Christmas Cannon

Decorating stuff for the holidays takes way too much time. You have to string stuff up and attach this shiny thing to that thing and it blows. That's why the best way to get into the Christmas spirit as fast as possible is with a Christmas Cannon.

The Christmas Cannon is a pneumatic cannon that is loaded with the spirit of Christmas. It is then aimed at something horribly devoid of Christmas-ness and then blasts it with goodness. If even just some of the Christmas-ness is imbued into the target it's a success.

Now, let's get Christmas-y!


Song: "Jingle Bells" by Gary Hoey.
WARNING: The people that are shot in the video were shot at very low pressures. Each of the projectiles shot were tested against other objects several times before these shots were done. In normal circumstances, do NOT shoot or aim at people or animals even if you are wearing safety glasses. Be safe.

Step 1 Parts and Tools

WARNING: Be sure to do your research before building a pneumatic gun. This cannon is more of a prototype since it was never meant to go to high pressures. Be careful and be safe. Before starting such a project be sure you know exactly what you're going to be doing and not making it up as you go along.

Parts

• 1" Modified sprinkler valve
• Schrader valve - can get from dead bike tube
• 2" PVC cap
• 18" 2" PVC pipe
• 2" coupling
• 2" to 1" bushing
• 2x 1" male threaded adapter
• 2' 1" PVC

Tools

• Drill (preferably a drill press)
• PVC Primer & cement
• saw
• Teflon tape

Comments

[justindouthat]

cool this made me go out and make one myself :)

[abisabel]

hey you shouldn't aim jesus!!!

[apender]

I love the warning of the typical impatient rationale to rush out of waiting the full prescription.

[salishsilver]

I agree, how is the valve modified? I have used ball check valves from the hardware store on similar projects. They are pricey but effective. I make a rocket launcher but this might be good to launch smaller rockets indoors.

[fungus amungus]

Like this

Haven't looked at this in a while and the links to the store where I bought my supplies have gone dead. Now it's an even more DIY project.

Alternatively, you can use a battery, wires, and a switch like this

[heathbar64]

You are painfully negligent in telling us what the sprinkler valve is all about. I assume it is the trigger mechanism, but your details need some explanation.

[fungus amungus]

Ouch! Painfully negligent. That sounds bad!

The link used to go to where you could buy one, but it looks like that store is now gone. Replaced with link to instructions.

[salishsilver]

This is critical, if you over pressure this without letting it cure it can allow the glued joints to divide rapidly and forcefully. I have had it happen at a workshop where we were in a hurry.

[heathbar64]

And did I see an air blow gun? Please explain! I need a confetti cannon!

[TampaGeek]

I had to do a double-take while watching the video, to be sure that actually was a Katamari Damacy game case you were shooting (0:21 seconds in). I'm making this instructable a favorite just for that. I'm sure the King of All Cosmos would be highly pleased...

[duck_tape_]

Where did you get a schrader valve like that? I have only been able to salvage them from bikes, and epoxy them into the tank.

[masterochicken]

It's actually not hard to find. When my brother made his I got him some valves form the 99 cent store.

[gruffy]

so duck tape, where did you end up purchasing your valves from?

[mstryker]

i got mine from ace hardware.

[duck_tape_]

I didn't, I just salvaged one from an old inner tube. cut off all the exsess rubber from the tube, except for about a 1in diameter circle. then you put in the valve from the inside, with some superglue on the top part of the rubber, so it glues to the inside of the tank. I think I may have also used some epoxy putty on the outside to seal it a bit more. if you do it this way I would recomend you put it on the end of the cap, not the side of it....I hope that made sense.

[MadScott]

Weirdly broken page for the sprinkler valve/trigger - could we get more info here?

[BuffaloNickel]

if you go t othe main page of the site it reads "be back soon" but i doubt that.

[danbaha]

Does it have to have a modified sprinkler valve?

[Ranie-K]

Do you think this balloon based thing would work?

How about two PVC tubes (the biggest one capped, and the smaller one with a choke/small hole and a tack glued to the inside), one sliding inside the other; put a balloon (sausage shaped) inside the bottom of the bigger one, and a paper wad and confetti in the smaller one.

Put the smaller on top, compress the air in the balloon by pressing down the smaller tube (don't cover the muzzle), and as the balloon eventually protrudes into the smaller one, it will make it to a tack that will burst it, throwing confetti safely out the end of of the smaller tube.

[clemsonguy1125]

Sounds like it would work but its more trouble than its worth. The reload times would be long and a pain. If you don't have a sprinkler valve you can pick up a ball valve at your local home improvement store for about 6 bucks.

[BPearson]

 Looks like fun, but could you elaborate on the valve a little? 

[daniel!]

schrader valves are weak sauce. if you wanna be cool, and like bikes, use a presta valve! hahahaha

[jsummerlin]

http://www.plumbersurplus.com/Prod/Winters-EGT201-Economy-Gas-Test-Gauge-0-15-PSI/12475/Cat/888?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=googlebase&cvsfa=63&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=3132343735

One of these may be a little safer and it's always nice to know what the pressure is up to.

[duck_tape_]

I've made a few cannons like this, and i typically fill them to a higher pressure than 15 psi, which is what the gauge went up to.

[kidproquo]

five stars just for the video

[gk1651]

So Ho Ho Ho Funny!   Made my mornin!  LOL.  I could use this at work. I'd sniper x-mas at the cars drivin by. Probly wouldn't go on for long.  It's Holiday Madness I got! Christmas'd it what I needs! 

[sharkstun97]

in the video did he just shoot jesus christ?

[octopuscabbage]

he needed christmasing.

[RavingMadStudios]

Was that Jesus or Buddy? Couldn't tell. Either way, he's much more Christmas-y now, so there ya go.

[iminthebathroom]

It is probally wise to add a touch more "danger" notes on this project.  This is based on one of my very foolish past experiences.  We thought it would be fun to load a small air powered potatoe gun like this with candy, glitter and streamers.  We pressurized it by using a bike pump to 10 psi thinking that wouldn't be too much... Suffice to say when we shot it off in the general direction of the people at a Christmas party, we were lucky to aim it a 45 degrees, instead of directly at the people.  There are 3 holes still in my ceiling from the candy schrapnel.  Whoops.

[mynameisjonas]

you christmas'd katamari damacy?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? how dare you!

[fungus amungus]

I thought it would be fun to hit a DVD case and I only keep the games I love. It didn't suffer any permanent damage.

[mynameisjonas]

other than the post traumatic stress disorder :-)

[fungus amungus]

Yeah, it still isn't forming complete sentences yet, but I'm willing to give it time.

[octopuscabbage]

Uve got it backwards, katamari damacy gives YOU post traumatic stress disorder!

[braxtonb110]

 what is 18" 2" PVC pipe?

[Lithium Rain]

An 18 inch length of pipe that is 2 inches in diameter.

[frollard]

or a very very very short length of sewer pipe :D

...would be useful for molding concrete garden pavers...

[hishealer]

Two things come to mind immediately.  The song Christmas Canon, and Dr. Seuss.  The Whos used these before the Grinch came and took all but the crumbs even too small for a mouse.

[akatsuki666]

u can modify a sprinkler valve urself <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/SMWBFC3FGY7A65B/">http://www.instructables.com/id/SMWBFC3FGY7A65B/</a><br/>