I Built a Supersonic NERF Blaster 

Edit: In pt.2 I'll obviously measure the speed of the supersonic shots to verify it's actually supersonic. Also I’m gonna get better darts (half length) and try a few interesting projectiles. Also I’m currently trying to organize something here in the US for part 2 so there’ll probably be another video in between, but I think it'll be worth it. Edit 2: shout out to Joerg (slingshot channel) and IDAT who made similar projects way back, I wasn't aware of them but they're great. Check them out too! Got injured in an accident? You could be click away from a claim worth millions. You can start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan at www.forthepeople.com/Mike without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win.

There's something really nice about a channel run by a guy who doesn't know what he's doing, admits he doesn't know what he's doing, show's us his failures, shows us the genuine shock when something works, and all around takes the audience for the entire ride through a project

There's a few things going on here that the lower pressure solved for you. First, the darts will explode and get shredded at higher pressures because they're smaller than the diameter of the barrel. When the valve dumps, that sudden blast of air pressure forces the foam to expand outward and squeeze to the inner diameter of the barrel, creating an air-tight seal. This is known as Obturation. If your pressure rises too high too fast, the projectile will expand too much and seal too tightly against the barrel, and that will shred it from the pressure differences, acceleration forces, and friction. This also causes the head to fly off, and the dart to leave in more than one piece, since the foam section is smashed against the walls of the barrel while the smaller dart head is free to separate. The lower pressures are more gentle, allowing the dart to fully obturate the barrel immediately and accelerate more uniformly, staying together and leaving the barrel in one piece with all of the pressure remaining behind it the whole length of travel for maximum efficiency. Second, the hissing sound you hear at higher pressures is called Valve Lock. This happens a lot when trying to tune Large-Bore hunting PCP airguns. Whether because the projectile is being shredded or leaving the barrel before pressure can equalize, the pressure in the barrel drops too fast, and the valve can't close until you reset the system. Or put your hand over the muzzle, probably. Rapid-dump valves like this need forward pressure from the barrel to help close the valve again against the static pressure in the bottle, and this usually happens before the projectile even leaves the barrel. The lower firing pressure means that the valve can equalize more quickly and close properly, conserving air and dumping its energy more efficiently. It's this efficiency that got you the greater velocities.

I love how this guy comes up with the most batshit insane stuff

Bro I'm pausing the video immediately to say THANK YOU for the real time animation of the system! (9:00) That is so incredibly helpful for my understanding and visualization of what's going on. I really wish more video of this style would do it like that! Where reasonable of course. in matters of things that are to fast for human perception i would just like a nice unit of ten scaled speed.

Honestly, Mike, I don't mind it taking long for videos to be edited because you're working on them yourself. The quality is always top notch, AND I am entertained while feeling more educated going out of one of your vids. Keep up your work!

morgan&morgan sponsoring a guy to make a dangerous machine with youtube videos as their core research is honestly 4D chess on their part

"Heres how to NEVER lose a nerf war, Step 1, Build a supersonic nerf blaster."

"Nothing exploded so far! Definitely a good sign." A true engineer

21:58 Be sure to make those darts nose-heavy, because if you just print them out of solid plastic, the center of mass will be behind the aerodynamic center of pressure. (make the rear part of the dart hollow, add a little weight to the tip of the dart)

Now challenge children to a nerf battle

I really like the eureka moments that can happen when something finally clicks. Like when you figured out you needed lower pressure to go supersonic. You bash your head against a wall for hours or days, and then out of nowhere it just clicks and it's all sorted. I work in IT, I'm very closely acquainted with this demon lmao

This is honestly amazing. That is a super sick looking blaster, and the fact it uses air to shoot something faster than the speed of sound with a relatively simple setup is mind boggling to me. Congrats on pushing through the pain and worry -- that blaster is a trophy of engineering, and I'm definitely jealous you have it.

Mike Shake is becoming an Italian version of I did a thing😂

"Next I'm going to 3d print some darts" I guess calling them "darts" keeps you out of trouble instead of saying "bullets"

Those 22 minutes felt like 8 minutes so good!!!

Dude! Not only did you manage the supersonic darts but the blaster also looks AMAZING!

Great job! In fact you should increase the power of the spring that yanks open the valve. Yours seems a bit weak. I used rubber bands of course, and lots of them. The faster you open the valve, the harder the shot.

wow the content really changed. it went from mike trying to survive, to learing skills. to him making the sickest weapons ever that can shoot (almost) as fast as a gun. Good job!

