Thread: What can I build using a 4" stroke and 1/2" bore?

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My neighbor gave me this cylinder because the threads were the 10-32 UNF and he didn't have any fittings that would fit something that small. Since I have this cylinder, I wish to use it on something I just don't know what I can use it with since it is so small. Any suggestions?

I have several about that size and have been trying to come up with ideas on how to use them. The problem is a 1/2" bore doesn't have a lot of lifting power unless you use very high PSI. I'm doing a swamp area this year and I was looking at using one to flick an alligator tail in the water and a couple others to move snakes in the trees.

My son thinks I should make a candy thrower.

Originally Posted by fravak

I have several about that size and have been trying to come up with ideas on how to use them. The problem is a 1/2" bore doesn't have a lot of lifting power unless you use very high PSI. I'm doing a swamp area this year and I was looking at using one to flick an alligator tail in the water and a couple others to move snakes in the trees.

My son thinks I should make a candy thrower.

I love your son's idea!

This is just a thought....

Grainger sells an adapter to convert the 10-32 to a 1/16" barb fitting so you can supply it with air.

Instead of lifting, what about compressing?

I tried to build something like an expanding rack. My mistake was that I used steel and it was too heavy. I should have used wood. The rack retracts and expands in a scissor like motion. On one end you have a prop. The other end is attached to a base and the cylinder. When the piston is extended, it compresses the arms of the rack together. The prop slides forward. When the piston is retracted, the prop slides back to it's starting position.


The racks look like:
<><><>

Remove the last two arms so they can be attached to the base and piston:
*<><><


* = prop

I was thinking about propelling a foam spider along the ground and then retracting it back.


Look up "Scissor Witch Prop" in a search engine to see what I'm trying to describe. My idea is on a smaller scale with a smaller prop.

Good Luck.

A cylinder that size might be perfect for popping a coffin lid or bouncing a smaller prop across the ground!