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Forewarned76
WIP Flamethrower
Mar 29 2009, 5:39 AM EDT | Post edited: Apr 1 2009, 4:11 PM EDT
WARNING: BUILD AT YOUR OWN RISK
How to turn a caulking gun into a flamethrower that uses Ronson 42oz. butane canisters
First, find a decent quality manual caulking gun, it should have a bit of heft to it and not rattle too much when you shake it,
Next find a small metal condiment dish that will fit flush in the end of the gun, drill a small hole in the center of the dish that will allow the small end of the butane nozzle to fit through easily and set it aside
Next take a piece of PVC pipe that's the same diameter as the dish and cut a piece approx. half the length of the caulking gun this is your cartridge chamber, it should hold the can centered and stable,
Fit the dish into the end of the PVC chamber until the dish's lip fits almost flush with the end of the chamber. Fill the slight gap between with Epoxy resin, and let it set.
Once the epoxy has set, slip your butane can into the chamber, it should fit reasonably snug. If it doesn't, make a small spacer from thinwall PVC pipe
For your flamethrower's igniter, I recomend using a Bernzomatic flexible utility lighter. The flame is windproof and it has an LED light
Position the lighter with its igniter switch on the side of your weak hand. I recommend making a cementing a hose clamp to the bottom of the caulking gun and using it to secure the lighter to the whole unit.
To load, place the butane cartridge into the chamber, when the nozzle comes through the hole in the pan, lay chamber and all into the bed of the caulking gun, and squeeze the the trigger until the plunger gently rests on the back of the can. Give the unit a quick shake and you're ready to roll.
I'm surprised none of the aussies considered making one of these to help deal with their mouse plagues... Did I say that? Do you find this valuable?    
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Forewarned76
1. RE: WIP Flamethrower Ammo
Mar 29 2009, 6:34 AM EDT | Post edited: Apr 1 2009, 4:08 PM EDT
WARNING: ATTEMPT AT YOUR OWN RISK
Now that you have your flamethrower, you're going to need ammo for it. Now you can buy 42oz Ronson butane cans off your local wal-mart shelf, but to get them to work, they need a little modification
---==|=
Ronson Butane Nozzle
The nozzle of your butane can should look somewhat like the above illustration. What we need to focus on here is the thicker part of the nozzle "==" and the circle shaped stop "|"
To modify (1) canister, you shall need:
a length of copper tubing
a tubing cutter (the kind with a wheel)
measuring calipers
superglue
epoxy resin (optional)
Use the calipers to measure both the length of the "==" part of the nozzle and the diameter of the "|" stop. Write down your measurements.
Find some copper tubing with a smaller diameter than the "|" stop and cut yourself a 1' length
Cut a small piece of the end thats approx. the length of the "=="
Or you can try cutting the base off of a spent .22LR shell with your tubing cutter
Run a small line of superglue around the base of the "==" and seat the piece of tubing onto the "|"stop, keeping it centered.
Once the super glue has firmly set, fill the space between the tubing and the "==" with more superglue, or if you skilled enough epoxy resin.
Once everything has had time to set, test your cartridge with your thrower's cartridge chamber, it should work reasonably smoothly Do you find this valuable?