How to Build a Potato Launcher With PVC Pipes
Potato launchers are powerful, homemade projectile launching devices that can hurl a potato over massive distances. The plans for these do-it-yourself projects range from very simple to extremely complex. Potato launchers come in a wide range of sizes and are most often built with combustion-driven firing systems that rely on some form of flammable propellant and a sparking system. This simple guide will produce a medium-sized, portable launcher that is cheap, but powerful.
Things You'll Need
- 2 feet of 4-inch diameter PVC
- 5 feet of 2-inch diameter PVC
- 4-inch diameter threaded PVC female adapter
- 4-inch diameter threaded PVC plug
- 4-inch diameter PVC female coupler
- 4-inch-to-2-inch diameter PVC reducer
- PVC cement
- Barbecue grill ignition kit
- Hack saw
- Clean rag
- Drill
- Electrical tape
Instructions
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Simple Potato Launcher
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1
Cut 8 inches to 12 inches off of the 2-inch PVC pipe and set the new piece aside.
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2
Clean all of the contact points on all of the pieces that will receive PVC cement with a clean rag.
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3
Attach the threaded female adapter to the 4-inch PVC pipe with PVC cement and clean off any excess adhesive once the pieces are firmly together.
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4
Repeat this process for the female coupler, the reducer, and the 2-inch PVC pipe that will serve as the barrel.
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5
Wait 24 hours before proceeding to let the cement dry completely.
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6
Decide where and how to mount the barbecue grill ignition switch and the spark prongs. Drill two holes in the chosen location on the 4-inch pipe, no more than 2 inches apart. The diameter of the holes will depend on the size of the spark prongs.
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7
Insert the two spark prongs into the holes and use electrical tape to attach the ignition switch to the launcher in an easy-to-reach location.
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8
Attach the wiring for the barbecue ignition kit as per the manufacturer instructions.
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9
Test the ignition kit to confirm that it creates a spark when the switch is activated.
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10
Cut out a lengthwise section of the 8-to-12 inch piece that was set aside in step 1. The width of the section will depend on the width of the spark prongs.
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11
Glue the piece over the wiring and the spark prongs to protect them from the elements.
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12
Confirm that all of the components are firmly in place and test the finished launcher.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Bevel the muzzle opening to a sharp edge if it is difficult to load the potatoes. This will cut the potato as it loads which may also increase the quality of the launches because of the tight seal that the cut potato creates inside the barrel. Only PVC pressure rated at "schedule 40" should be used.
This configuration is capable of causing serious damage or injury to whatever it hits. The same level of caution used for real guns should be applied.
References
- Photo Credit sweet potato image by luda berlinerblau from Fotolia.com
