How to Build a Potato Gun Cannon With a Butane Lighter
Cannons use an explosive force -- gunpowder -- to propel a projectile out of the barrel and towards a target. You can make your own potato-shooting cannon from a few household supplies that will provide both the construction materials as well as the propellant. Adult supervision is a must if the person making the potato-shooting cannon is underage. Take standard safety precautions, including putting on protective gloves and eyegear. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Remove all of the paper towels from a paper towel roll. Stand the paper towel roll on a table. Tape strips of duct tape to the top end of the roll so that the opening is completely covered. Smooth the duct tape on the top and sides with your fingers.
-
2
Cut a hole through the center of the duct tape with the blade of a utility knife. Insert the wick end of the butane lighter into the hole, leaving the trigger that ignites the butane out of the hole. Tape the sides of the butane lighter to the top of the roll with strips of duct tape.
-
-
3
Put on the protective gloves and eyegear (goggles). Go outside in your backyard. Shake a can of hair spray for 10 seconds. Hold your potato-shooting cannon with the open end facing up. Place the nozzle of the hair spray can in the open end of the cannon. Press the nozzle's button for five seconds.
-
4
Insert a red-skinned potato into the open end. Let it fall all the way down to the bottom before continuing.
-
5
Aim the open end of the cannon at a tree or bush -- make sure that there is no person or pet anywhere near the target you have chosen or in front of you.
-
6
Hold the bottom of your potato-shooting cannon with the palm of one hand. Hold the butane lighter at the end with the other hand. Flick the trigger on the butane lighter to propel the potato at your target.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
You can paint your potato-shooting cannon black or any color you might like with acrylic spraypaint prior to using it.
