So. A while back a mate and I were considering

safeman · Oct 8, 2012

So.

A while back a mate and I were considering building a bait launcher of sorts - we played around with the butane/hairspray type of design but the shock leader, she no like da heat and I think it contaminates the bait from an odoriferous point of view ...

So I built one that uses compressed air (that can be recharged quite quickly at the beach with a small 7.5 ah battery like the one in your gate opener) and a small portable compressor (available from any scrapper that sells parts from higher-end vehicles that use space-saver tyres).

Here is the video of the most recent shoot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01-gSLI4ybw

Once I had sorted out how to present the bait I could test it last week at Plett. It is shooting well over 220m with the 5ft barrel screwed in but I am sure I can get it to 300m with the new design I am working on for 2013...

Just 2 things:

(1) If you want to build one it is relatively easy but PM me or post here as there are 1 or 2 safety considerations to consider when you release 8 bar into PVC. PVC does not show up on Xrays BTW

(2) Yes, yes I KNOW how to pendulum cast all of my many rods and I'm sure you do too and that this tool is no purist's handmade bamboo fly rod blahblahblah BUT can you cast a whole sard plus 150ml of chum plus an 8 ounce sinker over 200m? Besides - this is way more fun, man!

(Also may prove useful in the event that I meet someone intent on relieving me of my valuables while I am at the beach - I can see the Coroner's report now: Death by flying sardine (and 8 ounces of lead...

)

TotalNoob · Oct 8, 2012

Nice one, what are you targetting mainly? Sharks?

Combustion potatoe guns will land you in hot water because they are illegal, so good for using air pressure.

I couldnt see in the video, what is your trigger mechanism?
ball valve?

safeman · Oct 8, 2012

Sometimes the beaches I fish are not very "steep" with banks that are quite far out - I want to find out whether I can pickup big Steenies and Kob on the front or the rear of the furthest bank.

Trigger is a big 'ol ball valve that needs to be released really quickly. If you do decide to try this make sure you use at least Class 9 (or better yet, class 16) High Pressure PVC pipe and class 16 fittings throughout.

AYOBA! · Oct 8, 2012

to make it faster you can modify a sprinkler valve and trigger it electrically, but it is a bit costly.

safeman · Oct 8, 2012

I have looked at that option but the only ones I could find locally restricted the flow too much by cutting down on the pipe diameter that the propellant air has to flow through.

One of the few instances in life where the wider the hole, the better....

Martinva · Oct 8, 2012

Brilliant safeman !!

Wonder if something like this will work in freshwater (carp angling) ?

safeman · Oct 8, 2012

I haven't tried it but I'm sure it would be fine - you just put your baited book into the bait mold to freeze and fill with water and lots of those funny pellets you chaps use

As the bait defrosts on the lakebed the pellets would dispurse as chum slowly around your bait.

AYOBA! · Oct 8, 2012

one of the guys doing freshwater have done it...
http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=60970&forum_id=80&highlight=bom+kanon

Martinva · Oct 9, 2012

Thanks Ayoba !

AYOBA! · Oct 9, 2012

enjoy!

TotalNoob · Oct 9, 2012

safeman wrote:

Sometimes the beaches I fish are not very "steep" with banks that are quite far out - I want to find out whether I can pickup big Steenies and Kob on the front or the rear of the furthest bank.

Trigger is a big 'ol ball valve that needs to be released really quickly. If you do decide to try this make sure you use at least Class 9 (or better yet, class 16) High Pressure PVC pipe and class 16 fittings throughout.

Well there is your problem lol

By the time you open the ball valve a quarter of the way the projectile is already out the chamber and over half of your pressure is wasted.You can shoot this thing up to 400 m+ if you use a better trigger mechanism to dump all the air out in milliseconds.Will post a pic for you just now...

TotalNoob · Oct 9, 2012

TotalNoob wrote:

safeman wrote:

Sometimes the beaches I fish are not very "steep" with banks that are quite far out - I want to find out whether I can pickup big Steenies and Kob on the front or the rear of the furthest bank.

Trigger is a big 'ol ball valve that needs to be released really quickly. If you do decide to try this make sure you use at least Class 9 (or better yet, class 16) High Pressure PVC pipe and class 16 fittings throughout.

Click to expand...

Well there is your problem lol

By the time you open the ball valve a quarter of the way the projectile is already out the chamber and over half of your pressure is wasted.You can shoot this thing up to 400 m+ if you use a better trigger mechanism to dump all the air out in milliseconds.Will post a pic for you just now...

Use this valve, it will empty all the air quick quick and shoot furthur

http://www.spudfiles.com/spud_wiki/index.php?title=Diaphragm_valve

AYOBA! · Oct 9, 2012

this valve is cool and easy to make, thanks TotalNoob!

RINKELS · Dec 23, 2015