[Hellstryker]

http://www.jeffhove.com/robots/coilgunhowto.html

Very interesting, I think i'm going to do it. just figured I'd post it here if anyone wants to know, but for the love of good don't kill yourselves

[Snail]

That's cool. Probably won't do it though, zip guns are safer and much more fun.

[Colonol Dekker]

Are they the ones made from old car ariels? They ain't safe. I put a nail through my mates foot when i was fourteen.

[neo_hermes]

Are they the ones made from old car ariels? They ain't safe. I put a nail through my mates foot when i was fourteen.

were you sober?

[Colonol Dekker]

At fourteen yes. I was EVIL purest unadulterated EVIL. Malicious, mean and a bully. I got worse in the forces but then i mellowed due to two pounds of flying shrapnel. zip guns lol. I've not thought of those for a while.

[neo_hermes]

well your older...and you drink maybe you'll be able to control it this time... Just make sure everyone's behind u...

[Snail]

Are they the ones made from old car ariels? They ain't safe. I put a nail through my mates foot when i was fourteen.

I make mine out of loose piping, like normal people.

[Hellstryker]

They'e not dangerous unless your a complete moron or actually -want- to hurt someone/yourself 

[colecampbell666]

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lego+chain+gun&search_type=

I'd rather have a PAC (Potato gun), much more fun.

Or my paintball gun.

[Colonol Dekker]

I just actually opened the link at the top and skimmed it. Any mention of magnetising the ammo? I only caught a mention of bb pellets. I thought the ammo need polarities in or against conjunction of the coil? I ain't got a clue but i know it shouldn't be inert or the power requirements skyrocket..

[Hellstryker]

I think it works so long as the projectiles are iron, not sure though.

As for a PAC, they're loud, bulky, and overused.
I'm talking about a portable firearm for a range or somthing.

[Androgeos Exeunt]

MASS DRIVER! WHEEE!

[MarkN]

Another coilgun..
In the 1967 Eric Laithwaite described how to make a linear accellarator at home, including a simple half-phase 3-phase converter to power it using normal house power supplies (I think it was actually cut to 16v first, for safety reasons). Of course, it would probably be illegal, even in the US, due to technically being an automatic weapon (anything conductive placed inside the coils would be accelarated, with a single barrel fire rate theoretically exceeding any machine gun, due to the possibility of having several shots in the barrel at once). A 16v, 50-60Hz version probably wouldn't be particularly effective, but a long-barrelled, highvoltage version  has be considered for space launch.