Pocket potato gun

I have entered this in the pocket sized contest. Please vote for me. and subscribe please!



IT WORKS BETTER THAN OTHER POTATO GUNS (POCKET SIZED) shoots farther!
It is six inches long, and an inch wide. It is powered with propane and an electric sparker from a lighter.

I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURIES.

Step 1 Materials

These are the items you will need:
- super glue (may not need it)
- wire
- electrical tape
- duct tape
- thumb tacks
- pen
- pliers
- knife
- sparker (from lighter)
- wire snips
- glue stick

Propellant
-propane

Cleaner
- Q-tip
-alcohol

Ammunition
- 5-10 mm slice of potato

Comments

[thomasthetankengine]

Do you have to use propane or can you use hair spray or another household item? Also, can you use a part from a bic lighter?

[creator 1]

hey, sorry it's taken me like 2 months to reply! guess i've been... on second thought i don't really have an excuse. anywho, no, you don't just have to use propane. you can use sprays and such, the liquid tends to build up on the igniter pins. that's why i like to use gasses. so if you do use spray, but sure to not use much! also, the bic lighters don't really work, because there is not way to contain the combustion and also safely strike it. hope that helped,

derek

[ItzMeLogo]

I also agree, I have not been on instructables in month, there is no excuse!

[Ipodfan414]

when you spray in the hairspray wouldnt the flamible fumes go out the barrel instintly?

[moomoocows]

You could load your ammo before you spray or add your selected fumes. This would prevent the barrel leaking.

[creator 1]

that's actually why i don't use hairspray.  i don't think it comes out instantly, but if you don't put the cap on quickly, i'd imagine that it would come out rather quickly.  i use propane, and because its more dense that air, it doesn't come out of the combustion chamber unless you tip it upside down. 
hope that helped, 
     derek

[Ipodfan414]

Hello could you tell me if you can only use a long lighter or any sparker from any lighter like a small bi lighter ?

[creator 1]

i don't think one of those small lighters would work, because than you can't seal the combustion chamber properly.  i use the long lighter type sparker, because it's the perfect size.  but really, you can use like one of those grill sparkers, or a stove sparker.  it should work as long as the chamber is sealed.
good luck,
     derek

[billbobby]

 can you use axe spray for fuel?

[creator 1]

well, i've never tried it, but if it's flammable, then i'd guess it would work.  make sure you use very little fuel.  it should be approximately 15 parts air to 1 part fuel vapor... good luck

[iroc_zman]

Butane Lighter Fluid and White Rain Hairspray So Far Are The Best I Found

[dragonwarrior3000]

I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURY..LOL

[creator 1]

well hey, if someones eyes get shot out, i don't want to be in trouble lol (:

[homemovies64]

 Hi,
Mine doesn't fire at all, but sometmes fires fire out the back with the cap on from the side. ANy suggestions?

[creator 1]

Hey,
     This could be a number of different things.  Check to make sure it's sparking inside.  Also, your potato could be too big.  If you use liquid fuel, you may be using too much, so just put a tiny bit.  Try cleaning it with alcohol. 

well, with the jumble of sentences above, i hope you found your problem.  if not, just let me know, and i'll try to think of other reason's it wouldn't be working.

good luck,
 creator 1

[homemovies64]

 Thanks for the reply. Sometimes it will fire, and other times won't fire for a long time. I spray in for half a second hairspray, (very flammable kind LOL) and it barely works. It sparks inside, I found that out the hard way by shooting the potato into my face once, but it still sparks. What could cause it to be unresponsive. Does yours work on every fire?
Thanks,
Eric

[creator 1]

uh oh.. got me stumped.  I really don't know what would cause that.  Mine fires every time.  the only time it doesn't spark is when the potato juice gets everything inside the gun wet, then it doesn't work very well. 
I hope it all works out for you, and sorry that I couldn't help a bunch...

let me know if you get it figured out,
Derek  (:

[creator 1]

oh, and let me know if it sparks or not  ;)

[homemovies64]

 oh yeah, it sparks, but the thing is that i spray some hairspray for bought half a second, and sometimes works, but sometimes doesn;t. But if you take off the back cap, it shoots out a flame. Weird, idk whats wrong.

[creator 1]

well, i'm not too familiar with the liquid fuels, but you could try to blow in it for a second after you spray the hairspray in it.  then, after you put the cap on it, shake it... other than that, i'm not sure i can help.

hope it helps,
 creator1

[ItzMeLogo]

I made one too, I've only dry fired it whithout potato in dark to see if it works, it does and I'm using axe deodarant spray worrks great

[zack247]

i use tag, i find its seems to be a little more flammable

[creator 1]

It looks cool in the dark doesn't it?

[AWNydam]

i made one of these a few months ago but i used i chapstickcontainer so my combustion chamber is tiny. shoulda thought about a gluestick.
i was thinking abput using one of those small gatorade bottle but the plastic is a little to thin and could melt

[creator 1]

yah, the gatorad thing is not good!!!  you can just buy a cheap  glue stick because they work really well!   good luck

[coolerthancool505]

i made this and it didnt work at all. but the spark worked. do you have any tips that could help me? i used hair spray is that the problem?

[creator 1]

you might have put too much haispray!  try putting a very small spray, then shake it up!!!   good luck

[itsthatsguy]

In order for thsi to work you need a 50/50 air to fuel mixture in the compustion chamber, spraying hairspray is WAY to much, if you do this, just tilt the device on its side, wait a little then light it.

[creator 1]

Personally, I don't like liquid fuels because it coats the little tacks with fuel, then it doesn't spark. If it does spark, maybe your spraying too much or too little fuel. Maybe the combustion chamber has a leak, and it wont build pressure. Maybe the little potato is too big. Or, this one makes a difference, is the hairspray flammable? well, I hope that helped creator 1

[coolerthancool505]

thanks

[MadBricoleur]

oksay i made it! just a tip: it would be helpful if you got some silicon caulk and smeared it around the "adaptive tape fitting" and on the side that's in the chamber so it's waterproof and all. Oh, and a good fuel would be to put alcohol (i used 70% isopropryl rubbing alchol) in a spray bottle and spray a bit in there. my method: push the spray button halfway down (spray that much), then cap it and shake 7 times, then fire.

[creator 1]

Well, the silicon might be a good idea, but the problem with liquid fuel, is that after a while, it gets burned to the sparking tacks. Then you have take it a park, and clean it. Other than that, I bet it works great!! Thanks for commenting

[LILhazY]

SSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WANA TRY THIS LMAO

[creator 1]

Well, I have one answer for you. DO IT! It looks really cool to shoot it against a window. It mashes. That really had nothing to do with your comment.

[bylerfamily]

Cool.Made one myself and it shoots pretty far.

[creator 1]

do you use propane or hairspray. that really was the only reason it shoots farther. i use prapane.

[bylerfamily]

I use silicon engine lubricant.That stuff is explosive.

[creator 1]

Ive never heard of that. where do you get it?

[bylerfamily]

Oh,for some reason your instructable is not in the Epilog challenge.And I can't find a way to vote for you.

[creator 1]

I don't think I made it. O well. I'll still vote for you. you can check out my other stuff. I entered some of my things in the earthjustice thing. You could vote for those. thanks creator 1