How to Make a Potato Cannon
All you need are some easy-to-obtain products from your local building supply store along with a bag of potatoes, and you'll have hours of fun with a potato cannon that can propel a potato hundreds of yards and even penetrate plywood. Just make sure you've got a suitably large open area as well as a target approved for destruction.
Things You'll Need
- Lantern flint igniter
- Two-part epoxy glue
- 4" PVC clean-out plug
- 4" PVC clean-out adapter fitting
- 4" PVC coupling
- 24" long x 4" wide PVC pipe
- 48" long x 2" wide PVC pipe
- 4" to 2" PVC reducer
- PVC cleaner
- PVC cement
- Electric drill with 1/4th bit
- Hacksaw
- Rasp file
Instructions
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1
Clean all ends of the PVC pipes, the coupling, reducer, coupling and clean-out adapter with PVC cleaner. Make sure that there is no dust left on the outside any of the pieces.
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2
Use the PVC glue to glue the coupling to the 24" pipe. Glue the 4" end of the reducer to the 24" pipe. Glue the 48" pipe to the 2" end of the reducer.
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3
Drill a hole in the 4" PVC pipe about 4 inches from the coupling. Place the lantern flint igniter into the hole and make an airtight seal with epoxy glue.
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4
Bevel the edge of the 48" pipe with the rasp file. The edge should slope toward the inside to make inserting a potato easier.
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5
Screw the clean-out plug into the clean-out adapter. Your cannon is now ready to use.
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6
Operate your cannon by forcing a potato into the open end and forcing it down until it is about 3 1/2 feet inside the tube. Open the clean-out plug and spray some flammable hair spray into the tube. Close the clean-out plug and aim your cannon, activate the lantern flint, and watch your potato fly.
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Tips & Warnings
If you use too little hairspray, your potato will not fly well or maybe even at all. Using too much hairspray will have the same affect because there has to be oxygen in the tube to aid in the explosion.
Use your cannon in a very large open area, and make sure that there are no people or animals in your line of fire. This project is not suitable for children.
