Potato Cannon

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create and shoot your very own potato cannon.

For this project, you will need:

14' of 3'PVC Piping

2" of 1.5'PVC Piping

3" End Cap

3' to 1.5' connector

1' PVC Screwline and Screw

BIC Lighter

PVC cement

Hot glue gun/hot glue sticks

Screw Driver

Tape

Hairspray

Potatoes

First, gather your 14' 3'PVC pipe, 3' End piece, PVC cement, hot glue, and sand paper.

On one end, use sandpaper and sand the areas where you will glue when placing together the two pieces.

Then gently rub the PVC cement on the piping and immediately place the two pieces together.

After that dries, hot glue the edges.

After that, you will then need to find a way to load your cannon with fuel.

To do this you will first have to drill a 1' hole on the side of the 3' tube. This hole should be approx. 3 in. above the bottom of the tube.

Using PVC cement, apply the screw line in the hole. Allow the cement to dry and the apply hot glue over the seals.

Then place the screw in the screw line.

Approximately 8 in. from the bottom of the combustion chamber, drill a 1/4 in. hole through the tube.

Next, take your BIC lighter and split it in half.

Take the sparker out (with the wires) and discard the other pieces.

(Remember: Lighters may have different sparkers)

Now, take your sparker and tape the two wire together just underneath where the wires split.

Make sure the sparker still works and fit the wires inside the 1/4 in. hole.

Once fitted, apply hot glue around the wire.

Finally, check to see if the sparker still works. If it does, you're good to move on to the next step.

Now comes the easy part: assembling the barrel.

Simply, attach the 2" of 1.5' PVC to the 3' to 1.5' PVC connector.

Tighten the straps as much as possible to avoid breaking when launching.

Apply hot glue on the edges of the connector.

Now, attach the other end of the connecter to the combustion chamber.

Tighten as much as possible apply hot glue.

You should have now completed the construction of your cannon.

Loading your cannon is fast and easy:

First, shove a potato 3/4 of the way down your barrel (it should be nice and snug).

Next point your cannon in a safe direction and open the screw from the screw line.

Quickly spray hairspray into the combustion chamber for 3-5 seconds and close it off.

When ready, click the sparker and BOOM!