How to make air guns with your own hands - plumbing rifles and pistols

All owners of pneumatics sooner or later have a desire to tune their favorite - increase power, accuracy, make a beautiful body kit. The extreme form of such an activity turns into a desire to create something of one’s own. We will talk further about how they make pneumatic weapons with their own hands in Rus'.

The original idea of ​​the article was far removed from the current content; drawings, diagrams, manuals, the best original works, etc. were planned.

Expected

But after viewing the available information on YouTube, the worldview on this problem has changed; what happens next can contribute to causing nervous paralysis and the wildest criticism. So it’s better for the faint of heart to look for something else. And yes... there will be a lot of videos so that you can experience the same thing that I did. But first, a little educational program on this Wednesday, so that the hearts of seasoned pneumatic pipes certainly don’t skip a beat.

Operating principle

A slight evolution of weapons from our childhood. Surely everyone reading this has thrown a stone at someone at least once in their life? Surely almost everyone had a couple of dozen slingshots? And who made a crossbow with elastic bands and a clothespin? Has anyone used inflated bottles among throwing weapons? Now, if the memory begins to recover, then we continue.

Since homemade pneumatic weapons in our country today are not shown by high masters of this business, the main principles of creating them are simpler and cheaper. Therefore, the basic principles of operation of such weapons:

• rubber(!!!)-piston pneumatics - based on “syringes” and rubber bands
• PCP – no matter how cool it sounds, based on a plastic bottle and a bicycle pump

It is these two classes that describe the entire model range of inexpensive homemade pneumatics on the Internet. There are also options with flammable liquids... but this is another level.

Part Two: Shooting

To be honest, I have a mixed attitude towards very powerful air rifles in general and huge calibers in particular. The fact is that air rifles occupy a certain and very specific niche. Usually they use pneumatics to hunt crows and rodents. Miracles do not happen: powerful pneumatic guns bang quite loudly (although quieter than a firearm). Pneumatics take their toll on accuracy, not power.

For such hunting, air rifles are perfect, the initial speed of which reaches 300 or more meters per second.

Hunting pneumatics are used more often in pursuit of other animals and birds. Pneumatics for hunting are often used for catching birds.

Pheasant or duck hunting is carried out only in the few forests and swamps where they are found, but pistols can also be used for them.

Noble Chronicles

Yes, indeed from pneumatics, according to. Law on “Hunting”, hunting is PROHIBITED! Even if you just walk around with pneumatic guns at the ready in hunting grounds (at least during the hunting season), when you meet a huntsman there will be problems - a fine with all that it entails. You can hunt with a “hunting” weapon; pneumatics do not initially fall under this category.

Weapon world map

Do you think there will be enough pneumatics for these purposes? And what is the minimum price I can meet? And the desire disappeared again... Do you think it’s possible to hunt game with a regular Gamo Hunter 1250 rifle without the “F” marking and I heard that there are some permits for hunting with air guns??? About hunting with pneumatic weapons - in the latest edition of the federal law on hunting, I don’t remember clause 1, it says “hunting with pneumatic weapons classified as hunting”, nothing about caliber.

Here is the promised second video. In it you will see shooting. Subscribe to the channel, there will be many interesting videos. Not only about this pneuma, I will soon make a new one, I will film and post everything.

For this, a caliber of 5.5 millimeters and a power of forty joules are sufficient. Making more powerful air rifles and hunting mammoths and dinosaurs with them makes me think of perverts. This is akin to the pointless production of cakes weighing a ton and sausages a kilometer long.

The most important thing is that it is quite effective and QUIET. Some of the models of air guns described can be bought in Russia without a license. For those who hunt long distances, you can increase the speed to three hundred and twenty meters per second.

But this is difficult, especially for a 4.5 mm caliber, it leads to excessive air consumption and, accordingly, problems arise with the volume of the shot.

As I already wrote in the article about the most powerful pistols, the most powerful models of air rifles are usually homemade or very few in production.

A rifle in 308 caliber, with a five-liter high-pressure tank, allows you to fire four shots with a constantly decreasing power. At the first shot, a bullet weighing 8.5 grams accelerates to two hundred and sixty meters per second.

But with a caveat, pneumatics are a delicate and at the same time powerful thing, that is, I want to say that each gun corresponds specifically to certain goals and objectives

The calibers of homemade barrels are limited only by the designer’s imagination. It is possible to buy it, but I can’t imagine where it can be used in Russia. In a caliber of 6.35 millimeters, a bullet weighing 1.97 grams flies somewhere far beyond sound. True, the rifle has a power regulator and a decent silencer.

