So I want to build a pneumatic potato launcher for my daughter's science class (3rd grade). Because it's for the school it has to be a pneumatic device. I've done the normal google search and found a few interesting plans. Just wondering if anybody here has plans for building a relatively inexpensive pneumatic potato launcher that they would like to share. BTW - I do not have an air compressor.
pneumatic potato launcher
- Thread starter rjmhotrod
- Start date
Um, a potato cannon is not the kind of toy I would make for a 3rd grader. (boom01) Besides just being dangerous in general, the recoil would knock probably her off her feet(assuming she could carry it even). And you probably need an air compressor. Anyways, there are tons of plans online. Just google it.
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- 07 CX-7 GT, 01 CBR929RR
thats awesome. im 32 but still remember it like it was yesterday. my first potato gun. powered by PVC and gasoline. good times. i think i still have my old anarchist cookbook around here somewhere. good luck!
pnuematic would be the way to go, safety wise (though never really "safe"). You'll probably need some sort of a high pressure resevior for that burst of air. Hairspay ignitor types tend to make the PVC brittle over time, so the combustion chamber may litterally crack or explode while launching.
...btw, who's project is this anyway?
...btw, who's project is this anyway?
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- 07 CX-7 GT, 01 CBR929RR
would you rather be shot with a paint ball gun or a black powder gun? j/k
Copy this design or something similar. Use a bike pump to compresss the air.
http://www.spudtech.com/detail.asp?id=52
http://www.spudtech.com/detail.asp?id=52
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- 07 CX-7 GT, 01 CBR929RR
doh! owned again, lol
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- 02 lx
so for the link above all you do is pump it up (haha! arnold!) with a bike pump to the desired level of pressure and just the push of a button is all it takes?
Cellerator
Member
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- 2012 Mazda 3i Skyactiv Hatchback
I did this behind a walmart and best buy, launched potatoes over the buildings, it was hilarious until the cop came but we hid all the stuff so nothing happened.peepsalot said:
peepsalot said:
You can't use a bike pump to compress the air because you won't get enough PSI into the chamber. You need 75-100PSI to do anything worthwhile.
Just use a sprinkler solenoid valve its like $15 at Lowe's. It needs 24volts to operate so connect 3 9V batteries to it with a switch, I recommand having a throw switch and then a push button to fire for safety purposes. I've got a 2.5 inch barrel and a 2 inch air chamber. I usually get about 2 shots before I have to refill the chamber. And I've broken 2x4s with my gun from 20 feet away.
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peepsalot said:
Sorry I should have made myself a little clearer. This would be something I would be making for myself but demonstrating for her science class. My wife helps with science experiments at our daughter's school (it's a small private school). I would definitely not allow the kids to use it.
Today we did the diet coke and mentos experiment. The kids had a blast. So did the diet coke.
Terd_Ferguson
Member
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- 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird
make a pneumatic human cannon. screw the spuds.
