How to build your own surf rod rocket

[motormouth27]

I seen the surf rod rocket and I seen that it was 500 dollars and I thought I could build my own. I was woundering what would you need to build it and where you can buy the parts and peices???????????

[nautiduck]

Home depot would be a good place to start. Weve built them for years for shooting spuds. We use schedule 40 pvc the diameter will depend on the baits you plan to use. Youll need a 4' length for the barrell maybe 2" in diameter. A ball valve with a lever handle. I would probably use steel pipe and fittings for the air chamber plus it would be more secure to tap and thread a valve stem for the pressures you may need. You should be able to buy everything needed for way under $50. Ill draw a sketch later.

[motormouth27]

Are they legal?????????

[nautiduck]

Sorry I havent got to the sketch yet, about the legality that depends on your locality as far as the ATF by their definition it isnt a firearm so it doesnt technically fall under any firearm regulations, thats according to one of my close friends who just happens to be a special agent for the ATF. He is going to look into the issue and see if it falls under any other criteria. Alot of the issue depends on wether you build a pneumatic or combustive cannon. Combustive is more portable as it can be fueled by propane or even hairspray or ether and ignited by a hardwired stun gun. Pneumatic is safer and pretty much negates the legality issue as its powered by compressed air from say a 12volt portable tire inflator as long as it can put out about a 100 psi. I would just use PVC (its safe for 250+psi) I froze a couple of bullets for shits and giggles and 100 psi throws them several hundred yards.

[Ed k]

Better not get caught with one on NPS property.

[GiantSquid2008]

Sorry I havent got to the sketch yet, about the legality that depends on your locality as far as the ATF by their definition it isnt a firearm so it doesnt technically fall under any firearm regulations, thats according to one of my close friends who just happens to be a special agent for the ATF. He is going to look into the issue and see if it falls under any other criteria. Alot of the issue depends on wether you build a pneumatic or combustive cannon. Combustive is more portable as it can be fueled by propane or even hairspray or ether and ignited by a hardwired stun gun. Pneumatic is safer and pretty much negates the legality issue as its powered by compressed air from say a 12volt portable tire inflator as long as it can put out about a 100 psi. I would just use PVC (its safe for 250+psi) I froze a couple of bullets for shits and giggles and 100 psi throws them several hundred yards.

I built a "Spud launcher" that we used with the kids to launch potatoes into the air over the lake. A good spud easily goes 300 yards. Ours is driven by a three second spray of bug spray or hairspray and the click of a bar-b-que ignitor button. Plans are available for free on the internet. Google "Spud Gun"- they cost about $30 to make. These are not considered firearms by the ATF definition. However, they may be considered firearms by your local laws. Where I live a slurpee straw and a navy bean can be considered a firearm so you have to be careful. I'd never use one to launch bait, heck casting is half of the fun..

FYI, the sound of a high velocity raw potato splattering against a garbage dumpster is priceless!

[nautiduck]

Squid spud guns are about the best fun you can have on boring afternoon. I went the high tech route building one that will use either propane or compress air. It has a combustion/storage chamber of 4"x1 1/2' with a 2" ball valve followed by 2 1/2" barrel. The chamber has a schrader valve for filling with compressed air or propane. I converted a propane torch with a length of rubber hose, a pressure guage some 2 1/2" pvc to increase the capacity of the amount of propane and an air chuck I use a stun gun for spark wired into to contacts that have been epoxied into the chamber(ultra reliable). For the compressed air close the ball valve, load your spud, use a compressor to pressurize the tank to 100 lbs pop the valve and you know the rest. For the propane, MAKE SURE THE VALVE IS OPEN (when I use propane I open the valve and take the handle off), load your potato, open the valve on the propane tank till it reaches correct pressure close the propane tank push the air chuck to the schrader valve (like the compressor) when its done hit the button and Boom flying mashed potatos. As far as using one in the NPS if your using compressed air one of the rangers said it wasnt a problem, only the combustible ones are illegal.

[tfulwiler]

Do you have a drawing for that surf rod rocket? I can't see payn the big corps 500 dollars when its about 50 dollars..