The honesty when messing up, the strive to continue, the fact that you are showing both the metrical and hamburger numbers for anyone to understand, the pure frustration and pure joy, the project itself, everything is perfection. Congrats, well deserved round of thunderous applause 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

“Hey wanna play nerf guns?” “Sure, let me get out my new toy… “💀

For those who are interested: The arrows from the blaster have an energy of 58.821 joules at the speed of sound. Not too bad...

when you 3d print your own custom darts, tracer darts would look so interesting when shot at night. You could make a tracer dart by puting a small led and a very small button cell inside/at the back of the 3d printed dart. Also you could try printing the darts with glow in the dark filament and charging them with a black light before loading them in.

@7:46 when the hole appeared in your target, I felt like I had just been on that 30 day journey with you. The biggest smile on my face seeing progress being made.

Most fire video yet.

I love the genuine excitement you have on your journey. For someone who hasn't done 3D CAD or printing before you dove straight into the deep end and crushed it! I can't wait to see what you do next! Well done!

I really appreciate the little diagrams you include explaining how everything works. Makes it much easier to understand how it actually works.

That low vibration when you fired the cannon is just so frickin COOL, god that is epic

I remember watching his channel when it used to be about skills, but now I am convinced Mike is a trained assassin

I feel that with each video you’re getting closer to joining me in the dark side … And by dark side I mean the FBI black list .

I love how this guy shows his fails and his excitement when it actually works this guy might be one of the best

If you shoot a metal dart? It wouldn't be like a gun

As someone who has some 'Nerf for adult" blasters. Dart Zone and Worker half length darts are considered to be one of the best in the scene right now. Some of the high end blasters (Dart Zone Pro line, Gameface Trion and Worker blasters) are doing 200-300 FPS out of the box so those darts are made with these numbers in mind, where Nerf Elite darts are designed for 70-80 FPS. The community would be more than welcome to help you out!

This guy is straight up becoming an engineer

¡Wow, qué increíble vídeo! Es fascinante ver a alguien llevar un proyecto como crear un blaster de dardos Nerf supersónico de la idea a la realidad. Desde el principio, me atrapó la claridad con la que se explicaban los conceptos técnicos y los procesos de construcción. El nivel de detalle y precisión en cada paso del proyecto es impresionante. Es evidente que Mike no solo tiene un profundo conocimiento de la ingeniería detrás de este tipo de artilugios, sino que también posee una gran habilidad para comunicar esos conocimientos de una manera accesible y entretenida 😊 Además, me encantó cómo Mike se tomó el tiempo para explicar los fundamentos científicos detrás del blaster de dardos Nerf supersónico. En lugar de simplemente mostrar el resultado final, hizo un excelente trabajo desglosando las leyes físicas y los principios de aerodinámica involucrados. Esto no solo hace que el vídeo sea informativo, sino que también inspira a los espectadores a aprender más sobre ciencia y tecnología. La inclusión de tomas en cámara lenta para capturar el funcionamiento del blaster en acción fue particularmente impresionante, permitiendo apreciar realmente la velocidad y precisión del dispositivo. En cuanto a la producción, los valores de cinematografía son excepcionales. La iluminación está bien controlada, y cada toma está enmarcada de manera que realza los detalles importantes del proyecto. El sonido es nítido y claro, lo que es crucial en vídeos tutoriales donde cada palabra y efecto sonoros son importantes para la comprensión. En resumen, eres un grande Mike!!!! Y estoy deseando ver tu próximo proyecto! 🚀🇪🇸 (Normalmente no dejo comentarios tan largos pero este vídeo lo merece)

Nah this is so tuff and impressive bro figuring out the engineering from scratch without knowing what to do but still coming up with an elegant design is crazy. Plus the attention to detail and dedication to trying to push yourself. Presented in a super engaging and relatable way, i felt your excitement when it worked through the screen. Keep it up!

Watching people from outside the performance "nerf" hobby rediscover/learn things that the community already figured out a while ago is always fascinating and wholesome.

