Water Balloon Crossbow
- strato_2r5
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:08 pm
Water Balloon Crossbow
I don't know if there's another thread like this, so sorry if it's already posted.
Okay, so I'm doing a science project on launchers and I'm comparing throwing, slinshots, and air pressure. Obviously air pressure is the winner, but I want an excuse to try this out.
I'll post a blueprint later. I'm thinking of using some 3" PVC pipe for a barrel, some bungee cord, wooden dowels, and the lower receiver of the Nerf Fast Action Rifle (it's a homemade). Would this work?
Okay, so I'm doing a science project on launchers and I'm comparing throwing, slinshots, and air pressure. Obviously air pressure is the winner, but I want an excuse to try this out.
I'll post a blueprint later. I'm thinking of using some 3" PVC pipe for a barrel, some bungee cord, wooden dowels, and the lower receiver of the Nerf Fast Action Rifle (it's a homemade). Would this work?
Sorry if I'm not active much, busy on another forum and another project non-soaker related.
- C-A_99
- Posts: 1502
- Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:09 pm
Re: Water Balloon Crossbow
I've considered this as well but never did anything about it. The focus is on constructing a good crossbow more than it is on building a WBL, though obviously the design has to be adapted for launching water balloons.
A well designed crossbow would seem to be able to launch balloons fairly decent distances. No idea how far though, and a traditional 3-man launcher would probably perform much better.
A well designed crossbow would seem to be able to launch balloons fairly decent distances. No idea how far though, and a traditional 3-man launcher would probably perform much better.
- cantab
- Posts: 1492
- Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:35 pm
Re: Water Balloon Crossbow
Well using bungee would make it a slingshot. For a true crossbow you have to have the power coming from a bow. Wood is the usual material, though I've seen bodged crossbows using skis. Leaf springs would be overkill for a WBL.
It would be interesting to see how a sling does. They can get ranges far greater than an unaided throw, but accuracy takes a lot of practice.
It would be interesting to see how a sling does. They can get ranges far greater than an unaided throw, but accuracy takes a lot of practice.
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Arsenal:
Super Soaker: XP215, 2xXP220, Liquidator, Aquashock Secret Strike M(odded), Arctic Blast M, CPS1200, CPS2100, SC Power Pak, 3l aquapack, 1.5l aquapack
Water Warriors: Jet, Sting Ray M, Shark, Argon M, Tiger Shark, PulseMaster
Others: Waterbolt, The Blaster, Storm 500, Shield Blaster 2000, generic PR gun, generic backpack piston pumper (broken), 3l garden sprayer M, 10l water carrier:
Arsenal:
Super Soaker: XP215, 2xXP220, Liquidator, Aquashock Secret Strike M(odded), Arctic Blast M, CPS1200, CPS2100, SC Power Pak, 3l aquapack, 1.5l aquapack
Water Warriors: Jet, Sting Ray M, Shark, Argon M, Tiger Shark, PulseMaster
Others: Waterbolt, The Blaster, Storm 500, Shield Blaster 2000, generic PR gun, generic backpack piston pumper (broken), 3l garden sprayer M, 10l water carrier:
- soakernerd
- Posts: 302
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:09 pm
Re: Water Balloon Crossbow
I would just use the bow arms commonly found on Nerf homemades. They are cheap, and you can get very good performance out of them. I have been working on making one shoot water, but a WB seems like it might be easier.
Pessimist: These blasters hold no water
Optimist: But their small output means they last just as long
Marketing: Huge blasts of water!
user: I shot it at an angle and it went a whole ten feet!
Optimist: But their small output means they last just as long
Marketing: Huge blasts of water!
user: I shot it at an angle and it went a whole ten feet!
- isoaker_com
- Posts: 458
- Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2004 12:00 pm
Re: Water Balloon Crossbow
One major issue with water balloons versus arrows or Nerf/foam arrows is the sheer weight of the balloon. Even small balloons are 20x to 30x heavier than comparable foam arrows. Real arrows are a comparable weight to a small water balloon, but their shape is much better for flight through air (obviously ). You'll need fairly strong bungie cords if they are small and won't be stretched too far since you want a more mobile device. Might get ok ranges, but may be a good challenge to ensure the mechanism doesn't end up ripping itself apart.
