Anyone Know How to Build a Thunderpipe

CookFX Productions

CookFX Productions

Well-known member
I was looking around and couldnt find any details or at least missed them on how to build a thunderpipe. I was hoping maybe some pyros here on the forum might have the lowdown on the supply list and how I would put one togeathe safely without blowing myself up. Because I know you cant buy them anyone more. Help me if you can.

Brian.
 
you just have to make a pvc comression chamber with a 1/4" npt fill valve, and a pressure gauge + blow off valve plumbed into it, and then use a high flow sprinkler valve from the outlet of the tank connected to a copper (or pvc if you want but its more likely to shatter after repeated useage) debris/fuel container. use the proper voltage from a battery(s) on a switch to operate the sprinkler valve to release the compressed air into the debris chamber, and thats alll there is to it. use the picture here as a general guide.
http://www.detonationfilms.com/ThunderpipeFX.htm
your design can be whatever you want as long as its air tight, and is designed with saftey in mind. Should run you about 25.00 from home depot or similar place all said and done. the sprinkler valve and the gauge + valves are the only real cost. you can order your valves and gauges from www.mcmaster.com if you have any trouble findeing them locally. your gauge only need go up to apx 100psi since even that high is pretty dangerous and you should generally stick with much lower pressure. build it at your own risk.
 
Sounds easyier than it looks i was more confused on the chamber from the pictures it didnt look like it was PVC, thanks Neil. One more thinganyone know how they where they doing the explosions where they filling the tank with propane and adding a grill starter? Where you would put the electric grill starter and so on.
 
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the trick is to use kerosene or something which is flammable but not so combustable as propane (dry non dairy creamer works well too but is more delayed and dangerous because it blows with the wind as it ignites), you could never use anything that would actually explode like that. then just stick a propane torch up above the debris chamber so that the pipe blows the kerosene up through the flame. sort of like how a flame eater blows fire. what your actually making is a big sutained fireball and not an actual explosion which would devestate everthing around it from a sharp increase in barometric pressure and shrapnel and actually put out any fire in the near vacinity.
 
I'm looking for specific plans if anyone has them.
Yeah, I'm handy with gun powder and smoke pods but not this stuff.
PM with info or share info/info, work/work, trade/trade would be cool or some kind of trade.

//Just got a PM, haha. That's-> info on how to build a non-explosive thunder pipe. Not a bomb. :)
 
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I want one too. Ever since I saw how Band of Brothers did it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qaiut9O50MU (I ripped that a while ago) I'm not that into it to go out, buy the parts, not make it look like im making an illegal potato gun, and put them all together. plus, my dad would probably not let me do it anyway. :P
 
Yeah, Im sure some people can look at the pic and know how to build it.
My worrys are I don't know the what's and whys and I don't feel like blowing my fingers off trying to figure it out.

A blueprint with some info behind the purpose of each part would be good.

wreck2: By that video, it sounds like it's fairly safe for the actors to cross over the pod if it's loaded with the proper materials. And it looks great.

What is that dirt material again? I forget the name of it. Peat moss or something? It's a very light material you thow in your garden that looks like big chunks of dirt but has a low mass like styrofoam.

Is this the stuff I was thinking of? This is Peat. Not sure if that's the right material I'm thinking of.

 
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I have the overall concept on how to build it besides one thing and thats how to get the grill starter into the tubes and not have it melt and get clogged up in between uses of different media. I use a similar concept But i call it the blood canon, its a system of hoses built into a thin vest, that run back to sprinkler valves, and then a water cooler tank full of fake blood, and then behind that is air tank. The valve works off a servo and I have multiple triggers on a RC controller to open the valves and they release the blood and pressure out the line and out of the vest. Makes quite the bullet wound.
 
A pressure vessel at about 10 bar with a fast valve (solenoid will do) leading to a vertical pipe will work. Put petrol in the pipe and put a gas pilot light on it.

Its dangerous, be careful.
 
What kind of compressor is that in the Thunderpipe picture ?


I've searched thunderpipe and nothing comes up but that guys product. Is there another name ?



.
 
It used to be made by Joel at spudtech, but he has recently come into some legal problems and has closed his site down.

I could build one very easily, its not a complicated device.
 
Yea It seems to be pretty easy, but just wanted to know what kind of compressor to use ?


So he's the inventor/maker or did someone else invent this thing and he copied it ?
 
there is no compressor on it. read my above post on it and i detail some items to build one. what looks like a compressor there is only a section of large diameter PVC tube with an endcap and other end downsized and adapted to a threaded coupler to attatch the sprinkler valve.. pre-drill and thread in your PSI gauge, NPT fill valve, and blow-off valve.. and then you paint it black.
 
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