Custom Q-Loader Plumbing *Updated*

[Levi]

a telescoping horizontal piece would be interesting to see.

Not a bad idea... I'll have to ponder that one for a bit.

Where I'm going with this idea (if it proves out) is to have the q socket integrated into a custom foregrip so its even more compact. I recently came across some Solidworks models I started a few years ago with this goal in mind and figured its time to make some progress on it.

In order to continue with them I needed a baseline from which to measure, and I wanted to try the idea out without spending a ton of time on something custom just to find out I don't like it.

[need4reebs]

I still need to make provisions for mounting the detent spring that keeps the balls in the feedtube when you remove the pod.


just use the feed guide and detent spring that already comes with the Q-loader..that will be the easiest way to do that?

[Levi]

just use the feed guide and detent spring that already comes with the Q-loader..that will be the easiest way to do that?

That's probably what I'm going to do. The feed guide won't fit with my adapter in there though. So I'm going to cut it down so all that is left of it is the very bottom of it (essentially it will just be a black plastic washer). This should allow me to remove my adapter for easy cleaning without disturbing the detent spring. Getting the detent spring back into place isn't too bad when I'm working at a table, but its not something I want to be fiddling with on the field.

[need4reebs]

That's probably what I'm going to do. The feed guide won't fit with my adapter in there though. So I'm going to cut it down so all that is left of it is the very bottom of it (essentially it will just be a black plastic washer). This should allow me to remove my adapter for easy cleaning without disturbing the detent spring. Getting the detent spring back into place isn't too bad when I'm working at a table, but its not something I want to be fiddling with on the field.

could you bore out your adapter a lil so the feed guide will fit snug? keep tha OD of the adapter the same and just bore out the ID of the adapter?

did the same thing but with a PVC elbow and it worked great:



check out tha pod loader stand...makes loading at tha field so much easier:

[GoatBoy]

That's probably what I'm going to do. The feed guide won't fit with my adapter in there though. So I'm going to cut it down so all that is left of it is the very bottom of it (essentially it will just be a black plastic washer). This should allow me to remove my adapter for easy cleaning without disturbing the detent spring. Getting the detent spring back into place isn't too bad when I'm working at a table, but its not something I want to be fiddling with on the field.

Just because AIC did it a certain way doesn't necessarily mean you need to reproduce it. I would consider making the ball gate separate from the neck -- maybe just glue a standoff or something in the socket, put a hole in the gate and screw it into the socket. Either that or maybe try using a magnet -- I know reebs here is a big fan of magnets. Just glue a magnet into the socket and have that hold the gate.



And speaking of the loader stands, I remember a while back another thread where someone was complaining about having to bring a stand in order to reload his pods and how inconvenient it was or something.

I was like... really?

[need4reebs]

Just because AIC did it a certain way doesn't necessarily mean you need to reproduce it. I would consider making the ball gate separate from the neck -- maybe just glue a standoff or something in the socket, put a hole in the gate and screw it into the socket. Either that or maybe try using a magnet -- I know reebs here is a big fan of magnets. Just glue a magnet into the socket and have that hold the gate.



And speaking of the loader stands, I remember a while back another thread where someone was complaining about having to bring a stand in order to reload his pods and how inconvenient it was or something.

I was like... really?

very nice man!!! are you gonna market those...or start a pre-order?

simple and works well...that box mod is wat i used before this loader stand.

[Levi]

could you bore out your adapter a lil so the feed guide will fit snug? keep tha OD of the adapter the same and just bore out the ID of the adapter?

did the same thing but with a PVC elbow and it worked great:



check out tha pod loader stand...makes loading at tha field so much easier:

Lookin good man!

How much paint have you put through it like that so far?

The stand looks handy too.

[need4reebs]

Lookin good man!

How much paint have you put through it like that so far?

The stand looks handy too.

probably only a case or two...then the Q-loaders went on the Nasty Mag....and the Nasty mag is set up the same but with 2 Q-loaders.

yeah DooD either tha box mod or tha loader stand makes loading the pods alot easier and faster...giving me more time to slam a few beers before tha next game...oh hells yeah!!!

[Levi]

Just because AIC did it a certain way doesn't necessarily mean you need to reproduce it. I would consider making the ball gate separate from the neck -- maybe just glue a standoff or something in the socket, put a hole in the gate and screw it into the socket. Either that or maybe try using a magnet -- I know reebs here is a big fan of magnets. Just glue a magnet into the socket and have that hold the gate.

I'll probably just cut down one of the extra feed guides I have laying around first, just because its quick and easy. I like the magnet idea though, I'm going to play around with that one and see what I can do with it.

I dig the box mod... that's probably what I'll be using until I get around to making a slick stand for it.

[Levi]

....giving me more time to slam a few beers before tha next game...oh hells yeah!!!

My Mag keep double firing!!!.... no wait that's just my vision....aww crap!

[need4reebs]

My Mag keep double firing!!!.... no wait that's just my vision....aww crap!

haha...they dont know if im moving really well..or staggering around??? too much fun DooD!!

[Levi]

*Update*

Here is an update on where I'm at with this:

I have a total of 3 pods of paint through the configuration in the first post.

Pod # 1 Using Draxus Bronze Blaze: Fed perfectly fine, no chops but I did have one barrel break because the paint was crappy (I tried the paint in 4 different markers and had barrel breaks with all of them)

Pod # 2 Using All Star paint: Fed perfect, no breaks, no chops Approx 90 degrees outside when I did this one.

Pod # 3 Using All Star Paint: I shot this one immediately after #2. I had left the pod sitting in direct sun for 45 minutes before I shot it. The outside of the pod measured 105.4 deg. at the point I used it. This one fed perfectly fine, no breaks but I did have one I would call a "leaker" meaning that it did not full on break, but was leaking just a little fill down the barrel and one small spot in an elbow.

On to my current configuration:

I redesigned my socket to elbow adapter to have two o-rings. It stayed in place just fine with the single o-ring, the two o-rings make it more rigid side to side though, so it won't be as likely to move if I knock it against a bunker or tree.






I modified the feed guide to hold the ball gate in place under my adapter. I just cut off the "tube" part of it leaving what amounts to a black plastic washer.







I found that there was a nub molded into the Q socket that was preventing the feed guide from sitting squarely in the feedneck. I sanded this nub down until the feed guide and my adapter fit without a gap.




I also made up the horizontal feed tube piece out of aluminum.












I've put one pod of All Star through this setup so far. The entire pod fed without any problems whatsoever.

The one thing i don't like about the aluminum horizontal feed tube is that it makes it more difficult to take apart for cleaning. I have a couple ideas on how to modify the ends of the feed tube to alleviate this problem. I will be trying these out soon.

[need4reebs]

whoo whee thats lookin Sa WeeT!!!

maybe you can find a few quick release screws or some thumb screws to make taking tha q-loader off for cleaning??

[Levi]

whoo whee thats lookin Sa WeeT!!!

maybe you can find a few quick release screws or some thumb screws to make taking tha q-loader off for cleaning??

Thanks, I'm really starting to like how this Mag feels in my hands!

I like the thumbscrew idea, I'm sure somebody sells some this size.

[need4reebs]

Thanks, I'm really starting to like how this Mag feels in my hands!

I like the thumbscrew idea, I'm sure somebody sells some this size.

easy..hit up tha hard ware store, get some socket screw head caps and a few stand off spacers and make your own thumb screws.

when i had my tippman A-5 w/flatline barrel i made some to make taking the flatline barrel easy to take off for cleaning. also did this for a few feed necks as well....they are with screws, bolts, nuts, and washers

hope that helps?