First Tater Canon (video)

csbomb · Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:21 pm

Very basic...built with my son (13) over Christmas Vacation.

Video Here

Jeez...I can see this could get outa hand real quick, I have a few ideas for the next one...

frankrede · Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:31 pm

Lol, your special effects sounds are misleading.

csbomb · Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:34 pm

Ah yes...the SFX are humorous aren't they? The canon just didn't sound mean enough on the raw video. My son and I had fun making the canon and the video.

joannaardway · Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:03 pm

My brother's pneumatic cannon actually sounds like that... especially if he's using higher pressures. (Mind you - it'll put holes in 2mm thick steel plate, has nearly broken the sound barrier and has a 500 yard range)

That's some nice work for a first cannon. You seem to have done some research into construction (either that, or you're just naturally knowledgeable)

In spite of it's legendary links with spudguns, I'd recommend you stop using hairspray. It has the nasty habit of gumming up your spark electrodes. Try either a fragrance-free deodorant, or perhaps even starter fluid (ether).

csbomb · Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:07 pm

Yes...just about done with that first can of hairspray...will definitely try a better/cleaner propellant next time.

I'm thinking a pneumatic canon will be next...as for the work on the first canon, we just checked a bunch of sites, did our homework and put it together. Thanks for the comments.

Check out my YouTube SpudGun Channel! · Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:05 pm

Lol, that sounds cool as, nice basic spudgun btw

Etc1990 · Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:42 pm

Haha i like that video,nice first gun.Oh and as for propellent what ive found works fairly well is to buy some 91% rubbing alchahol and put it in some kind of spray bottle and spray 5 shots into the combustion chamber(i say 5 shots because your chamber looks about the same size as mine) and then use about 1/2 second spray of Tag or other deoderant spray,the tag really just kicks off the combustion,but ive found that using the alchahol definately increases power over the tag alone.

Bluetooth · Wed Jan 03, 2007 5:01 pm

Are you sure you wanna use alcohol?

Etc1990 · Wed Jan 03, 2007 5:03 pm

Why not? Do you think theres a problem with using it?

Canuckicks · Wed Jan 03, 2007 5:30 pm

Great gun, the simple ones are always good

, alcohol i find is a little touchy, it has the tendency to keep burning in the chamber after i have fired, i lost one gun because of the afterburning

csbomb · Wed Jan 03, 2007 5:35 pm

Too bad it's not an "afterburner" on the tater...

I'll keep it simple for now. I'm eyeballing a rifled barrel and a clear combustion chamber for the next build. I just read up on some of the cloud and vortex guns...my son is big into Airsoft so that might be a new project coming up as well.

zeigs spud · Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:08 pm

Canuckicks wrote:Great gun, the simple ones are always good , alcohol i find is a little touchy, it has the tendency to keep burning in the chamber after i have fired, i lost one gun because of the afterburning

yea the fumes wil get ur the good firing pressure but then whats left will stay to burn. i got that in one of my ghetto cannons from a 2L. coke bottle and lost the whole thing, it looked like it was in an oven lol.

nice cannon love simple ones, keep it up.

Etc1990 · Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:11 pm

You guys must use way to much alcohol or something ive never had that problem,infact my second ever gun the combustion chamber was 4" thick by 6" long and it was small enough that 3 shots of alcohol would work everytime by itself it had very good power,potatoes would go 250 yards on this little thing with a 2" by 30" barrel and the only residue it leaves behind is water wich doesn't get completely burnt in the combustion process.