SilentGuy's post in the AS2K thread
SilentGuy wrote:Yes, that's basically what I was referring to. If you look at Super Soakers that use nozzle selectors--they seem to be quite similar to this, so you've got a good imitation--there's just open space between the actual barrel and the opening. Even if this doesn't slow down the stream, it can cause turbulence, which is very bad in soakers, but maybe not so much in Nerf guns. I'm thinking of, basically, an endcap with a good opening (not a threaded endcap, though, and no glue) that just squeezes onto the barrel, without any twisting. An O-ring across the cross-section of the barrel creates a seal right at the inside face of the endcap, and produces a stream similar to standard homemade nozzles, but without screwing.
However, this won't neccessarily stay tight; it would just blow off with the 100+ PSI of a powerful homemade soaker. If four or so endcaps can be connected together around a female axle, then it can have a bolt threaded through the axle and secured. However, this also leaves a problem: you can't switch the nozzles due to the sides of the endcap holding the nozzle in place on the barrel! Solution: cut off the side parts of the endcap. Now, when you think about it, you've essentially got the Super Soaker/AT2K nozzle assembly, but with the nozzles flush against the barrel. In fact, a disk of PVC or another material is sufficient, and that would actually allow for hole/O-ring sets as can fit on the disk.
Okay, so I rambled a bit
...but you get the idea. In the end, you have a disk of PVC, metal, or wood that is screwed into position near the barrel. Somewhere else I suggested having a surface, latch, or spring to keep the disk steady and prevent it from being blown out by the force of the water.
The spring idea won't work (since you need the force of the water + the force from your fingers to compress the spring so you can slide it; but the water would just leak) and it also won't be necessary--as long as the latch is smooth and lubricated, you should be able to rotate the disk. You can drill many nozzles in the disk, and an O-ring at the end of the barrel ensures a tight seal. And best of all, it might be possible to make a barrel attachment to screw onto a male adapter in case this doesn't work.
The reason I suggested a supporting surface or a latch was to be able to have more leverage against the force of a shot. A large washer on a tight screw might work, but this seems more reliable. Also, the "latch" really doesn't come off as its name might imply; it's just a piece that holds the disk back against the edge of the barrel.
EDIT: Sorry if the original post I quoted was a bit confusing...also, I can draw a diagram in Paint or the GIMP if necessary. The mechanism is really quite simple...
EDIT again, on 8/3/06: Make sure you advertise the store at iSc, as they have a large active member base that otherwise might not be interested in homemades. I like your logic concerning the name...