damned little things, please do make a kit or sell them whole, that would be amazing.

AnarchistAsian says: Sep 17, 2008. 12:47 PM REPLY

trust me, they do, you just have to ask around and know where to look.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Airgun-with-eXplosive-air-Release-Valve/
 thebluemartyr says: Sep 17, 2008. 5:23 PM REPLY
oh yea i know they're there, but the only things i have close to me are canadian tire, which is out of the question, and iusnt really even a hardware
store, or the tiny little homehardware which might, but because its also a chain, its less likely they will, im still gunna go check, because DAM do i
wanna make this

chluaid says: Sep 16, 2008. 7:05 PM REPLY

I got my brass tubing from a hobby store here in Sydney called HobbyCo. Anywhere that sells RC kits, model building accessories, balsa wood, glue &
blades, etc should have things like this - or at least be able to point you in the right direction.

Glad you liked it, thanks for the comment :D

Mattrox says: Sep 15, 2008. 1:46 PM REPLY

this is very cool for a blowgun or dart gun but sprinkler valves are used for their quick release of air which this wont let out enough air fast enough
unless you supersize it.
no offense intended
very cool design by the way

AnarchistAsian says: Sep 17, 2008. 12:46 PM REPLY

but sprinkler valves are big, bulky, un-stylish and over-priced! this one is small, and looks good with all the brass and other metal parts.

Mattrox says: Sep 17, 2008. 12:52 PM REPLY

true but, they let tons of out because they have big openings. this has a tiny opening have a longer realese time

AnarchistAsian says: Sep 17, 2008. 1:18 PM REPLY

it's a small valve...
the barrel is small, so it doesn't matter much how small the opening is. and about that release time...
if you look inside a sprinkler valve, there is a big loss of power, since the air has to take several sharp turns before it even reaches the barrel.
sprinkler valves suck! they're made to actuate the sprinklers on your lawn! even with modification, nothing beats a custom made one!!!

chluaid says: Sep 16, 2008. 7:08 PM REPLY

none taken, but I gotta disagree. I called this the "explosive" air release valve for a reason, but I've since learned (from a comment here) that the design
already exists and it's called a 'poppet valve'.

Mattrox says: Sep 16, 2008. 7:49 PM REPLY

i disagree with you so i think we should just agree to disagree

chluaid says: Sep 16, 2008. 8:09 PM REPLY

fair enough.. you probably should try a poppet valve for yourself though, just so that your disagreement is an informed one :P

Mattrox says: Sep 16, 2008. 9:25 PM REPLY

true

AnarchistAsian says: Sep 16, 2008. 3:12 PM REPLY

congrats, man.

chluaid says: Sep 16, 2008. 7:35 PM REPLY

thanks! I hope it holds up well in print.. the video's the more entertaining part IMO :P

AnarchistAsian says: Sep 16, 2008. 7:43 PM REPLY

hahaha, yeah...
i've always loved this ible. i'm going to make a pump action airsoft gun sometime... :p

chluaid says: Sep 16, 2008. 8:09 PM REPLY

let us know how it goes :D

http://www.instructables.com/id/Airgun-with-eXplosive-air-Release-Valve/
 AnarchistAsian says: Sep 16, 2008. 8:46 PM REPLY
i have a week off school cuz the hurricane
i'll have it up in no time!

Pumpkin$ says: Sep 13, 2008. 7:57 PM REPLY

oh that's AWESOME you rock man!

I love it...

could it fire bamboo skewers (carp XD)

Rs master says: Sep 13, 2008. 10:29 AM REPLY

im sry(trust me i am)but they have allready made this(i still love it and well done)great job though

=SMART= says: Sep 8, 2008. 11:50 PM REPLY

Awesome !

metalmaji says: Sep 5, 2008. 5:47 AM REPLY

can this be used to control water flow??
im looking for valve to control water flow.. just ON and OFF...
of cause of cheap one.. or something i can make

redcell says: Aug 20, 2008. 6:33 PM REPLY

has anyone tried modifiying a shrader valve liek in a bike tire or something for a good mini airgun valve? just a sugjestion

photis22 says: Aug 22, 2008. 6:47 AM REPLY

i dont thnik that would release any air fast enough to shoot somthing

photis22 says: Aug 20, 2008. 9:25 AM REPLY

would there be a way to put a bottle of compressed air in the place of the pump so you wouldent need to pump so much?

