Pneumatic
Launcher Questions
Hovercraft
Questions
Other
Questions
I built an air
cannon just like you said, however when I fire the cannon, it releases
air slowly out of the barrel and does not fire. What is wrong?
On some solenoid sprinkler valves
there is a manual handle that you can turn. To fix the problem you
must open the manual valve all the way open, then try it. If it
still does not work then try turning the manual valve all the way in.
It should work when in one of those two positions.
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Can you send me
a pre-made cannon through the mail?
At this time, it is just not
possible. Feel free to still contact us with any questions you may have.
Thank you.
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Are these
devices legal?
Yes, according to federal law it
is. I already have a page that
discusses this question. View it
here. However local law may still state these devices are
illegal. It is recommended that you check with your local law
enforcement for more information.
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Where did you
get the neoprene for the diaphragm?
You can get neoprene at almost
any hardware store (Orchard Supply Hardware has is for sure. Home
Depot & Lowes also carry it). It is not the type of neoprene that
is used in wet suits. You must use a more durable neoprene that is
not so soft. It usually has a cloth insert that makes it more
durable. If they guy that works at the hardware store says they
don't have it, it's most likely because he doesn't know what it is.
If you still can't find it, you can get it at
"www.mcmaster.com" mail order. It is neoprene with cloth
insert. Any of the neoprene on there that withstands a pressure of
over 1000PSI is more than enough.
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The
hovercraft is not hovering well. What is wrong?
The hovercraft may not be
hovering for several reasons. I will list the most common issues.
Sometimes the leaf blower you are using is just not powerful enough.
If this is the case you can always try shortening the skirt by say 4" or
so. There is not need to cut the skirt but simply loosen the metal
stripping and tuck more material in, and retighten. Many times
shortening the skirt like this can help. Also be sure to check
that all parts of the craft are sealed well that need to be air tight.
Any leak can degrade the performance of the skirt. Another common
reason for this issue is because the skirt material used is too stiff.
A flexible skirt material must be used otherwise performance can
deteriorate.
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I found free
plans that have the skirt covering the entire bottom of the craft. Is
this how your skirt is made?
That design can cause a large
amount of drag and decrease performance. The skirt design here
uses a strip of cloth that is placed around the perimeter of the craft
and bows inward. This decreases drag compared to the "bag" skirt
design. Please
see this picture for a view of the skirt we used.
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How did you
make the skirt?
A full description can be
difficult however I do have some information on my hovercraft page.
If you have any specific questions I'll be glad to answer them.
Just send me a
message.
The skirt is made out of waterproof nylon and can be purchased at
fabric stores. Army Surplus stores carries this fabric and
sometimes is the most durable. The skirt is attached to the hovercraft
by clamping it in place with metal stripping. See the hovercraft
page for pictures and more information.
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How much did
the first hovercraft cost to build?
Including the engine, the total
cost was around $30.
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How much did
the second hovercraft cost you to build?
Not including the engines, the
second hovercraft cost around $70. Both engines can be bought at
garage sales or similar for around $50.
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What size
engines did you use?
As long as you use an engine that
is not a cheap underpowered one it should be fine. If you have a
choice between a couple engines, get the one that moves the most amount
of air (highest cubic-feet per minute).
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Where did you
get the propeller for your second hovercraft?
I got m
