I have spent a long, long time researching paint grenades. I have spent
an
equally long time surveying peoples experiences of using paint grenades.
Paint grenades fall into two basic categories: explosive, and "splatter".
Explosive grenades use a small charge, usually no larger than a firecracker,
to break open a paper shell and spew out the paint contents. They are
usually
lit with a fuse or use a pull-pin.
The model is the M-69. The paint tends to fly out
in sloppy chunks, if
it flies out at all, due to the fact a distressing number of grenades
tend to
be duds. The grenades that I know of that fall into this category are:
the
M-69 made by Strange Ordnance; a grenade made by Enola Gay (brand name
unknown); and a grenade made by Pro-Line (brand name unknown). Of these,
the
only one used extensively is the M-69, which is odd seeing as how it
has the
greatest overall failure rate. Now let me interject the final word
here about
explosive grenades: I DON'T LIKE THEM. The reason they set me on edge
so much
is twofold. One, I don't care how small the charge is in the grenade,
it is
still an explosive, and as such threatens everyones safety, including
your
mask and goggle system. Two, paintball still labors under a negative
public
image. I'm not helping matters admittedly by encouraging a "scale-model
wargame" atmosphere with my ideas and plans, however my point is; if
the
public at large hears about us tossing EXPLOSIVE materials at each
other,
it's all over, all of it. Strange Ordnance are you paying attention?
I admit
these grenades are fun, the go boom, hell I want to play with one.
But they
don't, repeat don't engender a safe atmosphere. Okay, that's off my
chest.
Now on to the good stuff!! Okay, where was I, the second category of
grenade
is the "splatter" kind. Grenades which fall into this category are:
the
SquadBuster by Tippmann.
The Little Betty the grenade which you will be making here, and water
balloons. These type of grenades rely on paint under pressure to hurl
their
contents onto targets. So let's begin shall we?
Materials needed:
A section of 1/8" rubber tubing about a foot long.(available at hose
supply stores, medical supply stores, or chemistry supply
stores.) Alternately, you could use a used SquadBuster.
A plastic clip tie
A large syringe ( if you don't have medical friends, you can find syringe
like "emergency pumps for basketballs" in your local sporting goods
store)
Some paint (either boiled down paintballs or childrens washable non-toxicpaint
A pair of hemostats
Some ball bearings of slightly larger diameter than the tubing (you
can find
these in your hardware store)
Some cotter pins
Some alcohol
A rubber band (optional)
A target
1) Take the tubing, and Pinch it down tight in the middle. If you want
to
make smaller; Little Betty type grenades, use only a six inch length
and tie
off one end of the tubing. If you're using an old SquadBuster, this
is
already done for you.
2) Fill the syringe with the paint mixture and inject it into one side
of the
tubing. Leave about 2 to 2.5 inches at the top empty.
3) Before you remove the syringe, crimp off the tubing below it with
the
hemostats. The filled section of tubing should look like a hotdog.
4) Lubricate one of the ball bearings with the alcohol and insert it
into the
tubing above the hemostats. If you still have the cap from the SquadBuster,
just fold the tubing tip over and place the cap on.
5) Insert one of the cotter pins above the ball bearing, through the
tubing.
Or place the old SquadBuster pin through the hole in the cap. Leave
the
hemostat on until the alcohol dries. If you are making a Little Betty
type
grenade, you are now done.
6) Take the other empty side and repeat the process, except use the
same
cotter pin to hold both bearings in.
7) If you want the grenade to have maximum area coverage with a smaller
paint
coverage, simply leave as is. However, if you want maximum paint coverage
put
a weak rubber band around the grenade. The theory being this: When
you pull
the cotter pin out and throw the grenade, the non-banded kind will
fall
apart, pointing in two different directions. The banded kind will however,
spray a greater amount of paint at a specific area. However, both types
will
spray in a radius because the release of pressure will make the hose
tip wag
around.
I have tested one of these, they do work, and expect about a 5 to 6
foot
spray radius. Remember VERY IMPORTANT: get a good arc on these or try
to
throw it at something hard (like a bunker right behind your target)
because
you need to get enough pressure when it hits to push out the bearing
(or
knock off the cap). Conversely, after you have pulled the pin, DON'T
squeeze
the grenade or you will get very, very messy! Also, after you pull
the pin,
if you notice a small amount of leaking paint, throw it quickly or
it will
blow soon! And this should be the final result:
So there you go folks, hope you enjoy it. If you try this out, email
me an
let me know your results or send me some pictures. I am also interested
in
anyone using these as cannon or mortar ammo! Please let me know if
you try
this! Thank you all and happy painting!
