Potato Gun Safety

Potatoes can be serious weapons when lauched from a potato gun.

A potato gun, sometimes called a spud gun, spud launcher or potato launcher, sounds like someone's idea of a joke, a toy for kids to use in backyard wars. However, these guns are much more serious than their name indicates, and people can be seriously injured or even killed by improper use. It's important to understand all safety procedures for potato guns before building or using one.

Identification

A potato gun is a simple device many people can make for themselves out of PVC pipes, wires, solvents and an igniter. A spark jumps across two wires, lights a combustion aid such as hairspray and fires a potato from the loading chamber, through the barrel and out like a cannonball. A potato gun can launch potatoes at speeds up to 400 miles an hour.

Materials

For the safest potato guns, use only pressure-rated PVC pipe. Unrated ABS pipe is more likely to explode, as is pipe rated ASTM 02241. Pay attention to the ratio of chamber to barrel size--1.5 to 1 is a good ratio. Use a primer and good quality solvent for joining the gun parts together, and follow all solvent instructions. Never use gunpowder for your propellant; hairspray is much safer and provides plenty of power.

Handling

A potato gun can be as dangerous as a traditional firearm. Never look down the barrel, whether or not the gun is loaded. Never point the gun at another person or animal. Mount the igniter in a safe place where it can't accidentally be pressed. Wear safety equipment, such as ear plugs and safety goggles, when shooting a potato gun. Don't try to blow out a fire in the open chamber--just replace the end cap.

Considerations

Don't use a potato gun in either very cold weather, under 32 degrees Fahrenheit, or very hot weather, over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. In cold weather, the PVC pipe becomes brittle and could easily crack, causing the gun to explode in the user's hands. In hot weather, the solvent holding the gun together could soften and cause the gun to come apart.

Warning

Wait a minimum of 24 hours after finishing building a potato gun before the first use. The solvent needs plenty of time to harden. The gun could fall apart if it's fired too soon, causing serious injury.

References

• The Spudgun Technology Center: Keeping spudchuckin' safe and fun
• Burnt Latke: Spud Gun Safety