How to Make Vortex Cannons

 by Kipkay
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WP26VortexCannons_010 copy.jpg
Here are two Instructables in one! Shoot rings of smoke across a room with the Tub Thumping Cannon and the Barking Tube Cannon. Watch me build them and the test results. From MAKE MAGAZINE Volume 15


 
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Step 1: Tub Thumping Cannon

Untitled-1.jpg
This one is so easy to make and gives great results. You will need a fog machine to generate the rings for both of these projects.

What You Need...

1. 32 Gallon Plastic Trash Can
2. Heavy Duty Trash Bag
3. Golf Ball
4. 2 Bunjee Cords
5. Tape
6. Box cutter.
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Creepapace says: Feb 16, 2013. 1:50 PM
WOW!!!
nedim155 says: Oct 24, 2010. 7:23 AM
im only reading coments of kipkay :)
ldhoover1 says: Jun 22, 2010. 11:45 AM
put a small speaker in bottom of coke can - add flour to coke can - speaker vibration will cause flour to disburse and then cannon will fire it out - if you pot a candle in front of cannon, the cannon will not only blow the candle out - but will ignite the flour in a ring of fire
nnandigala says: Mar 23, 2010. 5:12 PM
Can you please provide specifications of speaker and amplifier you used for Barking Tube Cannon
knex luver123 says: Feb 20, 2010. 3:55 PM
im gona sue you kip, you did say that we needed an exacto nife in the video, and the you go and wip one out like you were born with it.
panstar1 says: Oct 9, 2008. 1:22 AM
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Kipkay (author) in reply to panstar1Oct 9, 2008. 5:10 AM
It HAD to have been more than that. No one gets blocked just for asking a question. Possible mistake?
knektek in reply to KipkayFeb 17, 2010. 2:05 PM
one of the first times i seen you reply.
sharlston in reply to KipkayMay 17, 2009. 12:58 PM
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sharlston in reply to sharlstonMay 17, 2009. 12:58 PM
why did you remove my comment?
sharlston in reply to sharlstonMay 17, 2009. 12:58 PM
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qballcat in reply to sharlstonJun 6, 2009. 11:08 AM
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wither says: Dec 29, 2009. 12:33 PM
 A smoke firework also works just fine also it adds a hint of colour. 
Davidl3 says: May 8, 2009. 9:25 PM
How do you get the smoke?
totally_screwed says: Oct 3, 2008. 12:56 AM
I believe one factor which is very important is the circularity and finish of the orifice. I'm not sure that you emphasised this sufficiently. If the orifice isn't sufficiently circular, the quality of the vortices and their range will suffer. You mentioned smoke, but other substances can be used. For instance rotten-egg gas (hydrogen sulphide from action of an acid on iron sulphide) makes an excellent but exceedingly smelly vortex (that is invisible). Possibly, one could use a combustible gas and aim the vortex at a source of ignition. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH THIS ONE! Please do not try this one in your home or near flammable materials! If you burn your home down, don't blame me! I read some of the comments, but in case I missed one that mentioned this, I apologise..
browfurd in reply to totally_screwedApr 6, 2009. 11:35 AM
I like the hydrogen sulphide idea! Maybe even a methyl mercaptan/hydrogen sulphide combo and it could be a "flatus" cannon! (In addition to the naturally occurring one...)
pengnatck says: Sep 27, 2008. 6:14 PM
this "candle Cannon" looks like it was built really well. makes me laugh everytime they blow them out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayaiArVkpA4
realcelestialphoenix in reply to pengnatckSep 28, 2008. 4:33 AM
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jj32x in reply to realcelestialphoenixOct 2, 2008. 10:19 AM
better still hydrogen:-D
realcelestialphoenix in reply to jj32xOct 3, 2008. 2:57 AM
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n8man in reply to realcelestialphoenixOct 11, 2008. 7:48 PM
nitroglycerin vapor?
realcelestialphoenix in reply to n8manOct 12, 2008. 2:10 AM
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zimmemic25 in reply to realcelestialphoenixOct 13, 2008. 9:29 AM
u could also spray some liquid detonator of some contact-detonating powder onto a concrete wall, fill cannon with the powder and kill the wall...
realcelestialphoenix in reply to zimmemic25Oct 14, 2008. 10:48 AM
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jj32x in reply to realcelestialphoenixOct 14, 2008. 12:51 PM
(sarcasm)NO!!! DONT AIM AT SCHOOL!!!:-D
zimmemic25 in reply to jj32xOct 25, 2008. 11:11 PM
whynot?
Derin in reply to zimmemic25Nov 9, 2008. 10:38 AM
because youll sit out at break
fwjs28 in reply to DerinMar 13, 2009. 7:08 PM
lama
Derin in reply to fwjs28Mar 26, 2009. 12:07 PM
?
mechcem says: Oct 3, 2008. 10:34 PM
i just started to make an instructable on a similar thing i made two day before you published this. i have got to be faster this has happened 5 times now
fwjs28 in reply to mechcemMar 13, 2009. 7:09 PM
hire a crack team of lamas or monkeys(not both tho, they fight eachother)....
qon duixote says: Nov 17, 2008. 1:21 AM
If anyone is really interested in vortex canons the History channel (U.S.) did a show on German Secret Weapons including some 50 foot long vortex cannons using coal dust that were intended to knock down Allied Aircraft. Sorry, I don't have any links on me but it might be a cool combination History/Science project. If someone wants credit in two classes for one project.
punkatsub in reply to qon duixoteDec 1, 2008. 12:40 AM
did the coal dust work or just p*** off the pilots?
qon duixote in reply to punkatsubFeb 21, 2009. 12:37 AM
They clearly didn't succeed in creating an operational anti-aircraft weapon. However, coal dust or in that case many other fine dusts are extremely volatile in the right conditions. They are all a form of an air and fuel mixture. If you need any proof just Google "mill explodes."
punkatsub in reply to qon duixoteFeb 21, 2009. 3:13 AM
ahh kool
PikminRed says: Jan 7, 2009. 5:23 PM
AWESOME I liked the big one! Its also possible to get a swirling shaped one by cutting a shape like a Ninja star (curved like wings) with flaps going into the barrel of the cannon (I used an old hand held air cannon and filed it with smoke. It was funny to see the look on peoples faces as they see a cloud of smoke flying past them.
BlueNinja says: Nov 4, 2008. 11:41 AM
....Most...useless...thing....ever
Kipkay (author) in reply to BlueNinjaJan 5, 2009. 6:14 AM
It's just a fun project for the h**** of it. It does explain the concept of what a vortex is. I guess you don't like to have fun and are all serious about everything in life. Hence the total uselessness.
imshanedulong in reply to BlueNinjaJan 2, 2009. 2:23 PM
If you want USELESS, go to http://www.instructables.com/id/Make_A_Frozen_Crystal_Ball/ and you'll see useless. This is MY instructable so I'm not making fun of anyone. Trust me. This isn't the most useless thing on instructables.
BlueNinja in reply to imshanedulongJan 5, 2009. 5:08 AM
Well a balloon cost a heck of a lot less then all the stuff you need to buy for this. I still stick with the general idea that this is one of the most useless thing ever.
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