Could you make a combustion cannon out of cardboard tubing?

Potatoes last one shot, so build reusable! Discuss ammo designs and ideas. Tough to find cannon part or questions? Ask here!

Should i try this?

Yeah go for it!
4
50%
Yeah, but don't blame me if you die
2
25%
Nah
1
13%
No, and if you die i write told ya so on your grave
1
13%
 
Total votes: 8
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noname
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Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:18 pm

I used cardboard for my first 4 or 5 combustion cannons, along with hairspray and a match for ignition! Am I dead? NO! I'm just insane, or is it stupidity? It's fun though, so whatever. They have blown out the touch hole a few times though.....
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frankrede
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Tue Jul 03, 2007 10:10 pm

Hmm I had a cardboard tube about 3.5" inner diameter with 1/2" thick walls.
It was really hard too.
Current project: Afghanistan deployment
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Hotwired
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Wed Jul 04, 2007 7:39 am

athoul wrote:
Hotwired wrote: You'd need something to bulk out the size of the barrel to fit in the chamber...

..Use remote ignition and don't let it get wet (no potatos) :wink:
Could you explain the bulking out the barrel in a bit more detail with a diagram if you can be bothered :D
Cut out a wooden disk of perhaps an inch thick and glue it inside the chamber for a cap and a doughnut shaped ring to form the bushing to fix the barrel inside the chamber.

Barrel glues into inner ring and the outer surface of the ring is glued into chamber.
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SnowFlox
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Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:53 am

wood is a nice idea !
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hi
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Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:14 pm

i made one out of a cardboard shipping ttube and wrapped it in duct tape and it worked like a charm. never failed. it launched soda cans and used axe for propellent.
"physics, gravity, and law enforcement are the only things that prevent me from operating at my full potential" - not sure, but i like the quote

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VH_man
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Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:34 pm

to make the cannon 100% cardobard you could use cardboard disks as the rear part................ and use 3 nails protruding into the rear of the cannon to hold the cap in place. to re-fire, just pull the nails out, and wala. then slap the endcap in again, and push the nails into it again.
deathholm
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Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:32 pm

Or you could just use pringles cans glued together


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pyromanic13
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Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:59 pm

toilet paper roll fits ping pong balls...just need a long nose lighter and some duct tape and you're set.
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Redcoat
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Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:36 am

if its like the poster cardboard or the stuff you have posted there then yes i'd say it's plausible.
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bucky242
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Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:15 am

it takes a while for card board to catch fire well mor than five seconds you could even make a system of switching out tubes faster loading
disposable great idea

Merged:

I made one we (me and my friends) were at a friends camp site and I was telling them about my spud cannon. They have never heard of one so I said "I could make one," I had a lantern lighter, (I was at this camping store and saw the lantern lighter and said I needed it) a paper towel tube, (I believe they've been there for a couple weeks) and some bug spray. They had a plastic tray for some muffins, that was made out of clear plastic so used that as the end cap and since its a vapor you don't need a seel. Used scotch tape to hold it together, and it was beautiful. When I fired it made this wonderful roaring boom and didn't burn it. I will post some pictures soon...
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