Water Bottle Bazooka

Have you ever wanted to fire a water bottle from a shoulder-mounted launcher? I know I have. This Instructable takes the basic "water bottle rocket" science lesson and expands on it, combining the ability to aim with a convenient trigger mechanism. It can be built in a few hours using parts from a hardware store. But before I continue, here is the requisite disclaimer:

PLEASE, do not aim the Bazooka at people, animals, your neighbour's prize-winning tomato plants, or other objects that may be damaged. Only launch outside. Don't do anything stupid, like lighting the bottle on fire before launching it. Use only water as a propellant. Do not over-pressurize the bottle. Use under adult supervision. Keep small children away (regardless of my video!) Use the thinking part of your brain.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, do try to retrieve every bottle you launch. Let's not litter, okay? I'd also suggest using "reclaimed" water as propellant, such as rainwater, snow melt, or the like.

Step 1 Materials and Tools

Here is a list of materials you will need to build the Water Bottle Bazooka

3-4 feet of 3" diameter ABS pipe
One 3" to 1.5" ABS reduction adapter
One 1.5" to 0.5" ABS threaded pipe adapter
One 1" inside diameter metal washer
About 6" of scrap 2x4
About 6" of 3/4" diameter plastic pipe (any kind)
One #4 rubber stopper, solid core (cork won't work, it has too many holes!)
A bicycle brake lever
Bicycle brake cable housing (cut to fit)
Bicycle brake cable (cut to fit)
A brake cable clamp or similar
Any sort of glue that will adhere plastic to plastic, and wood to plastic

Water bottles - 500mL size, or anything that will fit in the launch tube
Bicycle pump
A long Presta valve - a used bike tire tube is a good place to get one!

And here are some tools that you'll probably need:

Something to cut metal - a Dremel or metal-cutting bandsaw would work best
Something to cut plastic - a handsaw or miter saw or something similar
Something to cut wood - really, any sort of saw would work.
A drill press (or a hand drill, in a pinch)
A sharp utility knife or X-acto knife
Assorted measuring and marking implements

Comments

[HollyMann]

My son would love this!

[jeff-o]

Sounds like a good project for you two to build together! You can get everything you need from a building store and a bike shop.

[splintercell13]

(removed by author or community request)

[disturbedreaper]

i wonder if i could put watersoluable paint in it and use if for paint ball instead

[GuitarGuyJames]

Well, if you made a cardboard shell for paintballs with flaps cut into the front, it should work. The flaps will open when the shell is shot, and the paintballs will keep going. As long as there is a tight enough seal and you understand me correctly, it should work.

[jeff-o]

No, I don't think so. The bottle moves forward, while the water goes backwards. So unless you want to tag yourself or your teammates I don't think it would be such a good idea!

[tha_jaker]

Maby put paintballs on top if the water bottle so that when you launch the water bottle the paintballs come out as well.

[disturbedreaper]

yea i agree but ive ben brain storming and mabey with a sheild and shoot it over the enemys heads so it puors out on them? ill work on the idea after midterms

[jeff-o]

I had a feeling that's what you were thinking. Normally you'd only put about 200mL into the bottle, which isn't very much - the chances of hitting your target would be pretty low. If you want to rain paint on your enemies I'd suggest figuring out a way of firing a few dozen paintballs into the air all at once...

[disturbedreaper]

yea like i said though i need time for midterms (yea) : (

[codongolev]

fill them with paint like you said, but put the bottle backwards and stop it from moving to propel the paint forward.

_{^{or put watery paint in a squirt gun, but that's not nearly as fun.}}

[jeff-o]

Well that's not really a bazooka anymore, it's more like a traditional water gun, or maybe fungus' Christmas Cannon. ;)

[disturbedreaper]

he said that look at the small text

[ilpug]

you could put a water baloon full of paint on the front of the rocket

[Nicholai]

aquafina bottles suck and die when used as ammo, use Smart Water, they last forever and get pretty good distance. an aquafina bottle expanded on the second launch attempt and got stuck in the tube, epic fail.

[jeff-o]

Good to know. Plastic bottles are definitely not all created equal!

[m1keo]

I use this for paintball. Just fill the bottle with water and paint from my old saggy balls.

[m1keo]

THE PAST IS THE PAST LET IT GO!

[NE patsrock]

wow kool did it work well?

[m1keo]

After lots of modifications yes.

[NE patsrock]

ha funny:)

[acdc1226]

well then..........................

[ilpug]

that doesn't sound wrong at all

[m1keo]

Oh god, I didn't think before writing that, by "my old saggy balls" I meant bad paint balls.

[The Locksmith]

No, not in the least.

[m1keo]

Oh god, I didn't think before writing that, by "my old saggy balls" I meant bad paint balls.

[ilpug]

its all good. i understood your meaning, but i has a dirty mind so i had to point that out XD

[acdc1226]

same here lolz

[NE patsrock]

ok this is about the best thing i found under rockets idk how u made it or even thought of it but this thing is krazy awesome but the waterbottle dousnt go really far

[jeff-o]

Thanks! I think it could be made to go farther by adding a nose cone, and launching when it's not -20 celcius outside.

[NE patsrock]

ya a nose cone and some fins would be good

[Shadow13!]

Soda bottle are built to resist more pressure because they have to hold in the carbonation if you use a soda bottle then you could pump it to a hire pressure with out fear of the bottle bursting.

[jeff-o]

That's true; some soda bottles are quite strong indeed.

[GEEK1]

you should also make fins for the bottle for a more stable flight

[ilpug]

definitely. and tape on some pennies to balance the flight.

[jeff-o]

Woohoo! Thanks everyone who voted for me! :)

[Fridge Gnome]

would it be safe/possible to use green gas instead of a bike pump

[jeff-o]

I had to look it up. So I guess this is what's used in some airsoft guns? I'm going to have to play it safe and say no - it would be difficult to safely regulate the pressure. Plus, air from a bike pump is free! Use an electric compressor if you don't want to pump it up yourself.

[Country dude]

I have a Jac Pac CO2 regulator it will run off everything from 3 oz to 20 oz and it works great for my paintball rocket launcher

[jeff-o]

Hmmm, well, if the regulator can be used to keep the pressure to a set point, say 60psi, then it might work. You'll still have to figure out how to connect it up, though.