Water Balloon Launcher - Ball Valve

The Water Balloon Launcher - Ball Valve uses a simple 1/4 turn ball-valve to release a chamber of pressurized air to propel a water balloon at high velocity. It consists of a pressure chamber, a valve, and a launch tube.

Later versions will include an in-line version (the launch tube and pressure chamber run parallel) along with a sprinkler solenoid version.

SAFETY NOTE: Do NOT use DWV pipe or fittings (Drainage, Waste, Vent) or any pipe not pressure rated. Use ONLY schedule 40 or greater pressure-rated PVC pipe. DWV is NOT made to be pressurized.

The following guide explains how to identify pressure rated pipe and fittings http://www.spudfiles.com/spud_wiki/index.php?title=Identifying_Pressure_Rated_PVC#Identifying_Pressure_Rated_PVC_By_Text

Step 1 Parts List

To build your Ball Valve Water Balloon Launcher you'll need the following parts or constructed items:

1 - 3" Water Balloon Launch Tube or 4" Water Balloon Launch Tube
1 - Pressure Chamber
1 - 1" PVC ball-valve(TxT)

Both types of Launch Tubes and Pressure Chamber will be shown how to build at the end of this instructable.

Either the 3" or 4" Water Balloon Launch Tube can be used. It all depends on the size of the water balloon you want to use.

Comments

[afoo1]

does the pressure chamber have to be that big ?

[kef4444]

could anyone tell my where the hell getting this damned pvc pipes from? i don`t find any internet site that sells em ... thx

[jbb3141]

I've purchased all my PVC pipe at either Home Depot or Lowes. Usually they'll both have everything except the 4" pipe. Usually one of them will have it but other than that, I bought everything I needed from them.

[kef4444]

thx, but i'm from germany, and in our home depots you just don't find any valves... so i asked for an internet adress ... but okay, thx for the fast answer ... mayhaps you can search for me i don't know where to find ....

[uberdum05]

In the UK I don't think they even sell it so I am having the same problem as you yet they sell DWV pipe at all the DIY stores and trade outlets...

[kef4444]

yeah i found some in a web shop ... in germany they're very expensive, so it costs c.a. 130 dollars but it can hold c.a. 232 psi ...!

[jbb3141]

Oops, sorry about that :)

Doing I quick search I found the following:
PVC Pipe
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23979&clickid=redirect

PVC Fittings
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/default.aspx?catid=726&parentcatid=728

or this place seems to have it all:
http://www.plumbingsupply.com/pvc.html

[boostergold1]

i want to shoot this from my Clawfoot Tub Shower Kit so i dont get everything soaked. i agree, get some video so we can see how well it works!

[jbb3141]

Ok, I'll do my best to get some video this weekend :)

[Yukondano2]

So, about how expensive would this gun be?

[Biopyro]

!!! Please don't use DWV pipe and fittings. If they are pressurized then get bumped or knocked It just becomes a pipe bomb!

Other than that glaring safety omission, this is an excellent Instructable. Easy to follow, effective, a great introduction to air cannons.
I'd be happy to give you 5* if you can add little about pressure rated pipe. :)

[jbb3141]

Thanks for the reminder Biopyro. This info actually came from a larger ebook I created which has the warnings but I neglected to add it yesterday. It's now been added to the intro.

[Biopyro]

Just because it's schedule 40 doesn't make it pressure rated, you need to look for NSF-PW. . Have a look at this page, which makes it easy to check. Identifying Pressure rate pipe. Also a video of it in action would be awesome!

[jbb3141]

Again, thanks for the heads up Biopyro. Content has been updated. The link didn't come through on your comment for some reason but I found a link to pressure rated pipe information and included it in the introduction. I'll work on getting a video shot and uploaded :)

[imrobot]

sooooo about that video...

[Biopyro]

Awesome, that was the exact link I was thinking of! Congratulations on a great instructable :)

[clemsonguy1125]

How far can this gun shoot

[baken411]

very nice, i had made one before but it was more of a mortar with a base and all. Whats the point of the cut-of valve?

[jbb3141]

The pressure cut-off valve is used to release pressure in the pressure chamber automatically if it gets above a certain value so that the pressure chamber can't be over-pressurized.

[joejoerowley]

Looks Nice, I would love to see a video with it but besides that great instructable! Thanks