Pocket potato cannon

 by narpas
Most Instructables on potato cannons involve building really big heavy duty cannons and they are usually really dangerous. so i have made this aewsome instructable on building a small potato cannon that you can shoot in your back yard or basement.
SAFTEY
It is extremely unlikely you will get injured by this but dont be stupid!! The ignitor can give you a shock that is pretty painful but only has the power of a AA battery. dont use any other fuel other then hairspray or deodorant dont use gas or something stupid like that. other then that were all good!
 
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Step 1: Supplies

IMG_0589.JPG
1Film canistor. (you can get them free from rite aid or a place like that)
2 corkboard push pins
1 used disposable camera. (you can also get these free from any store that develops film.)
1 bic pen
some insulated wire
electrical or duct tape
scissors or a knife
soldering iron
Cobalt59 says: Jan 23, 2011. 1:06 PM
I like to put hydrogen in my big cannons. You probably have to reinforce your chamber though. Butane, gasoline, and propane work good as well.
roketfueldgoat says: Jun 29, 2010. 12:38 AM
i love this idea as it incorporates 'danger' with 'small' :) i made this but decided to put one of those jet lighter ignitors, you know the ones that click with a spark,and just put the wires inside the container. this way you don't need to charge it and its much smaller.
Wareagle says: Feb 16, 2010. 4:29 PM
 my brother shot me with this. OUCH!!!!!
Colonel88 says: Sep 28, 2009. 11:27 AM
lol get a hair spray bottle and spray it thru a lighter. i did it im like HOLY S***.
thestyrofoampeanut says: Aug 18, 2009. 8:47 PM
ive seen this done with a piezo igniter but this is a very creative and cool spin on it i love electronics and this is way cooler than the lighter sparker design
ArvindTheNinja says: Aug 11, 2009. 5:35 PM
spraying hairspray for every time you want to shoot something can be a pain in the rear end. my friend and I built one of these with a lighter and a pill bottle. instead of taking out parts from the lighter, we drilled some holes in the lighter and rerouted the butane valve to the inside of the pill bottle along with the wire for the ignitor. allyou have to do is hold down the butane release on the lighter for 3-4 seconds and pull the trigger on the lighter. I am planning to post this as my first instructable once i can get a decent camera.
Dreistein says: Jul 30, 2009. 10:51 AM
just get a lighter sparker and spray hairspray it is sooooooo cool
shabaki says: Jul 11, 2009. 3:16 PM
y not just use a straw and blow?
shabaki in reply to shabakiJul 11, 2009. 3:17 PM
i say that because u can get expelled from a school if u take that in and u can get in lots of trouble elsewere
Whitedude0728 says: May 11, 2009. 9:40 PM
AHH! instead of the 300+ volt camera taser a pizeoelectric sparker will do it. you get them out of lighters
fireblast_1212 says: Apr 7, 2009. 5:41 PM
I can now go around school shooting people with bits of their french fries! HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Arbitror says: Mar 18, 2009. 9:00 PM
Why use a camera when you can use a peizo igniter? It's way smaller, and has the same effect. You also get a tazer out of the camera you were going to use for the ignition! Double Whammy! To see how you would use a peizo igniter, check out my M.S.G.P.!
fireblast_1212 in reply to ArbitrorApr 7, 2009. 5:40 PM
Nice thinking!
narpas (author) in reply to ArbitrorMar 21, 2009. 6:47 PM
They are not relieble and not near as fun as a giant charging capacitor and when I made this I didn't have a spare lighter to tear apart.
Trace II says: Feb 12, 2009. 10:19 PM
STEP ONE Get really big pockets!
Metalcaster14 says: Feb 7, 2009. 9:48 AM
nice instructable
ksimonte says: Jan 24, 2009. 12:50 PM
Do you think a chap stic container is sufficient enough?
ksimonte in reply to ksimonteJan 24, 2009. 12:52 PM
If it is i will make one with a wood handle and post because i have an idea for one with a tip up barrel and chamber design.
TJ 47065 says: Dec 31, 2008. 4:49 PM
really cool!! does this only take 1 spark to ignite the hairspray/ deoderant ?because i tried to make one before but with a barbeque igniter but it took ages to light . i'll be sure to try this one out !! :)
narpas (author) in reply to TJ 47065Jan 1, 2009. 4:57 PM
usually but if you just spray and dont get any oxygen in there it probably wont light so wait 5 seconds after spraying to put the cap back on
jimmy dean says: Dec 26, 2008. 10:23 PM
It would be much easier/safer/less painful to take the igniter from a barbeque lighter and use that instead.
narpas (author) in reply to jimmy deanDec 27, 2008. 9:40 AM
i did not have one lying around and this is a much better spark that is sure to ignite it
thepaul1993 says: Dec 11, 2008. 10:06 AM
so do you bend the thumb tacks to touch in the barrel or is it another way?
narpas (author) in reply to thepaul1993Dec 11, 2008. 4:46 PM
you stick the pins in diagnoly so they cross but one is a little in front of the other
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