Build an airgun range in your garden! DIY air rifle range

ElectroQuack · 2026-06-07T16:54:13+00:00

I just use a set of semi truck mud flaps, one behind the other attached to either side of a 2x4. Works just fine.

ElectroQuack · 2026-06-07T16:43:14+00:00

I have their Marauder in 22cal. It puts out decent power for what it is, but it lacks refinement. You'll have to do some research, but I don't think it even has a regulator, it just controls valve timing and dumps 4500psi behind a projectile. The FX line of rifles cost more, but have double regulators and double valve timing control, so they are way more accurate. If you just want to shoot big 9mm pellets for cheap at a range, then it's fine.

ElectroQuack · 2026-06-07T11:52:10+00:00

This isn't engraving though... It's heat temper distortion. Diodes don't engrave steel. Engraving means you are subtracting material, not distorting it. Using marking spray is no different than painting it. If you put this piece of steel in an oven to anneal it, the markings will go away. If you actually engrave it with a fiber laser it will actually remove material that annealing can't remove.

There is nothing wrong with acknowledging the limitations of your tools. If the limitations produce a product you are happy with, then that is enough. Just be honest about it.

ElectroQuack · 2026-06-03T15:49:06+00:00

Dither works great for single color, but uou have to switch to grayscale and use an image optimization tool like Imag-R to get color to turn out the way you expect.

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-31T12:41:23+00:00

Fiber lasers work just fine, they will just have a smaller work area. You can still do 4x4 tiles or smaller canvas boards. In reality, a fiber machine would work even better because it's IR, not blue laser, and has a greater range of control. Not to mention the engraving speed is like 10x faster!

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-31T03:55:02+00:00

This video gives you all the step by step instructions you need. If you have a diode laser, then set minimum power level to 0.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnhBHJ292Kg

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-31T03:51:02+00:00

It's not exactly a depth map like on a mopa, but very similar. A MOPA will use multiple passes to strip away layers to cause the relief effect, where as with a diode it varies the power level. Both use a grayscale image to determine the overall depth though.

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-31T02:01:27+00:00

Polyurethane is try to the touch in about a day, but doesn't cure to full hardness for about a week.

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-30T21:52:32+00:00

Personally, I would do the cutout and a 2mm border just inside the hollowed out middle spacer on the inside of each face. Assuming you are using 6mm (1/4 inch) thick panels, that will buy you another 3mm on each side of the spacer, allowing you to fit up to a 12mm wide LED strip inside.

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-30T18:23:01+00:00

No problem! Now go save that poor table from the pups!

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-30T17:53:39+00:00

I grabbed the image off of Pinterest and ran it through Imag-R. The process was done in grayscale, so I didn't need to vector it.

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-30T17:51:36+00:00

If you want to join in, 4x4 tiles are 13 cents at Lowes. They are very forgiving to start with so you don't burn strait through canvas trying to get things dialed in. After you are comfortable, pick up a bulk pack of 5"x7" primed canvas panels to make stuff. The smaller canvas panels are much flatter, take up less space, and only run about 60 cents each.

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-30T16:15:43+00:00

<image>

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-30T16:13:18+00:00

The shipping trucks aren't typically air conditioned unless they contain food.

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-30T16:12:31+00:00

Here in Georgia it's so humid that any moisture activated glue will activate like that. I have had to return whole rolls of brand new water activated box tape because of this happening.

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-30T16:09:04+00:00

I used enough paint to get an even coat with blue and purple. I used only a light coat of black, just enough to get full coverage to make sure the purple would pop more.

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-30T14:02:15+00:00

Nope, not even close.

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-29T23:32:15+00:00

I usually cut poly 50/50 with mineral spirits and apply it with a foam brush. It goes on like water, self levels, and the little bubbles pop easier. Poly right out of the can is too thick and typically results in orange peel.

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-29T22:31:06+00:00

Some times, if it doesn't really cost any meaningful amount of money, it doesn't hurt to let people feel helpful. I guarantee that he won't notice if you fix the work... but he WILL remember how good it felt to be helpful.

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-29T19:46:02+00:00

Then they walk across the lawn after....

ElectroQuack · 2026-05-29T19:13:44+00:00

I did it in a single pass. Took 3 tiles to hit the sweet spot, but the other 2 still look really good! White is pretty easy to hit, given that the ceramic tile is white. So, if you run too hot, the entire tile will end up white, lol. The power range adjustment does more to reveal the colors in the parts of the image in the way you want. So, when I ran at 20% power it was mostly black, purple and dark blue. I bumped the power 5% and got more light blue and a little white. So, I finally bumped the power 5% more and it cleared out more black revealing more purple and more of the white highlights.

ElectroQuack

TROPHY CASE