Hi TCI Folks,
Just thought I'd share this fun throwline device with you (see, this is what arises when it's been single digits and below zero degrees F, with 3 feet of snow all winter, and major cabin fever ). I call it the "Longshot". It's a bit overly complicated for packing it in, but it can be reasonably portable. Components (in order) are: 1) Motorcycle Battery; 2) Jumper Cables; 3) Small Portable Air Compressor; 4) PVC tube with pressure valve stem on end (like on a car tire); 5) 1.25" Ball Valve rated at 150 PSI at 73 degrees F threaded to another length of PVC: the barrel(the threading is important so the barrel can be disconnected from the pressure tube, for shorter length and easier travel). The throwline and throwbag are placed in the barrel. I used a 10 oz. throwbag with 150 ft. orange slickline from NewTribe. With the ball valve closed (!), pressure is increased in the chamber between the valve stem and ball valve. To release the throwbag, the ball valve is opened. Even in the earliest attempts, at 110 PSI, the end of the 150 ft. throwline disappeared into the sky, even with my Converse tennis shoe attached to the end, and it seems to have good accuracy so far. I did spray some silicone into the barrel to minimize friction. This is just the first prototype. The possibilities are endless. I've planned some modifications to make it shorter, with some elbows in the long PVC pieces, and possibly extra valves for multiple shots. Word to the wise: pressurized pipes can be dangerous. Be safe! Any comments or ideas?
Enjoying tree-time in the winter,
Ogham (Alex in New Mexico)

Will post pix soon

That sounds like a fun toy to play with!

oooooh yeaaa...pneumatic cannons are a BLAST!

Here's the full view of the Long Shot. Until I figure out to post more than one pix at a time, that will have to do. U2U me if any questions.

& yes SRT-Tech & Leon, it's wayyyy too much fun to play with & a blast (PHOOSH!! surprisingly not so loud, though )

I'll have to bring the next phase to the Rendevous in Colorado 07

N'joying winter climbs @ 7800 ft. elev. in NM,
Ogham

So... I think it can be "loaded" using a bicycle pump, yes?

Will you be able to caibrate height of the shot per psi load?

Welcome to the board, looking forward to more of your reports and photos.
-moss

After a near fatal explosion of my 4" PVC pressure chamber I gladly hacked my cannon into parts that fit in the trash barrel. PVC fractures like a grenade if over pressured and luckly for my son the end cap blew off; gouged the yellow pine deck; bounced up and barely missed his face and stuck in the house siding.

I thought I had it all covered with a pressure guage; relief valve set at 150psi and electric sprinkler valve. But the weakest _link_ is always the one that breaks.

Not one to ever give up I replaced the pressure chamber pipe with a _meta_l tank that used to hold oxygen. With all heavy weight _meta_l fittings my fear of blowing up is relieved. For even longer shots I have an old freon storage tank that holds great amounts of air ( it barely fits in a 5 gallon pickle bucket)

My advice is to not use PVC for storage and my son agrees.

See you at the top,

Dan