List of things to destroy 1. Dummy head 2. Glass 3. Plushies 4. Human head (optional) 5. Drywall 6. Another nerf blaster Reply suggestions: Watermelons little.big.drone.operator Tv Chips Armor plates Trump??? The annoying neighbor's kids Boba Cinderblock Human heart

I'm just extremely impressed with the design of the mechanism - the fact that this can shoot multiple times before you need to build up pressure again, that's really clever

0:12 The idea that a nerf dart can travel through air above the speed of sound without disintegrating is exciting

7:48 I love the transformation of genuine shock to genuine joy on Mike's face 😂🤣😂😂

"Hey wanna play with nerf guns?" "Sure" "Sadly i only have two nerf guns, you'll have to get the smaller one and I'll get the other nerf gun" The other nerf gun:

I absolutely love the vibe of the video. Starting from knowing nothing and then explaining things in a way that is understandable to people of the same knowledge standard. Genuinely a joy to watch, and the gun is absolutely awesome!

VERY cool project! Alex, Kevin, and Destin definitely should see this.

well done. and what I like a lot is that you don't need any license or registration for such a gun, which in Germany is a serious difficulty. truly beautiful.

0:05 the quality of that graphic is incredible. You even made sure the bullet is properly masked in front of the barrel while it's half outside! Very nice.

I have been following a lot of craftsmanship, DIY and a lot of homemade things since the early 2000's, i saw a lot of stuff being built, and a lot of people building, and let me tell you, you are, without a doubt, one of the best that i have come in contact with, one of the most fun, simple and practical content creators of this type. Keep going man, you are awsome, and your projects are very creative and inventive, you are incredible!

Mike will be the coolest grandpa one day

I've always wondered about trying to build a Nerf biathlon rifle, this is probably the closest anyone has ever got to it! Try using half-length darts next (ideally from Dartzone), they are faster and more accurate. You should definitely test long range accuracy with different ammo. Also Dartzone darts have better glue than original Nerf darts and use thicker foam, so they are far more durable. Of course they have never been tested at supersonic speed, so I'm not sure how they'll behave, but I'm pretty certain that they'll be much better than the standard-length darts you used.

One hell of a piece of art!!

This is one the best videos I watched on youtube in a long time. Excellent! Great design and fabrication!

Try using half length darts, they should hold up way better. Dart Zone makes good ones and so does Worker. They have better quality foam than the average nerf dart, they go faster, and they are incredibly more accurate. A pack of 150 costs around 10 bucks so you should be able to enjoy shooting without running out quick.

Mike slowly becoming like a science channel, epic

I build and design airgun ( pcp) parts for retail and this was impressive. .. The speed of the pilot valve is key to the operation of a qev , and I was soo happy when you figured that out. Awesome project. A hammer system ( to fire the pilot ) is generally easier , but the large spring works also.

15:50 broooo you kidding 🔥💀 the neighborhood kids gonna dwell on this thing

My dream job was to be a blacksmith, amd do stuff like this, amd this video brought that feeling back. Thank you, and its just an amazing video.

Awesome video dude. Love the "I'm just gonna figure this out as I go" mentality of tackling projects. I think you learn much more that way, rather than doing all of the research beforehand and just building and pretending to be an expert on a thing. It's much more human. Keep up the awesome builds brother. Also, love the weathering job you did on this!

15:20 It's because there is a huge surge of hair that pushes the bullet out before the bullet comes out, the air is still behind the bullet in the barrel note that as the bullet reaches the end of the barrel, the space that the air can expand in increases so when the bullet leaves, the air leaves the barrel in a less stressed state, and you hear that whistling since it's a small barrel the air has to go through

Eres el único canal de RU-vid que pone un buen doblaje español, muy natural. (Aunque no sé si Eres tu el que habla en realidad) Enhorabuena Mike por tu creatividad

5:25 pipe really said "ahhhhhhh 😩😩"

Dude, great job. Way to get it done and accomplish a goal. Taking the time to learn from other and improve on their ideas, great work man.

I love how this guy dedicates his time to do these things we thought were never possible and going through the pain for us… respect 🫡

Top Tier engineering and self evaluation. Really a refreshingly honest and enjoyable Channel youve made here Mike. You're killiingg it on the Tube right now.

Yo that montage at 16:12 is giving me goosebumps, really got to my inner child with jaw dropping awe. I’m proud for you man take pride in that thing foreal. Bringing dreams to life ❤

bro how fast the nerf bullet went at 8:27 no even the flash could dodge it that's wild any ways love this guy hope he keeps up the good work

LOVE THIS

Really nice look on that final build. Absolutely beautiful! 😄

all that research is gonna get bro investigated by the FBI 💀

that is really impressive the engineering is top tier

Your enthusiasm is contagious. Congratulations on the achievement!