Masters

It remains to be seen who the very magicians of modern cheap pneumatics are. No, gentlemen, these are not plumbers or even Mario. In the video, it is mostly children who are making samples of light hardball weapons... Apparently, children of hardball players (since a bottle of “Vstrel” was spotted, I really love it). Or airsoft plumbers (judging by plastic trends). Or partially conjugated... Let’s not get carried away with such a terrible “Santo Barbara”, but something here is clearly not clean. I suggest you start getting acquainted with exemplary videos from around the world.

Is it advisable to install air suspension on a car?

Let's figure out what air suspension is and whether it's worth spending money on it.

Air suspension is a shock absorption system that allows you to automatically change the vehicle's ground clearance without the use of physical force.

This type of suspension is considered a universal option, which allows it to be mounted on both cars and trucks.

Installing air suspension guarantees a number of advantages:

1. Changing the vehicle's ground clearance. To increase (decrease) the clearance, it is not necessary to change the springs or make major alterations. A few minutes of adjustment and the suspension sets the desired ground clearance.
2. Smooth ride off-road. The disadvantage of spring shock absorbers is their sensitivity to uneven roads, which requires maximum attention from the person behind the wheel. With air suspension it is simpler - vibrations are compensated, which reduces vehicle shaking to almost zero.
3. Comfort and controllability. Hard or soft springs have strengths and weaknesses. The former are suitable for asphalt roads, and the latter for off-road use. The advantage of air suspension is that it smooths out the disadvantages of different springs.
4. No drawdown. The air suspension guarantees optimal ground clearance even at maximum load, as the ground clearance can be easily adjusted to the required value. So it doesn't matter how many passengers are inside the vehicle.

Before deciding to install such a suspension, it is worth considering a number of its disadvantages:

1. The cost of air suspension is high, which discourages car enthusiasts. The money is used to purchase air bags, an air receiver, a compressor and other devices.
2. Not maintainable. If any of the system elements fails, the entire unit will have to be replaced. This leads to additional costs, which not all car enthusiasts are ready for.
3. Insufficient resistance to the negative effects of “chemicals” on the roads, frost, heat, and so on. Such factors lead to a decrease in the resource of the node. And if alcohol poured into a pillow can save you from the cold, then only the installation of original and expensive products will protect you from “chemicals” on the road.

The principle diagram of the air suspension looks like this.

Another scheme.

Reviews

The results of installing the air suspension can be judged by the reviews of motorists who have successfully completed the process:

1. Egor, Ford Fiesta.

“Great thing. If the price of the factory version were not so high, then it would take less time to install the air suspension. But in any case, I’m happy as an elephant. The car has become softer, “eats” potholes better, and passes speed bumps without problems.

2. Igor, VAZ-2110.

“I had a hard time installing the air suspension, but I was satisfied with the result. Now on the highway I lower the ground clearance, and when driving off-road I raise it to the maximum. The result was an explosive mixture of an all-terrain vehicle and a sports car.”

3. Alexander, Mitsubishi Lancer.

“I spent several weeks and almost 50 thousand on installing the air suspension. The result was amazing and I don’t regret for a second that I decided to do it. The car has become soft, it takes turns better, and it has become much more comfortable inside. So the installation of air suspension justified itself 100%.”

Manufacturing of air struts

Before manufacturing air struts, it is necessary to decide on the choice of pillows, based on the weight of the vehicle and the diameter of the springs.

You also need to take into account the location of the spring (separate from the shock absorber, or the shock absorber in the spring).

For a passenger car, the most common and universal air springs are Rubena 114x2, 114x3, 130x2 and 130x3. For heavier vehicles, the Dunlop 152x2, 152x3 and Rubena 170x2, 170x3 models are suitable.

To make air struts, we will need machined flanges and brackets to mount the air spring. Welding flange (for strut, shock absorber).

For sale on the websites there are ready-made flanges for the diameter of the air spring, as well as ready-made semi-kits. Flanges to match the diameter of your pillow and stand can be ordered from the dealer. The bracket can be a blind type (photo No. 1) (if the shock absorber is located separately from the air cushion), or with a hole in the center (photo No. 2) for the shock absorber shank (if the shock absorber is located inside the air cushion).

photo #1

photo No. 2

The platform for the spring is cut off from the rack and a flange is welded to mount the pillow. A brace is placed on the cushion. And it is tightened to the welded flange on the rack using bolts. A bracket is also put on the cushion from the top and bolted to the flange; a rubber seal is put on the rod from the top. Ready air strut.

