How to Make a Small Spring Cannon

A small spring cannon is a useful craft for firing marbles, pebbles and other small objects. It is a small but powerful little weapon that is easy to make. Follow these steps to learn how to make a small spring cannon.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Wire clothes hanger
• Spring
• 1/2-inch copper pipe
• 1/2-inch wooden dowel
• Hacksaw
• Wire cutters
• Pliers
• Drill

1. Cut the copper pipe to about 5 inches in length using the hacksaw. Make sure to wear gloves when doing this to prevent cutting your fingers with the saw or the pipe.
2. Measure 1 1/2 inches down the pipe. Make a slice halfway through the pipe. Make a horizontal cut from the end of the pipe to the section you cut. The pipe should now be missing a 1 1/2-inch section.
3. Take the wooden dowel and cut off a 1/4-inch piece. Use the drill and make a 1/16-inch hole in the middle of the wooden dowel.
4. Remove the bottom straight section of the wire hangar using the wire cutters. Bend a quarter of the end to form a right angle. Insert the wire through the wooden dowel and the spring.
5. Crush the pipe slightly with the pliers at the section that is half cut. Insert the spring assembly into the copper pipe.
6. Tug the spring through the copper pipe until it begins compressing it. Bend the wire and trim off the extra.
7. Rotate and pull the wire so that it snags on the edge of the half pipe. Load the spring cannon and turn the wire to fire.