How to Make a Smoke Ring Cannon

If you love playing around with visual effects, then you should definitely try making a smoke ring cannon. With just a few household items, you can make a toy that will impress all your friends. You can even dress up your Halloween party with a few smoke rings trained at unsuspecting trick-or-treaters.

Things You'll Need

• Tin can
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Incense
• Matches
• Can opener
• Duct tape
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Remove both ends of a tin can that is 16 oz. or bigger. (For giant smoke rings, use the largest can you can find.) Use your can opener. Remove all contents inside and wash it out. Be careful not to cut yourself on the can, as it may be sharp and jagged.

2. Trace the opening of each end of the can on a piece of cardboard using a pencil. Make sure the cardboard is not exceedingly thick or corrugated. Cut out the circles you just traced, using scissors.

3. Duct tape the cardboard circles on each end of the can. Make sure to tape all the way around the opening of the can; you want to make this as air tight as possible.

4. Draw a circle on one end side of the cardboard using the pencil. Trace a quarter or half-dollar if available. Remove the cardboard inside the circle you just traced.

5. Light the incense using your matches and allow it to start to burn. Insert the lit incense into the hole that you created and rest the can on its side. (This will keep the incense from burning the cardboard. (You may also slightly dampen the carboard to prevent it from burning, just do not douse it.)

6. Cover the small hole with a piece of tape or a piece of paper to allow the smoke to build up within the smoke ring cannon.

7. Tap the opposite end of the smoke rings cannon, (the one without the hole). Make sure you've removed the tape or paper. Suddenly, smoke rings will start to emerge from the other end.

Tips & Warnings

• Because this requires matches, ask your parents' permission before making your smoke ring cannon.

• Have an adequate amount of water or a fire extinguisher nearby in case the can ignites.

Resources

• This site shows you some professional smoke ring cannons.
• This site gives you step by step instructions about how to make several different sized smoke ring cannons.