Battery Powered Hovercraft

You need a hover craft.

You don't need to be tethered by a cord.

You definitely don't want gas powered.

Let's build a lithium battery powered hovercraft

You are going to need
Gaffers tape (don't skimp)
Two plywood boards (we went all out , you can use what you have)
PVC pipe foam insulator
Two 120 hp lithium battery powered leaf blowers (1 actually worked, but don't play around)
2 shower curtains (again, 1 might work for a bit... But we are serious)
Staples
A screw
A coffee can lid

Begin by cutting 2 four foot circles out of plywood. We used a router with jig. Using a flat blade we cut our circles perfectly.

We used a bit of both to get the circles perfect. The better the circle, the better your ride.

Sometimes it's a good idea just to look at it.

We used the router to cut both circles to match. Do you know how to do this? Google it. Or just trace and use a jig saw.

So, you need holes for the air to blow through. Measure your leaf blower outputs. Cut holes to match. You want a very tight fit.

Our black and decker leaf blowers had little clips and bits we chopped off for a better fit.

You want the bottom of your craft to be very flat. No sharp edges.

Sand smooth your discs. No sharp edges or your shower curtain will rip.

Wrap your doubled up shower curtains over a single disc. Staple the shower curtain flat. Pull it as taught as possible.

Cut the excess. Keep it neat. We are also using a hammer to make sure all the staples are down tight.

We used gaffers tape. Duct tape is not adequate. It is not key. Use gaffers tape. It's for the pros. Be a pro.

Keep taping. Don't stop until you smile like this.

Is it tight? Is it beautiful? Good. If not. Start over. You have failed.

Put the discs together. The taped side in the middle, the shower curtain flat on bottom.

Screw a coffee can lid dead center.

Staple that coffee can lid for extra professional points.

Ok. Now, cut some 1 inch holes around the coffee can lid and reinforce them with gaffers tape. This allows the shower curtain to fill with air and escape out the holes.

The more tape the better. You don't want rips while you are hovering around.

Wrap the outside of the disc with the foam tubing. Tape it down. Don't staple. Just use gaffers tape. Don't skimp. Your very life may be at stake.

This bumper is very important. Make sure it is fully taped.

Install your blowers. We started with gaffers tape and ended up with 5 min epoxy. Keep it tight whatever you do.

We made sweet wooden mounts so we could use the blower handles as good hand holds when hovering.

Look at those mounts. Just make something up like ours. You are a pro now. You don't need instructions for that!

You are done.

Get on. Sit down. Install batteries. Hit the switches and hover like there is no tomorrow.

We are ready for maker faire!

http://youtu.be/Y1D1gv70jbk