Coffee Creamer Cannon

If you've seen the Mythbusters episode where they make a device of a similar name, then most of this will need very little explanation.  I'm going to show you how to make a system that will launch coffee creamer into the air and set it on fire.  It really boils down to "fill a container with pressurized air, put some coffee creamer in another container with some plumbing between the two, add fire, and blow it all into the air."  I've really just scaled it down to a manageable level.

All the parts to make this should be available at your local hardware store.  The only parts I had any trouble finding were the 3" pressure rated PVC and replacement valve stems, which cannot be had from the big box stores.  You need a real hardware store for that.  I don't remember exactly how much it cost me to put this together, but it was less than $50.

As with all projects on Instructables I've read that involve fire and pressurized air, I'll take a moment to say that I'm not responsible for your safety.  However, I was able to put this together in one day and start making fireballs without any damage to life, limb, or property.  If you're careful and at least cognizant of your surroundings, you really should have no problem with this.

That said, here's what you'll need to make the fire happen:

1 - 5 foot piece of 3" pressure-rated PVC  (it's critical that this be pressure rated and not foam core)
1 - 10 foot piece of 1/2" PVC
1 - 2 foot piece of 1 1/2" PVC

1 - 3" PVC end cap
1 - 3" - 2" PVC reducing bushing
1 - 2" - 1 1/2" PVC reducing bushing
2 - 1 1/2" - 1/2' reducing bushings
1 - 1/2" pipe nipple
1 - 1/2" brass ball valve
2 - 1/2" PVC male adapters
1 - 1/2" PVC 90° elbow
1 - 1 1/2" PVC coupling
1 - replacement valve stem for a lawn mower tire
1 - can of PVC primer
1 - can of PVC cement
1 - roll of thread tape

An air compressor will be a huge help when you're ready to pressurize the device, and of course coffee creamer is a necessity.  The final ingredient in this recipe is a few boxes of regular firework sparklers which are available everywhere.  Even here in Georgia.

Step 1 Create the pressure chamber

For this step, we'll use:
1 - replacement valve stem
1 - 5 foot piece of 3" pressure-rated PVC
1 - 3" PVC end cap
1 - 3" - 2" PVC reducing bushing
1 - 2" - 1 1/2" PVC reducing bushing
1 - 1 1/2" - 1/2" PVC reducing bushing
1 - 1/2 inch pipe nipple
1 - brass ball valve

First, drill a hole in the 3" end cap, to insert the valve stem.  For me, this was the most difficult part of the entire job.  It's best to drill the hole a little smaller than you think you need it to be, then force the rubber valve stem into the hole.  I also added some epoxy on both sides of the stem, just to make sure it doesn't push back into the chamber once it is done.  The final product should look like the second photo on this step.

Then, assemble the PVC parts as shown in the photos.  Prime and cement all the non-threaded joints to ensure that you get a good strong bond.  Use thread tape on the threaded joints, to make sure they are sealed nice and tight.  Put the end cap with the valve stem on one end, and the reducing bushings on the other, until you've reduced the 3" PVC down to the 1/2" pipe nipple.  This will screw into the brass valve.

Finally, add the brass valve to the end of the pipe nipple, and your pressure chamber is done.  Leave this for at least 2 hours per the PVC cement instructions to ensure that everything has set properly.  See the third photo on this step for what the finished piece should look like.

Comments

[ilpug]

Pretty amazing. I have heard of people making sawdust cannons. Does sawdust work too? What about flower? powdered sugar? you should experiment with different powders.

[GuitarGuyJames]

I'm a bit late, but flour works too. I have only tried self- raising flour, but when I threw it at a flame, it made some decent flames. I presume, sticking to what Celtophiliamike says, any flour would work.

[Celtophiliamike]

Hey, thanks for bringing that up, as I meant to include it in the text to begin with, and of course forgot.

According to an informed source, just about any dust is combustible in the right air/fuel ratio. When we were firing off the test shots last weekend, we ran out of coffee creamer, and started feeding corn starch into it. It worked just as well. Then, when we ran out of corn starch, we used powdered sugar with the same results.

I'm not sure about sawdust, because a lot of sawdust isn't really small enough pieces. Wood meal would probably work, or really fine sawdust I guess.

[ilpug]

The first thing I saw like this was on Youtube and it used sawdust, although I am not sure how fine the dust was.

Let's see some video on the different powders!

[woodstockbirdy]

Question: Illegal?
Answer: Probably........................(yes)

[fozzy13]

Awesome!! I've always thought of making one of these but never ended up doing it. It's nice to see one here on Instructables. Great job!! : )

[Celtophiliamike]

Thanks. When I first started thinking about building it, I looked here first and was surprised to find there wasn't one already. Glad I could finally make a contribution.

[mikeasaurus]

exciting and dangerous, just the way I like it!

[Celtophiliamike]

Thanks! It was a lot of fun to design and build, and even more fun to fire off.