Make an amazing sports noisemaker!

Sound off like a Semi! These noisemakers are perfect for sporting events and parties. The effect is similar to the air horn on a semi or a train. Everyone around you will want to know where they can get their own. Or they will move away and give you more room. Either way works for me.

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Step 1: Short video

GRitter says: Nov 5, 2012. 5:41 PM

I work in a pharmacy, so I was naturally drawn to the use of prescription vials in your design. I used the Rexam 16 and 30 dram vials and they worked perfect. I really can't believe the sound you can get with very little blowing needed. I giggle like a little girl every time I blow into it. You really made my day with this one. Nice work!

HowTo-Creative says: Jun 21, 2010. 1:42 AM

Is there an easier way to make the holes? because : -i have No power tools (except hammer,heavy duty pliers,etc..) -even if i did, i wouldnt be allowed or even ABLE to use them! ~~> so is there any easier way?

buellboy492 (author) in reply to HowTo-CreativeMay 2, 2011. 8:34 PM

Gosh, I haven't been on in months. I just thought that perhaps another way to make the holes might be with heat. How about a soldering iron or gun? That would melt the holes pretty quick.

bmohr says: Jun 21, 2010. 6:12 AM

Made one yesterday. The volume is incredible. Thanks for posting this instructable. I only made a single, but may try double when I get more medicine bottles.

OKNUKE says: Dec 9, 2009. 9:46 PM

I don't the prescription bottles at home and I doubt anyone will sell them to me empty. Ideas or what other cylindrical objects will work? PVC pipe inside one another?

blodefood in reply to OKNUKEMay 22, 2010. 8:57 PM

You could use plastic vitamin or headache pill bottles too. Check your neighbours' blue bins on garbage day.

Bobblob in reply to OKNUKEMar 26, 2010. 1:27 PM

Nice one, what great fun!

I made a variation of this instruckable and this one
http://www.instructables.com/id/Blow-your-own-air-horn/ out of a toilet paper tube as a proof of concept experiment. The possibilities are endless.

I strengthened the open ends of the toilet paper tube with “caps” cut from the sides of a 1 gallon plastic milk bottle hot glued to each open end as described below.

One end was more like a real cap that was about 1/8“ bigger in diameter than the toilet paper tube opening with a hole cut in the center for a straw to slide in snuggly and the other end was more like a narrow ring that over hung the outside of the toilet paper tube opening about 1/8“ and also over hung the inside and of the toilet paper tube by about 1/8 inch too. A bit like a washer with a large opening in the center. This was the end that got the balloon stretched over it. Both “caps" where firmly hot glued in place.

A hole roughly about 1/4 inch in diameter was cut in the side about half way between both ends of the toilet paper tube and this is where you blow into it.

Stretch the balloon over the “washer” like cap and insert the drinking straw (bigger the better) into the other end touching the balloon “diaphragm”. Adjust the position and pressure of the straw against the balloon while blowing into the hole in the side to get it to work.

The softness of the toilet paper tube muffles the sound but it proves the concept and worked. I await the next empty vitamin/pill/aspirin box to make one for real!

buellboy492 (author) in reply to OKNUKEDec 14, 2009. 2:33 PM

oh yes! i have made them from a number of other cylindrical objects. Pvc pipe was a little overkill, but very sturdy. If you have a Walgreens near you, they might be willing to let you have a few at cost. 30 dram and 20 dram are what they are called. We used to let people buy a few for maybe 50 cents each. Other objects used were film canisters and chapstick tubes.

im not miguel says: Jan 15, 2010. 9:46 AM

awesome! I've never seen a 3yr old jump so high! I finally matched his everyday decibel level

shantinath1000 says: Jan 11, 2010. 12:00 PM

Excellent ible! I made one last night using your idea and modding it based on what I had in the house. I did have one question - in step 9 you suggest we "tune" the horn. How is that done? The one I made the bottles fit tight but can be slid back and forth to tune it but in yours are they hot glued together or is the glue used to just create a gasket and the bottles can still move? Thanks

buellboy492 (author) in reply to shantinath1000Jan 11, 2010. 2:58 PM

I hot melt the bottom of the outer bottle to the inner bottle. That seal is airtight. To "tune" them, you pull the balloon membrane tighter or looser. When the two notes are identical, it is not as pleasing as when one is higher than the other and they harmonize.

shantinath1000 in reply to buellboy492Jan 12, 2010. 10:23 AM

Thanks- I noticed that I could tune mine by adjusting the pressure of the inner tube against the diapgram by moving it a bit back or forth. Also - is you name in relation to the Buell motorcycle?

buellboy492 (author) in reply to shantinath1000Jan 12, 2010. 7:03 PM

Buell makes (oops- made. Thanks, Harley) a great little bike displacing 492cc, the Blast. Also known as the B-Last, since it was not the most powerful bike around. I love my Blast, hence the name. Thanks for noticing!

bknow13 says: Jan 3, 2010. 5:48 PM

I just made one. Didn't have the right stuff, so it's tin cans and a rubber glove. Works great. Scared the dog right out of the basement. Thanks for a fun instructable.

buellboy492 (author) in reply to bknow13Jan 4, 2010. 7:54 PM

You bring up a good point. Rubber, vinyl and nitrile gloves can be used as a membrane. We also have had moderate success with Mylar, like used in balloons. But the most durable and easiest to work with material has been good thick helium quality balloons. I suppose there is a latex material commonly found in pharmacies that might be stronger, but I don't like to get my mouth that close to it.

bknow13 in reply to buellboy492Jan 5, 2010. 3:22 AM

I found your instructable looking for a new noisemaker for halloween. The cans-with-strings is getting old. I'm toying with getting a piece of rubber roofing and a couple large buckets but being the procrastinator's procrastinator It may be a while. I'll let you know when (if) I do it.

RetroTechno says: Dec 28, 2009. 11:32 PM

Great instructable! I'm going to build one this week.
I noticed from your video that each half is at a different pitch for that truck-horn sound. Does the amount of tension on the balloon determine the pitch?

buellboy492 (author) in reply to RetroTechnoDec 29, 2009. 1:55 PM

yes, the tighter the balloons are, the louder and higher the tone. I like them tight!