Homemade QFD

Guides and discussions about building water blasters and other water warfare devices such as water balloon launchers.
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isoaker
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Homemade QFD

Post by isoaker » Sat Dec 14, 2013 5:37 pm

Thread from the WWn Wiki - originally developed by Andrew
Contents
[hide]

1 Introduction
2 Items Required
3 Construction


[edit] Introduction

A QFD (Quick Fill Device) is a part of the Super Charger system found on some Super Soaker blasters between 1999 and 2002. It allowed the user to pressurise the blaster directly from a mains water hose, without the need to pump the blaster, or fill the reservoir. These blasters had a special connector on them which fitted inside a QFD hose attachment, allowing water to enter the PC.

The QFD design on this page can be used either to convert an existing blaster to be SC-capable, or to create a homemade blaster with this capability. A similar technique can be used to repair a damaged SC-capable blaster. This system allows the user to fire the blaster whilst pressurising the PC.


NOTE: This design is NOT currently compatible with existing Super Soaker (or similar) QFD's. If used with a pressurised reservoir blaster, some pumping will still be required to fully pressurise the blaster, although less overall pumping will be required. This guide is based on a QFD system for a copper homemade, although similar parts are available in PVC.
[edit] Items Required

Waterstop hose connector
1/2" or 3/4" Threaded tap connector (female threaded)
Check valve
1/2" or 3/4" connector (male threaded)
Copper or PVC pipe (at whatever diameter the rest of the components are compatible with).
Homemade / Stock water blaster
Adjustable wrench (for copper compression fittings) or blowtorch (for copper solder ring/end-feed fittings) or PVC primer and solvent weld (for PVC fittings).

Reference images of items 1-4 are located at the bottom opf the page.
[edit] Construction

For this guide, I will be using 15mm copper pipe, a 15mm to 1/2" male threaded connector, a 3/4" female thread tap connector with a 3/4" to 1/2" adaptor (to connect it to the 1/2" male threaded connector) and a 15mm single check valve. These components are not the 'be-all and end-all' and similar substitutions can be made.

This guide has been created assuming the reader has basic experience of working with copper/PVC pipe and associated fittings. If this is not the case, then instructions for applying PVC primer and solvent weld can be found at SSCentral.


Firstly, you need to cut the pipe into short lengths. These lengths will be used to connect the fittings together. Remember, the pipe will fit inside of the fittings, therefore It is recommended that you measure the depth of the fittings, to help you find the length of pipe required.


At this point it is advised to fit all of the components together WITHOUT tightening or solvent welding the components together. This step ensures that all pipes are the correct length, and will give you an idea of where all of the pieces fit together.

The 15mm to 1/2" threaded connector should be located at one end, with a short length of pipe connecting it and the check valve. The check valve will have a direction of flow arrow, and this should point AWAY from the threaded connector. A piece of pipe leaving the check valve will be used to connect the QFD system to the rest of the water blaster.


The next step is to fit the components together more permanently using either PVC primer and solvent weld or a wrench. Connect the QFD components together BEFORE connecting anything to the blaster. It will be less costly if you make a mistake.


When all of the components are fitted together, the threaded tap connector can be fitted to the end of the 1/2" threaded connector via the 3/4" to 1/2" adaptor.


The waterstop fitting attaches to a standard garden hose. it has a built-in valve which opens when you connect it to a tap connector and allows you to quickly connect and disconnect from the blaster, without needing to turn off the water supply at the tap.
:: Leave NO one dry! :: iSoaker.com .:

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