This man really needs to be appreciated for this work he does for us. Good job as always,Mike.

The breakdown of the valve system was really cool and well done. Showing how the air moves and how the system can be reused in the digital version really helps to understand how the whole thing works. I would guess the wispy noise it was making was bc the system was overcharged and the extra pressure that is in the system after ripping the dart apart is slowly leaking from the second tank from the trigger system not being reset instantly. When the everything is lined up right all the pressure is pushing the dart the whole way and there is no extra to leak

This was an amazin project... Loved it. Cant wait for part 2. Your skills learning journey has been amazing to watch.. Thank you for sharing and bringing us along with you.

I've noticed that the darts didn't tear when you used the container with the hose. The hose creates resistance and prevents a sudden pressure spike that would destroy the darts. You could vary the hose's diameter and length to achieve optimal pressure in the barrel during the shot, ideally maintaining a pressure close to critical throughout the entire barrel length. As for the projectiles you want to print, it's best to make them aerodynamically stable. Otherwise, you'll need a rifled barrel where the twist rate matters, or the projectiles will spin in the air, reducing accuracy.

We all appreciate your meticulous work man, ill wait months for any update, your posts are great!

nice project! Getting a soft spongy foam dart up to mach one is almost physics breaking, well done.

The noise you hear afterwards is what you explained in the valve explanation. It is the 400 psi being refilled in the second tank after your shot. Next, try 3d printing a Nerf dart and using a solid design dart. It will be heavier forcing a higher PSI to get the same speed, but the damage will be WAY higher, so be careful.

Just to be safe, make the trigger and tip of the barrel very clearly orange!! That makes it less scary for other people (and the cops) because now it looks very much like a real firearm. But amazing work as always!!

You make it seem like you struggle, but you pull off the most epic builds! Very cool

you can modify an electronic irrigation valve (a solenoid water valve) to work manually without a battery and with air. there are a bunch of guides online, but essentially you drill a hole in the top of the valve where the bar travels into when the solenoid is energized normally, and you install an air fitting. then you simply attach an air filter cleaner with some air hose to that fitting. then you put air pressure on the input side of the value (where water normally goes in) and your output air on the output side of the valve. when you press the trigger on the air filter cleaner gun (which in normal use would start shooting out air) it will allow air to flow through teh valve instantly. or nearly instantly. this is because of how the diaphragm inside of the solenoid valve works. alternatively, you could just use a 9 volt battery to trigger the valve and not modify the valve at all. either way, solenoid valves for garden irrigation tend to open WAY faster than most other valves you will find. its like a resettable burst disc in a way

I was so worried you were gonna take a better help sponsor ship, thank you for not taking them, yet lawyers are also kinda weird.

love from South Africa 🇿🇦🇿🇦

Wow, you really grit this one out. The dedication 🔥

Everyone give Mike a like. Doesnt cost anything. Yet he spent 13k euros for a video. A like is the least we could do...

7:50 the shock on his face. I can't-

Dustin: “Don’t try this at home” Mike: “Bet”

15:11 That sound is probably the secondary tank slowly losing pressure as the pressure gradient decreases

17:24 when it blows your hair dramatically peak protagonist moment🤌

That one unemployed friend:

I LOVE all the work you do with the graphic illustrations. 👍

I love ur videos dude u inspired me starting with butterfly tricks

18:14 ONE PIECE?!?!?!?!

Video excelente. Felicidades! Muy buena narración y explicaciones. Me gustaría tener tu creatividad

completely insane bro amazing design

This guy is literally the definition of the friend that has too much free time 😂

6:28 vape juice on counter

12:02 Why does that look like he's trying to give me a COVID vaccine?

Mike shake is so incredible, he’s really a great person. He tried all of these things nobody else would try. He inspires those who aren’t brave enough, and he teaches people too. Now, if you dislike this guy you might change your mind later. But, I wanna give a big thanks to mike shakes 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 🤘🏻🤘🏻 🤘🏻🎉🎉🎉

Consider making a spiral shape inside the barrel like the one they show in the James Bond intro, that should make the dart rotate, increasing speed and keeping gyroscopic stabilization.

21:52 2 turd