Additions:
This thing is amazing. I slit my Wilson tennis balls and put in 12 pennies - I read about using them somewhere. 1st shot @50 psi and nearly straight up - the tennis ball went damn near out of sight. Today I loaded it up to 70 psi and shot the tennis ball over a 75 + foot tree...the tennis ball cleared it and then some...and continued onward about another 150 feet distant. Sounds like a mortar round launching - KA THUUUUUNK !
I do have a few suggestions:
After fabricating the air tank and drilling the 3 holes (air gauge, Schrader fill valve, and pressure relief valve), stick a shop vac hose on the tank outlet to vacuum out any pvc leavings from the drill-and-tap procedure. Do this before installing anything in the 3 holes. Use Teflon plumbing tape and wrap the threaded end of each item with three turns of tape before installing.
Lightly sand with 100 grit paper all interconnecting sections of pipe, adapters, air tank endcaps, and Rainbird valve inlet and outlet. Wipe out any pvc dust with a damp cloth. Dry fit all the pvc parts before applying primer. This allows a good understanding of how it all goes together and ensures all parts fit as they should.
Before washing the pvc in warm water and dishwashing soap, use mineral spirits or Goof-Off on a paper towel to remove any adhesive residue.
Howard Walker
I had mentioned in my previous post here that I use a pneumatic antenna launcher by Alan, WB6ZQZ. Here is the URL to Alan's excellent page where he describes how he engineered and designed these. He sells them as kits or assembled. You can also follow his design and scrounge the parts yourself:
http://www.antennalaunchers.com/∞
In any case, I get a lot of use out of this launcher when camping, as well as back home when I'm trying to clear trees or insane bramble.
Considering the fact that my launcher has easily cleared trees in excess of 150 feet (!), this has been VERY useful! You'll also suddenly be invited to virtually every Field Day site in your area (unless they don't have trees hi hi).
73,
Jack, K6JEB
www.k6jeb.com
Deletions:
See picture.
Deletions:
I have a problem to find these diameter of nylon covered wire, you used.
It would be excellent if you have possibility to send me one meter or so.
Need also some suitable crimps.
No differences.
Additions:
9/2008
6/2008
Hello Alan!
All OK I hope!
It's very difficult to remove the line from ball loop after a shot. Even with a sharp nails...!
Particularly after a while when line have been a little shattering.
I have put a small plastic pearl on the ball loop wire, 3.5mm diameter and 1mm hole.
Now It's very easy to remove the line.
See picture.
I have a problem to find these diameter of nylon covered wire, you used.
It would be excellent if you have possibility to send me one meter or so.
Need also some suitable crimps.
73/
Ingvar
SM6CBQ
Additions:
Alan,
We have been using our launcher with great success here in Truckee ... except the other day a tennis ball got stuck a tree and the line broke so we lost a bunch of line and then some of the remaining line have pine sap on it so we cut that off also so it wouldn't get onto the bow hunting spindle.
Thanks,
Barry K6ST
Truckee
Alan thought I'd drop you a line to tell you the Air Launcher works great.....
Hi Alan, tnx for excellent product. It worked just great. What a pleasure to use. Sure made my launching of wire over trees just a breeze, first time too. My friend calls me dead eye NOW. haha.
Deletions:
Alan though I drop you a line to tell you the Air Launcher works great.....
Hi Alan, tnx for excellent product. It worked just great.What a pleasure to use. Sure made my launching of wire over trees just a breeze ,first time too. My friend calls me dead eye NOW. haha.
Additions:
2/2009
Additions:
Hello, Alan-
I have just determined, after exhaustive testing over the past week, that the CSV17 I built will carry a line over any tree (or structure) I desire. I doubt there exists a tree in this hemisphere tall enough to thwart this launcher.
I'm all through doing it the hard way-
Good design!
I'm featuring the launcher at this quarter's Communications Conference. It ought to be a hit.
Thanks again-
Keith Savoy, Capt CAP
NCWG Director of Communications
Additions:
3/2008
Hi Alan, tnx for excellent product. It worked just great.What a pleasure to use. Sure made my launching of wire over trees just a breeze ,first time too. My friend calls me dead eye NOW. haha.
Ted wb9jox
Additions:
3/2009
4/2008
Alan though I drop you a line to tell you the Air Launcher works great.....
Takes a little playing to get the right pressure for the right height....but it works super..
...
-Bill Winkis
Deletions:
Marin QRP to Alan 3/2009
Additions:
Here are a few reports from the field.
No differences.
Pneumatic Antenna Launcher Field Reports
Marin QRP to Alan 3/2009
Hello Alan,
I am late writing this, but better late than never.
I've had some great results with the launcher I bought from you.
I've used it in three locations, but more than three times.
Two of the locations had 100' plus trees. One tree was a Eucalyptus in
San Rafael along the 101 freeway and another tree was a pine tree up the coast in
Gualala. The pine tree had 250 feet of wire to make a very big sloper.
Very good.
Thanks and 73,
Rem
K6BBQ