Build a Paintball Mine

Step 11 Final Notes

You’re done! Let all the glue and cement set up for 24 hours and the mine is complete!

There are a couple options for the paint. I boiled down some paintballs and used that. It worked great, except boiling them down was a lot more work than I expected. I had to fish out all the gelatin shells that wouldn’t dissolve. You can also use watered down, non-toxic washable kids paint. Or, you could always go and purchase a gallon of paint -mine paint, but where’s the fun in that!?

 
Also, PLEASE use this with common sense and safety.  This is a fun thing to play with, but it can be dangerous if not used properly and while wearing the proper gear.  I'm not responsible if you act like an idiot and lose an eye, so BE CAREFUL!
 

Be sure to check out the video below. It was the first field test I did on my prototype two years ago. It actually worked a little better than I expected.

Comments

[aesquivel]

Great instructable, though you could go a notch up over the terrorist scale and fill it with pee.

Now THAT would make you watch your step, and actually you could just leave it there as it'll get better with time (and the sun). From there the possibilities are endless.

[ilpug]

You have an evil mind.

I like that.

[acarlson5]

could u make this shoot 4 paintballs?
like, make the spray parts wider and then just put a paint ball in each?
idk if they would be propelled fast enough to break, but what do ya'll think?

[hightekrednek2396]

it probably would if you could get the right size pipe and smaller chamber

[ginger20037]

I woulda tricked one of my friends into testing it out xD

[goober6]

awesome design im definitely going to make one!!!!!!!

[buchjd]

This is a great design! I've built one with these specifications and it works great and I've had someone step on it while playing capture the flag. Then I tested another design and changed the nozzle's to a smaller diameter (a PVC tube that was just a little smaller than the size of a standard plastic pen) to hopefully make a more powerful release of the water. Make sure you do not do this, the pressure could not be released fast enough and the threaded cap exploded into a 7 pieces. So don't make the nozzle diameter any smaller, unless your looking for a hilarious explosion, then don't drill any holes and press the plunger from far away.

[project dude]

how do you replace the Co2 cartridge to re-use the mine?

[kaptaink_cg]

Just screw off the top cap, pull out the old, and drop a new one in.

[wolf1234link]

I don't play paintball but i think if u haven't already thought of it but how about a washer type thing down over the canister to make and airtight seal then a bit of the pvc cement or something to purr down the pipe to make it more airtight if it doesn't stick to the sides then that could work dunno just putting that out there

[XxHELLHOUNDxX]

so i think this design is amazing!!! so props to you dude! i was just wondering if you were going to do the step by step instructions on how to make the trip wire mine, more or less i just need to know how the spring setup would work and what materials to use for it.

[Tgauchsin]

you could also consider attaching a 6 to 8 inch disk to the plunger with a big x in the center to still allow the spray to escape, but to give the plunger a much better chance of being stepped on...

[hlumbard]

 Improvements to existing patents can be patented!

[kaptaink_cg]

I actually talked to a lawyer about it, but for me it wasn't worth the investment.  i.e. they wanted waaaaaay too much damn money.

[magickaldan]

http://www.uspto.gov/patents/resources/types/utility.jsp

[skrubol]

Did you do anything to prevent the CO2 canister from going balistic?

[nanosec12]

From what i can read, it seems like the CO2 is inside the plunger and locked down with the cap.  On the bottom half of the plunger he has you cement on a fitting, so the plunger can't come out of the 3" cap.

[skrubol]

Ah, ok, now I see how it's secured,  Missed that on the first time through.

[jamesona]

The gas is escaping through the factory intended nozzle on the canister, so there's virtually no chance for explosion. The only possible failure related to the co2 canister, would be for it to launch the plunger like a rocket.

[zaqzaq]

the plunger could not be launched due to the union he used on the end of the plunger

[C18H21NO4]

That could be interesting.