Introduction: Christmas Cannon
More by the author:
About: I like to make things for the internets. I also sell a pretty cool calendar at supamoto.co. You'll like it.
Decorating stuff for the holidays takes way too much time. You have to string stuff up and attach this shiny thing to that thing and it blows. That's why the best way to get into the Christmas spirit as fast as possible is with a Christmas Cannon.
The Christmas Cannon is a pneumatic cannon that is loaded with the spirit of Christmas. It is then aimed at something horribly devoid of Christmas-ness and then blasts it with goodness. If even just some of the Christmas-ness is imbued into the target it's a success.
Now, let's get Christmas-y!
Song: "Jingle Bells" by Gary Hoey.
WARNING: The people that are shot in the video were shot at very low pressures. Each of the projectiles shot were tested against other objects several times before these shots were done. In normal circumstances, do NOT shoot or aim at people or animals even if you are wearing safety glasses. Be safe.
The Christmas Cannon is a pneumatic cannon that is loaded with the spirit of Christmas. It is then aimed at something horribly devoid of Christmas-ness and then blasts it with goodness. If even just some of the Christmas-ness is imbued into the target it's a success.
Now, let's get Christmas-y!
Song: "Jingle Bells" by Gary Hoey.
WARNING: The people that are shot in the video were shot at very low pressures. Each of the projectiles shot were tested against other objects several times before these shots were done. In normal circumstances, do NOT shoot or aim at people or animals even if you are wearing safety glasses. Be safe.
Step 1: Parts and Tools
WARNING: Be sure to do your research before building a pneumatic gun. This cannon is more of a prototype since it was never meant to go to high pressures. Be careful and be safe. Before starting such a project be sure you know exactly what you're going to be doing and not making it up as you go along.
Parts
Parts
- 1" Modified sprinkler valve
- Schrader valve - can get from dead bike tube
- 2" PVC cap
- 18" 2" PVC pipe
- 2" coupling
- 2" to 1" bushing
- 2x 1" male threaded adapter
- 2' 1" PVC
- Drill (preferably a drill press)
- PVC Primer & cement
- saw
- Teflon tape
Step 2: Chamber
Cut the 2" PVC to the size you want for your chamber. We cut ours to 18", but this has been more powerful than we needed. 12" would have been better.
Use the PVC primer and cement to weld together these pieces:
2" cap
2" PVC pipe
2" coupler
2" to 1" bushing
That is the main chamber. Then you will be adding these two pieces in order to be able to connect to the modified sprinkler valve:
4" piece of 1" PVC pipe
1" threaded male adapter
Use the PVC primer and cement to weld together these pieces:
2" cap
2" PVC pipe
2" coupler
2" to 1" bushing
That is the main chamber. Then you will be adding these two pieces in order to be able to connect to the modified sprinkler valve:
4" piece of 1" PVC pipe
1" threaded male adapter
Step 3: Barrel
This part is simply a 1" threaded male adapter and a length of 1" PVC pipe. We cemented a 12" piece of 1" PVC pipe onto the adapter.
Step 4: Wait 24 Hours
To be sure that all of your pieces are secure and safe as can be, wait for 24 hours before moving on. You'll be impatient. You'll think that the 24 hours includes a huge safety margin.
Wait 24 hours anyway.
cc-licensed picture from Eva the Weaver
Wait 24 hours anyway.
cc-licensed picture from Eva the Weaver
Step 5: Add the Schrader Valve
You'll need to get air into the chamber and we used a schrader valve so that we could pressurize it with a bike pump.
We did this by drilling a hole through the connection of the 2" cap and 2" PVC at the end of the chamber. We tapped the hole for the valve, wrapped some Teflon tape around the threads and screwed it in.
We did this by drilling a hole through the connection of the 2" cap and 2" PVC at the end of the chamber. We tapped the hole for the valve, wrapped some Teflon tape around the threads and screwed it in.
Step 6: Connect All the Pieces
More Teflon tape was wrapped around the threading on the 1" male adapter and it was then screwed into the modified sprinkler valve.
The barrel is then screwed in to the other end and you're ready to go.
The barrel is then screwed in to the other end and you're ready to go.
Step 7: Load, Pressurize, and Shoot
We loaded all sorts of Christmas goodness into the cannon. This included:
We pumped up the chamber to 20 psi and started shooting. Thus, the spirit of Christmas was spread all around our office and we are so ready for the holidays it isn't funny.
Big thanks to Brian at bcarms.com for the excellent sprinkler valve and the quick shipping.
WARNING: The people that are shot in the video were shot at very low pressures. Each of the projectiles shot were tested against other objects several times before these shots were done. In normal circumstances, do NOT shoot or aim at people or animals even if you are wearing safety glasses. Be safe.
Once again, be extraordinarily careful if you decide to make one of these. I personally recommend that you don't. If you still want to try it, view this Instructable as a brief overview and do more research first.
- red and green glitter
- tinsel
- red and green tissue paper
- red and green ribbon
- plastic snow
We pumped up the chamber to 20 psi and started shooting. Thus, the spirit of Christmas was spread all around our office and we are so ready for the holidays it isn't funny.
Big thanks to Brian at bcarms.com for the excellent sprinkler valve and the quick shipping.
WARNING: The people that are shot in the video were shot at very low pressures. Each of the projectiles shot were tested against other objects several times before these shots were done. In normal circumstances, do NOT shoot or aim at people or animals even if you are wearing safety glasses. Be safe.
Once again, be extraordinarily careful if you decide to make one of these. I personally recommend that you don't. If you still want to try it, view this Instructable as a brief overview and do more research first.