Who wants an air horn?

[DieselWarrior]

Just curious... Im gonna build a set for myself, but if theres enough interest, maybe... just maybe... egay!

Ive been doing exhaustive research (read: I searched until I was exhausted ) about air horns.

I have the sketches setup for a rectangle chamber setup that is the same as a set of train horns, but would fit behind the grill and in front of the radiator.

Two bells make for a chord, the better sounding setup. (Ideally, 3 bells are best)

from what I can gather, a 120 psi 12v compressor pump is about $80, my plans are for a design that can be DIRECT DRIVEN, not needing an air tank. This means, they may not be a loud, but it would be a much easier setup.

The other option, is a tank and compressor design, but that starts getting more costly.

Dont ask how much the horns will be, I have to see how much materials are and how long it would take to build them.

In the concept phase, and just seeing what the interest is.

So, what would be your expectations, and how much would you be willing to spend for a set of REAL horns, not some plastic setup for $15 at HarborFreight?

Andrew

 

[Recon!]

They better be deep and they better be loud. Don't know how much I would pay, I suppose it depends on the quality (or the perceived quality) of the product.

 

[DieselWarrior]

Thats what I was thinking... One looow tone and one mid tone. If its a 3 bell system, one a bit on the high side. The most "classic" sound of a train horn comes from a 3 bell system. (some are 5 bell, if you didnt know).

As far as design, it will be made out of STEEL, fully welded seams and have a USER REPLACEABLE DIAPHRAGM. (Not the same kind your wife wears though.. )

I hope to have a prototype done in the next week or so.

For the low tone, I think the bell will end up being about 3/4 the width of a K5 Blazer's grill's "free space" right behind the grill. (The size and shape of the bell is what dictates the tone).

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Recon!]

Sounds good to me, I say get a prototype, get one of your famous video's and we'll be the judges!

 

[DieselWarrior]

I need to cabbage up a audio DB meter so I can compare my Harbor Freight air horn, OEM horns, and others with the prototype.

For the time being, I hope my HF air horn compressor will be "up to the task" of driving the prototype.

 

[KansasTwister]

might be interested, but i may just get me a dixie horn instead

 

[4xcrazy]

in order to run without an air tank, you will need a serious compressor for the real loud train style horns.

Knew guys when i was driving trucks that had them on there, they were actual train horns, they said you couldn't lay on it for any length of time because it would drain the tanks very quickly, on a semi-truck that is. Short 1-2 second bursts was about they handled if i remember.

 

[dhcomp]

I'd probably be interested. Issue i see is trans/oil coolers.

Those take up most of the space behind my grill. I have a stock oil cooler on teh drivers side, and the identical cooler mounted on the passenger side for trans.

 

[Recon!]

Issue i see is trans/oil coolers. Those take up most of the space behind my grill. I have a stock oil cooler on teh drivers side, and the identical cooler mounted on the passenger side for trans.

me too

 

[4X4HIGH]

I have a dual trumpet Semi truck horn i'm going to install in my rig "someday". I have already figured out that it takes a minimum of 40 psi to make them work but that's not an issue since I already have OBA. I have an electric/air solenoid that i'll be using so I can still use the factory horn button.

 

[DieselWarrior]

Okay, slow down a bit guys... Remember, this is in the concept phase.

1) My goal is to be able to fit a nice set of dual bells behind the grill. If you got toys already there, you can fit it on the fender well under the hood.

2) There is too much comparison to real train horns. My goal is to duplicate the tone of a nice set of train horns. Real train horns take massive CFH of air to get that level of DB! My goal is to be direct drive off a good compressor, this will of course yield a lower level of sound volume!

3) These will be a LOT nicer than the el'chepies but not truck/train horns... That said, this "fills the void" between the two. Dont expect hornblasters.com results, but if it works out, they will still be a real head turner!

4) Lemme build a prototype and go from there, but do feed some expectations based on the above goals.

Thanks-Andrew

 

[AJMBLAZER]

I'd be interested as well. I'll gladly pay a reasonable amount extra for bolts in rather than "make fit".

 

[diesel4me]

Maybe use an A/C compressor and a old propane tank from a BBQ grille for the air source??..one guy I know who has a "roach coach" uses a 20 lb propane tank to power his air horns on his truck,he plumbed it in with a small air compressor like you pump tires up with so it has enough reserve capacity to allow it to be held on for ten seconds without the volume dropping..his horns are off an 18 wheeler and are LOUD!.we had no trouble hearing him when he pulled into the junkyard where I worked,even with the loader running and we were WAY out in the farthest corner of the yard!..

 

[DieselWarrior]

"roach coach"

Gut Truck
Tomain Taveran

Thats all I can think of, any contributors?

 

[ktmoutfront]

My wife bought me a cheep set 6 years ago when I was building the Jimmy. Has been mounted under the truck in the back ever since. Unbelievably loud. Came with a small compressor and tank. At Moab this weekend, the train was leaving town as we were headed in. Laid on the horn twice, the engineer looked over and laid on his twice. We were busting up.

 

[mudbuggy]

Yea I'm game, might just be able to scare the **** out of the cops running radar out side of my shop!

 

[Cornfield creations]

I was looking for some stuff on youtube, and there is a website dedicated just to air horn kits.

www.hornblasters.com

I saw their videos of scaring people on the street and it was pretty funny. I bet it makes a lot of people mad though

 

[DieselWarrior]

Yeah, there videos are funny! I hope no one expects these (that I want to make) are as loud! Also, there are laws that may regulate how loud your horn may be (read:check your local laws)

 

[coreyd]

my input, 120 psi and below sounds like ass, i am running 200 psi on mine, all the big ones run 200 psi. i have a set of grovers that came/borrowed of a work truck that was going to auction, running under 120, wasn't great, put 200 to them unreal

 

[1BEATK5]

i have a set of Nathan Air Chime train horns. i only have 3 of the 5 . and they need atleast 120psi with a big hose and high flow fittings to sound proper. i can run them off my 33 gallon compressor at 120psi and they do pretty well. when i put them on the truck i plan on using 2x 5 gallon tanks hooked together to run them, and a compressor to refill.
if you want to build somthing louder than cheap hf ones, you will need a tank. atleast a little one. 2-3 gallons would make a huge difference on performance.

btw, i have my horns laying on my tool box at work, and those poor souls at the other end af the closed up concrete shop hate me