amature engineer says: Aug 18, 2008. 1:04 PM REPLY

The air pump is $60. A bit expensive for my budget. Other than that, it is a wickedly cool project to take on. Watch out bunnies, here I come. Lol, JK.

comodore says: Jul 19, 2008. 7:28 PM REPLY

Are you going to make a kit for this, just for your air release valve?
I would defenetly buy one!

chluaid says: Jul 21, 2008. 5:28 PM REPLY

thanks for the suggestion but I have no plans to release a kit. Each valve takes about 30 mins and $2 worth of materials to make though, so perhaps one
day I could make 10 or 12 and sell them on my site. I'll update my instructable here if I do that eventually.

comodore says: Aug 6, 2008. 3:08 AM REPLY

No problem! I will be the first costomer!

I will take 2 valves please!

'Thanks you, come again!' :)

Redrogue says: Aug 1, 2008. 5:36 PM REPLY

It would be great if one could downsize the whole airgun that you made. Like a lighter sized tranquilizer dart shooter.

I'd make this but I don't have the items to make the explosive air release valve, and I don't think my mom would like the idea of me disassembling the bike
pump we have.

mike-a says: Jul 30, 2008. 7:16 AM REPLY

Nice.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Airgun-with-eXplosive-air-Release-Valve/
 ll.13 says: Jul 25, 2008. 1:22 PM REPLY
I really like this, maybe I'll make one when I have the money to spare. :)
-Good job!

microman171 says: Jun 28, 2008. 4:37 AM REPLY

I love you video! GREAT JOB! Next time slow down a bit, but your voice sounded very cool. I love this Idea and im going to try it out. You can increase the
scale right?

chluaid says: Jun 29, 2008. 11:50 PM REPLY

yeah I didn't want the video to be too long so I guess my words-per-second was a bit on the urgent side :D
Glad you liked the video, thanks for the comments and good luck with your own air gun.. and yep you can increase the scale. The one in the video is
about 1-2mm but I made one with a 5mm valve. Works fine.

microman171 says: Jun 30, 2008. 12:52 PM REPLY

I was so interested in trying this and I didnt have those small O-rings (my pack came with 6mm and up) So eventhough it cant hold the same
pressure I used a couple of different felt tubes. The sealing mechanism works but Im going to need to install a check valve (one way valve). I'm
looking forward to your next project (hint hint)

carpe_noctem says: Jul 23, 2008. 6:46 PM REPLY

wrap it in a rubber band or a dot of hot glue or something

....sometimes you need to IMPROVISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol i need to get me an attractive red scarf

lupinesoul says: Jul 21, 2008. 3:30 PM REPLY

Noooooooooo! The video's down?!

Try Metacafe.com (please!). They don't care what's put up as long as it's not too explicit or illegal. This would definitely be allowed... I really liked that video.
T_T

lupinesoul says: Jul 21, 2008. 5:09 PM REPLY

Oh, yeah. Do you know of any way to limit the air that is released? You know, so you don't have to pump it for every shot... I'm planning on implementing
it in a home-made airsoft gun.

chluaid says: Jul 21, 2008. 5:24 PM REPLY

dunno what you mean about the video being down. Looks up to me.

Re: limiting the air, yes. My next project with this weapon was to rig up a valve hammer that hits the valve and immediately springs off (just like an
airsoft or paintball valve). I've made a crude prototype and it works fairly well - - you get about 4 powerful shots from a full tank, though each is less
powerful than the last as the pressure depletes.

One thing about a valve hammer is that it truly sounds like an airgun when fired. The explosion of air is an explosive 'crack' more than a 'pfuf', but
personally I kinda like the deceptive power of the unassuming 'pfuf' :D

lupinesoul says: Jul 22, 2008. 6:26 AM REPLY

Sorry, must have been my computer. And thanks! I'm going to look into a valve hammer right now.

blugyblug says: Jun 7, 2008. 7:42 PM REPLY

Actually i think i remember someone posting something like this on Spudfiles.com (Air/combustion/hybrid/electrothermal gun website/forum)
His wasnt manual though, it was on large scale but it couldnt be used for high pressures like 100psi. Pushing 100psi of force is pretty hard so his powered
pneumatically. The air behind the pipe was vented so all the air infront would push it backwards.
THe rest of the air (like 90% of it) would find a way to get out because the pipe was pushed back and the hole was exposed.
Your version is kinda like a manual piston valve, good for small, low pressure "used-for-annoying-people guns""

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