How to Make a Potato Bazooka
Potato bazookas, also known as spud guns, are devices that launch potatoes long distances. Potato bazookas can be a fun as long as they are made properly, and are used safely and responsibly. Enthusiasts have developed potato-bazooka making into an art form and there are many variations on the potato bazooka. Make a basic potato bazooka using PVC pipe and PVC pipe fittings. Potatoes are fired by stuffing a potato into a barrel and igniting gas in an adjacent chamber.
Things You'll Need
- Hand saw
- File
- Drill
- 2-inch-by-48-inch PVC pipe
- 4-inch-by-24-inch PVC pipe
- 4-inch PVC cleanout adapter with plug
- 4-inch PVC straight coupling
- 2-inch-by-4-inch PVC reducer coupling
- PVC primer
- PVC cement
- Lantern lighter
Instructions
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1
Cut the 24-inch length of 4-inch PVC pipe and the 48-inch length of 2-inch PVC pipe to the specified lengths using a hand saw. Remove any burrs with a file.
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2
Line up the parts to be assembled. The order in which the parts get attached is: cleanout plug adapter, straight coupling, 24-inch pipe, reducer coupling, and 48-inch pipe. Each part is inserted into the adjacent part for joining.
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3
Apply PVC primer to the joint areas to prepare the surface for the cement.
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4
Apply PVC cement to the joint areas and connect the parts. Allow the cement to cure for one day.
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5
Drill one hole in the center of the 24-inch pipe. This is your ignition chamber and the hole is where the lantern lighter will be inserted. Make the hole just big enough accommodate the size of the lantern lighter.
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6
Use a file or rotary tool to sand along the inner edge of the end of the bazooka (the end of the 48-inch pipe). Create a bevel so you have a sharp edge for slicing away excess potato as it is stuffed into the bazooka.
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7
Run water through the gun to ensure there are no leaks in the joints.
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8
Fire the gun by removing the plug from the cleanout plug adaptor and filling the chamber with hair spray. Replace the plug and spark the lantern lighter.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Take care when working with combustible gas from hair spray and never light the gun after getting hair spray on the outside of the chamber or on yourself.
Know your local laws. If used inappropriately, potato bazookas can cause serious injury or damage and it is illegal to fire potato bazookas within the limits of many cities. Only fire potato bazookas in large, open areas and away from buildings and public areas. Never fire or aim at people or animals.
