Ive just built a boost dc-dc converter. Ime charging a 1,000 µF capacitor to 40 V from a 4 V battery and discharging it through a 6 V solenoid. That armature ejects with massive force when I connect it to the cap.
It fires briefly. Perhaps within 300 ms (my nieces gasped when the door slammed shut). The solenoid is rated at 160V for brief periods. Its tubular and made by a company called Black Night. And solid. It cost me $40 AU but that armature is made of high permiability iron with a stainless steel rod (0.6mm) straight down the guts. Its an elegant piece of work.
Uhoh. Trying to build a better mouse trap? Good luck =) Personally I'd lower the voltage, if some little furry got caught in that there would be bits flying everywhere =O
I'me learning that it's better to have too much, and give some away, than to to have too little. To stop that muel kickin' so hard, I can run it through a 1 Ω resistor. I cant change the voltage. Its tied up with the rest of the circuit and has to multiply the battery voltage by 10.