Homemade Tennis Ball Launcher of Fire
War games and other pretend army scenarios often require the player to have a “grenade” or “rocket” launcher available to take out the bad guys. You can make a homemade tennis ball launcher that will use an explosive force to fire a tennis ball “projectile” at the enemy. You will need a few supplies that are commonly found around the house, along with items from your bathroom. You must have adult supervision when using your tennis ball launcher if you are underage, since a flame is used to generate a fire that propels the tennis ball.
Things You'll Need
- Empty paper towel tube
- Duct tape
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Barbecue lighter
- Hair spray
- Tennis ball
Instructions
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1
Stand the empty paper towel tube on the table. Wrap strips of duct tape around the entire l tube. Smooth the duct tape on the tube with your fingers.
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2
Place the tennis ball on the top end of the tube. Make a mark on the top, bottom, left and right edges of the tennis ball on the top of the tube with the pencil. Remove the tennis ball.
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3
Cut a two-inch vertical slit in each of the pencil marks on the tube with the blade of the utility knife.
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4
Turn the tube over. Place the tip of the barbecue lighter halfway into the top end of the tube. Secure the lighter to the tube with strips of duct tape.
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5
Place strips of duct tape around the top end of the tube to close the end. Smooth the duct tape down with your fingers.
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6
Go outside in your backyard. Hold the tennis ball launcher you have made by the lighter at the end. Tip the open end of your tennis ball launcher up.
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7
Spray hair spray into the open end of the tennis ball launcher for five seconds. Push the tennis ball into the open end until it it secured in the cut slits.
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8
Aim your tennis ball launcher at a bush or other safe target that won’t ricochet back at you. Press the trigger of the BBQ lighter to ignite a flame and fire the tennis ball at the bush or safe target.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear protective gloves and eye gear when using your tennis ball launcher.
Never fire your tennis ball launcher at a person, animal or at anything that could be damaged by being hit.
