physicist call

Kamog · #1 January 11th, 2003, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rdouglass:
I'll have to see if I can dig up the photo of the 'potato cannon' I built about 20 years ago. Made out of 3" PVC pipe 6 feet long. Would launch a potato 200+ yards! Awesome! Woke up everyone for blocks!!!! Talk about a 'spinal mount' potato gun....

How does it work? It is like a catapult? Or maybe a big slingshot? It would really hurt to be hit by a high-velocity potato from such a cannon!

rdouglass · #2 January 11th, 2003, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kamog:

quote:
Originally posted by rdouglass:
I'll have to see if I can dig up the photo of the 'potato cannon' I built about 20 years ago. Made out of 3" PVC pipe 6 feet long. Would launch a potato 200+ yards! Awesome! Woke up everyone for blocks!!!! Talk about a 'spinal mount' potato gun....

How does it work? It is like a catapult? Or maybe a big slingshot? It would really hurt to be hit by a high-velocity potato from such a cannon!

I used butane lighter fuel or hairspray. It's actually a wonder I still have all my parts....

A true cannon. I got in trouble several times with police. For the record, I wouldn't recommend anyone building one 'cause they can be very dangerous (with only a PVC combustion chamber!)

You can read some more about 'em here just be sure to read some of the stories - you'll ROFLYAO!!!

Suicide Junkie · #3 January 11th, 2003, 07:46 AM

We have a propane-powered PVC cannon at the cottage. 2 meters long, with a fat combustion chamber at the bottom and a skinny barrel for more velocity. There's also a remote ignition system, so we can take cover

Kaaa-FOOM. Then, a few seconds later, a splash far across the lake

We even made a silencer for it out of metal, which works surprisingly well. Cuts the noise level way down, and dosen't seem to affect the power.

rdouglass · #4 January 11th, 2003, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kamog:

quote:
Originally posted by rdouglass:
I'll have to see if I can dig up the photo of the 'potato cannon' I built about 20 years ago. Made out of 3" PVC pipe 6 feet long. Would launch a potato 200+ yards! Awesome! Woke up everyone for blocks!!!! Talk about a 'spinal mount' potato gun....

How does it work? It is like a catapult? Or maybe a big slingshot? It would really hurt to be hit by a high-velocity potato from such a cannon!

I used butane lighter fuel or hairspray. It's actually a wonder I still have all my parts....

A true cannon. I got in trouble several times with police. For the record, I wouldn't recommend anyone building one 'cause they can be very dangerous (with only a PVC combustion chamber!)

You can read some more about 'em here just be sure to read some of the stories - you'll ROFLYAO!!!

Fyron · #5 January 11th, 2003, 08:03 AM

rdouglass, how do you have a 23 minute separation between double Posts, with a post by SJ in-between? That is amazing!

Timstone · #6 January 12th, 2003, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dralasite:
Timstone,

Thanks for those links! I love to read that stuff as well.

My pleasure!

Kamog · #7 January 12th, 2003, 08:18 PM

Rdouglass, thanks for the info, there's some really interesting stories on that Potato Cannon link you gave us! I had no idea that you could build potato guns that powerful. These guns are indeed not toys, they are pretty dangerous! It's amazing that you could give a potato so much speed that it pierces 1/2" plywood! Some people were firing all sorts of other projectiles like limes, cans of beer, jelly beans, dead rats, dynamite sticks, Barbie dolls, light bulbs, D cell batteries, etc. It does sound like a risky hobby, though.