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- soakernerd
- Posts: 302
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:09 pm
Re: Water Balloon Crossbow
Are you guys thinking of using direct propulsion or pneumatics? Direct would be easier, and that is what I would be using.
Pessimist: These blasters hold no water
Optimist: But their small output means they last just as long
Marketing: Huge blasts of water!
user: I shot it at an angle and it went a whole ten feet!
Optimist: But their small output means they last just as long
Marketing: Huge blasts of water!
user: I shot it at an angle and it went a whole ten feet!
- C-A_99
- Posts: 1502
- Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:09 pm
Re: Water Balloon Crossbow
I haven't seen crossbows that use pneumatic plungers, unless you count spring powered as crossbows. However, I don't think springs could supply enough power; you'd need a bungee it seems. (That's what I assumed was meant by "crossbow"; a bow that uses a bungie, not a spring or spring&plunger.)
- soakernerd
- Posts: 302
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:09 pm
Re: Water Balloon Crossbow
I thought you were building nerf-style crossbows. I have built small spring powered crossbows using 1" PVC and a clothespin trigger. it all depends on how big a spring you use, but with a relatively weak spring, my best one was capable of shooting random objects through cardboard boxes.
With a 2" bore and a bigger spring (I am thinking at least a k26) I have no doubt that I could throw a WB a good distance.
With a 2" bore and a bigger spring (I am thinking at least a k26) I have no doubt that I could throw a WB a good distance.
Pessimist: These blasters hold no water
Optimist: But their small output means they last just as long
Marketing: Huge blasts of water!
user: I shot it at an angle and it went a whole ten feet!
Optimist: But their small output means they last just as long
Marketing: Huge blasts of water!
user: I shot it at an angle and it went a whole ten feet!
- strato_2r5
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:08 pm
Re: Water Balloon Crossbow
Okay! I got the blueprint done. Tell me what you think.
Off Topic: Is it spelled bungie or bungee?
Off Topic: Is it spelled bungie or bungee?
Sorry if I'm not active much, busy on another forum and another project non-soaker related.
- C-A_99
- Posts: 1502
- Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:09 pm
Re: Water Balloon Crossbow
Bungie is the name of the video game developer (famous for creating the Marathon and Halo franchises), "bungee" is the flexible cord.
I tried a bow-like launcher myself before, using a 3" pipe, two steel L brackets, a smaller PVC stick, and some exercise stretching band that seems to be similar to surgical tubing. The designed failed miserably, launching balloons no further than squirt gun range. If you get plenty of force and use a long bow, it may work considerably better. However, wood seems very prone to snapping; PVC would probably be better.
I tried a bow-like launcher myself before, using a 3" pipe, two steel L brackets, a smaller PVC stick, and some exercise stretching band that seems to be similar to surgical tubing. The designed failed miserably, launching balloons no further than squirt gun range. If you get plenty of force and use a long bow, it may work considerably better. However, wood seems very prone to snapping; PVC would probably be better.
- strato_2r5
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:08 pm
Re: Water Balloon Crossbow
Okay so instead of wooden dowels I'll use PVC. What's the recommended length for cord and the "bow" part?
Sorry if I'm not active much, busy on another forum and another project non-soaker related.
- mysterio
- Posts: 142
- Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:18 pm
Re: Water Balloon Crossbow
CPVC is much more bendy then PVC
- zeda.beta
- Posts: 683
- Joined: Sun May 03, 2009 10:49 pm
Re: Water Balloon Crossbow
You might not want to use PVC, because of the shatter factor, but that might just be my superstition. CPVC should be avoided because it is bendy. Less tension, less power. I would go with a nice length of yew, and shape it as needed.
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Quack damn you.
Quack damn you.
- strato_2r5
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:08 pm
Re: Water Balloon Crossbow
Hmm... Yew. Isn't that what real bows are made of? It's not supposed to be lethal!
Sorry if I'm not active much, busy on another forum and another project non-soaker related.
- zeda.beta
- Posts: 683
- Joined: Sun May 03, 2009 10:49 pm
Re: Water Balloon Crossbow
It won't be lethal. The only thing I was worrying about was the PVC shattering, so if you replace the really long arms of PVC with much shorter arms made out of yew, you would get the same power in a more compact form.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
Quack damn you.
Quack damn you.