If the rear shock absorbers are installed in springs, then the manufacturing process is similar.

If the rear shock absorber is separate from the spring, the manufacturing process becomes simpler. You won't have to weld anything anymore. Ready rear air spring (provided the shock absorber is located separately).

After air struts are manufactured, they must be checked for air leaks before installation. After checking, all that remains is to remove the old suspension and install a new one, stretch the hoses, wires, and connect the control unit. Installing an air suspension in specialized centers will cost quite a bit of money; ready-made air suspension kits or components, and installation by yourself will save you at least half of the budget.

Recommendations for use

For daily use in a wide variety of conditions, air suspensions demonstrate amazing durability and practicality. Regardless of the characteristics of the road surface, the driver feels the smoothness and softness of the car.

However, pneumatic shock absorbers have two weak points - low temperatures and sand. Therefore, if you have to operate the car in severe frost (-35 degrees), it is recommended to reduce the ground clearance to a minimum. This measure will protect the rubber elements from ruptures and ensure stability. In off-road conditions, where the vehicle is exposed to dirt and sand, the airbags can quickly fail. There is only one way to prevent malfunctions: use high-quality pneumatic systems to equip the machine.

Thus, to assemble an air suspension and install it on a car, it requires not only a lot of time and effort, but also minimal experience. A beginner is unlikely to be able to make pneumatics on his own. However, even if you have experience and special knowledge, it is better not to neglect the advice of experienced car enthusiasts and use only expensive and reliable components.

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Bonus.

And finally, just a cool video about a homemade pneumatic pistol with a high changeable caliber - potatoes. For those who have something like this lying around in their cellars since winter, I suggest switching to such a projectile. Moreover, production is as simple as shelling pears.

That's all. So we learned how to make air guns in the most difficult and limited conditions. Danila Bagrov with his plumbing sawn-off shotgun simply does not live up to the level. And due to the young age of the main participants, it’s even scary to imagine what will happen to hardball in 10 years. Stay with us, play, shoot, and most importantly, don’t keep all this higher-level nonsense in your head. Have a great weekend everyone.

Air suspension control

The control unit is responsible for controlling the air suspension. Usually there are up to 8 buttons on it, each of which allows you to adjust both one specific strut and all shock absorbers in the complex. To do this, a controller is installed in the car interior, which transmits indicators from each airbag to the driver. Depending on the road situation, the driver can either increase or decrease the air pressure in the airbag, while the vehicle’s ground clearance will be increased or decreased.

Convenient display shows the pressure in each pillow

In order to turn off the air suspension, just press the corresponding button on the controller. Immediately after turning off, the system will set the average ground clearance, and the pillows will begin to work like regular shock absorbers on springs.

Which compressor to choose for a homemade sandblasting installation

The most important element of any sandblasting installation - both industrial and homemade - is the compressor, with the help of which the required air flow pressure is created. For the use of an air sandblasting unit in domestic conditions, a compressor operating from an electrical power supply with a voltage of 220 V is quite suitable. The main thing is that such a device can provide a productivity of 300 l/min and produce an air pressure of at least 6–7 atm.

If it is not possible to find a receiver for such a compressor, then you can do without it, since air intake will be carried out in a constant mode. However, it is better if there is a receiver: it will avoid pressure drops at those moments when the compressor switches to different operating modes. In addition, with its help, the air entering the device system will be freed from moisture and oil inclusions.

Double-piston compressor with forced cooling with a capacity of 500 l/min

When choosing a compressor for your homemade sandblasting machine, you should keep in mind that there are two main types of such equipment.

Pressure type
In such devices, abrasive material is fed into the system under the influence of not only compressed air, but also its own mass. This equipment, which is of a professional type, is used in cases where high productivity of sandblasting work is required. With the help of such devices, which are equipped with compressors with a capacity of at least 5000 l/min, the surfaces of large metal and concrete structures are treated - bridges, building facades, ship hulls, carriages, etc. Such devices can be manufactured for domestic use, but not always expedient.

Injection type

In such equipment, only the pressure created by the air flow is used to supply abrasive material from an open container. It is devices of this type that are most often used to perform sandblasting in domestic conditions.