I finished my gunmaker apprenticeship project. Maybe I can graduate to "gunmaker"now???
A little fun here. Probably verboten with the rules. But it's a single shot and dare I say; a fine gun. So maybe the moderators, that are allowing all the other BS that goes on this site now, will allow this little diversion.
About 5-6 weeks ago, I made a kind of a test mule for a pneumatic tennis ball launcher. I was just testing the concept and it was a crude setup of a pipe of the right size an irrigation valve and a small fire extinguisher tank, all in a straight line. With a 100 psi, it launched a ball down the street pretty far and more importantly, with great finess. My plan was to make a double tennis ball launcher.
Well, the best laid plans... The neighbors were down for our little daily happy hour and dog playdate. The wife, husband and daughter all shot it and were thrilled. Later the wife asked if I could make a bespoke piece for her husband as she was at a loss as to what to give him for Christmas. I figured 'what the heck' sure I'd build one. Something simple and quick. That was what? 5-6 weeks ago? I think I have a time card at my friend's shop now. They start at 6 a.m.. I made that starting time exactly zero times. Somewhere around 8 to 10 am is my comfort time.
The design evolved over the first few weeks and kinda jelled into this O/U design. Somewhere along the path, the client changed from tennis ball caliber to small potato and assorted veggie caliber.
These pictures show it "in the white" as it is now. The "client" was shown the fully assembled article for the first time tonight. Originally, I was "contracted" to just make it and she would finish it in a flat dark earth rattle can finish. But when shown it, she was so taken with the machined and fabricated finish that she wanted it to show. So, we're currently undecided on "in the white" or a chromic anodize color.
Enjoy.
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