blike Posted June 17, 2004 Share Posted June 17, 2004 My brother and I built a spud canoon this past week, but we're having trouble finding a reliable means of igniting the fuel. We're using common aerosol hairspray as the propellent, but we can't seem to find a good way to spark it inside the chamber. We started out using a flint lantern lighter, but that only worked a few times before it was so coated with hairspray and other crap that it wouldn't spark anymore. I just tried using a BBQ lighter, but it only worked one or two times. I'm looking for a CHEAP and RELIABLE way to spark in a low-oxygen environment. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap'n Refsmmat Posted June 17, 2004 Share Posted June 17, 2004 You could get a piezoelectric lighter from something like a gas fireplace. Those should produce a spark even when wet, because all that is there to get wet is two wires. Just press the red button, and BANG! EDIT: Which reminds me of the famous last words, "I wonder what this button does?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blike Posted June 17, 2004 Author Share Posted June 17, 2004 I bought a grill ignition button, but I had problems implementing it. At first, I wired it to two screws which were millimeters apart inside the chamber. It worked a few times, but it wasn't really consistent. I'm looking for something maybe battery powered that will work every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap'n Refsmmat Posted June 17, 2004 Share Posted June 17, 2004 What type of screws were these? They might not have been very conductive. One thing you could do is just wire up a 9-volt battery to a switch, and have two wires go into the camber next to each other. The thing is, I believe a piezoelectric igniter uses much higher voltages (but at low current) then that, so it may not work unless the spark gap is tiny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blike Posted June 17, 2004 Author Share Posted June 17, 2004 I thought about the 9volt thing, but it wasn't enough. Some people have hooked up their tazer guns to bolts going into the cannon [several thousand volts], but I don't have that kind of money to waste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap'n Refsmmat Posted June 17, 2004 Share Posted June 17, 2004 Ever tried a model rocket igniter? I bet one of those would work well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgerlica Posted June 17, 2004 Share Posted June 17, 2004 How bulky are you willing to get with this? And have you considered using butane as the fuel? They sell it in convenient little cans for recharging lighters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap'n Refsmmat Posted June 17, 2004 Share Posted June 17, 2004 The propellant in hairspray is butane! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgerlica Posted June 17, 2004 Share Posted June 17, 2004 I thought about the 9volt thing, but it wasn't enough. Some people have hooked up their tazer guns to bolts going into the cannon [several thousand volts'], but I don't have that kind of money to waste. Automobile ignition coil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blike Posted June 17, 2004 Author Share Posted June 17, 2004 I'm trying to stay <$10 on the ignition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blike Posted June 17, 2004 Author Share Posted June 17, 2004 Ever tried a model rocket igniter? I bet one of those would work well. I may try that, but they're expensive :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgerlica Posted June 17, 2004 Share Posted June 17, 2004 OMG Really? Vinyl Acetate Crotonic Acid Neodecanate Copolymer - Hairspray fixative yhat would be fouling the igniter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lance Posted June 17, 2004 Share Posted June 17, 2004 If you can find an old TV you can use a flyback transformer. An automobile ignition coil would work too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgerlica Posted June 17, 2004 Share Posted June 17, 2004 CHEAP PARTS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blike Posted June 17, 2004 Author Share Posted June 17, 2004 CHEAP PARTS link isn't working for me. Part name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgerlica Posted June 17, 2004 Share Posted June 17, 2004 Ignition coil for 89 Ford ranger, 2wd, 4cyl 2.3l fi, distributor type ignition. $14.95 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YT2095 Posted June 18, 2004 Share Posted June 18, 2004 why not use a toy Cap gun? ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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