Potato cannon, Potato Gun, Spud Chucker, Spud Gun, Spudzooka, Spud launcher...Pipebomb...Yeah it can happen, you can shoot out other stuff than a potato but what ever you want to call them its one of my small hobbies, something about shooting and breaking stuff with something that can break You is somehow fun, I almost took my head off once and was laughing...don't ask, but my point is don't build what you see on this site unless you have the knowledge of what they are and how to build them without being stupid
There are two basic types of these things, 1.The Combustion and 2.The Pneumatic
Combustion types(1) are what most people make and use, they work by using a flammable aerosol sprayed into the back and after it has been closed up it is Ignited by a BBQ starter or a Stungun hookup making a Big boom and sending your Potato or what ever you had down the Barrel bye bye.
The Pneumatic(2) works with Compressing air into an Air Chamber up to around 100PSI that is then released/opened by a valve to the barrel launching the object out far far and away, these are also more quite than the combustion.
Both are Equally Dangerous if you ask me, in a failure you will probably be dead or be praying for it.
what I build are the Pneumatic type, I call them Air Cannons
A VIDEO!! watch the pop can get popped
can with water, shot at 50psi (click here)
Links to Cannon related stuff
http://www.SpudTech.com
this is one of the best sites I've been to, the site's forums are great too, the people are friendly
Advanced Spuds
The Almighty Boogieman and his awesome site, a great guy with great ideas, check his site out, NOW!
NEW* My Current Air Cannon, 2nd conversion, this thing is great
full view with 2" diameter barrel Updated*
Full view with 1" diameter barrel 69.5" longUpdated*
view of Modified valveUpdated*
My Horrible First, I converted it to my second one
full view
handle thats also the trigger
hook up
Wiring
And this would be my second one, much better, but I could do better
Full view
Half view
Valve
First person view
Stuff I've shot
One messed up Soda-Can I shot a poll threw
Pole shot threw board
Ammo used
1.Glowstick round, 2.Solid Wadding, 3.Tumbler, 4.Heavy round
1.Used to launch glowsticks, 4 holes drilled into the circle are packed with lead for added weight.
2.Used behind objects that do not have a tight fit.
3.Two wooden circles with a hole drilled into the middle for a 12-gram CO2 cylinder packed with lead for extra weight to fit in, this thing goes fast and tumbles threw flight but makes a mess of its target.
4.Heaviest of my stuff, it was some sprinkler I found, its about 7inches long, I added lead into the front to add weight and keep it straight in flight, this thing really packs a punch, I thought it would brake after the first couple shots but so far its held together with no damage to it, the bottom of it is hollow about an inch deep
NEW*
this is a wad of DuckTape made to fit into my 1" barrel, may not seem like much, untill you shoot a 2-liter soda bottle filled with water 6 feet away with it and the bottle rips apart
NEW*Random pics
click on images to view actual size
A can shot with a DuckTape slug
A soda bottle shot with a DuckTape slug
