WHAT YOU NEED TO BUILD YOUR CANNON
Well it is time to get started. You have decided you want to enter the world of the spudder.
What you will need to get is . . .
- Parts to build the main body
- 3" pipe 16" long
- 2" pipe 36" long
- 3" to 2" bell reducer
- 3' adapter (3" soc to 3" thread)
- 3" clean out plug (also known as threaded plug)
- Parts to build the ram rod
- 1/2" pipe 32" long
- 1/2 pipe cap
- Miscellaneous parts
- Coleman grill igniter
- Epoxy glue
- PVC primer
- PVC glue
- Fuel
- Lighter fluid.
- Jump down to the list of fuels on this page that other Spudders have used.
HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR CANNON
- First, chamfer the end of your 2" pipe. The reason for this is so that the spud is trimmed to fit as it is pushed into the barrel.
Here is a good example
of a chamfered barrel.
- Next, glue the 2" barrel into the bell reducer.
- Now glue the 3" chamber into the reducer.
- Glue the adapter onto the 3" chamber
- Drill a hole in the side of the 3" chamber large enough to push the igniter
through. This hole should be placed about 1/4 way up the chamber from the cleanout
plug. (A real nice place would be through the center of the cleanout plug, but I
have heard of incidences where people have been shot in the face when they accidentally
dropped the cannon on the end, struck the igniter and fired the projectile back at
them. Oops!)
This is a typical grill igniter. Some snap in place, others have threads and a nut. - Place your igniter in this hole, and glue it in with your favorite epoxy. Careful though, I have had even really thick glue seep into the small openings and glue the internal workings solid rendering the unit useless.
-
Your Finished product should look something like this.
VARIATIONS IN DESIGN
- If you don't want to spend the extra bucks, don't use the grill igniter. Just place the hole in the cleanout plug and use this hole to slide a lit match into for ignition. You may just have to wave the match underneath it, rather than sticking the match in. (This was how I did it before grill igniters were a common place.) A little caution here, the kick from the cannon sends it into your hand.
HOW TO FIRE YOUR CANNON
- Take the cleanout plug off.
- Ram your potato in by hand, and push it down with the ram rod.
- Spray a small amount of lighter fluid into the 3" chamber.
- Quickly put the cleanout plug back on.
- Take aim, and . . .
- Press the igniter.
- If all goes well, your spud should go a flyin'.
PROBLEMS WITH YOUR COMBUSTION CANNON
If your cannon is not firing, try these simple tips . . .
- Try using less fuel. If this repeatedly doesn't help, try using A LITTLE more fuel. Different fuels have different characteristics. This is a science and I do not have all the answers. (Any way, I like pneumatic cannons better!)
- If it flames up, but does not fire, you will have to refresh the air that is inside your chamber. This can be done by removing the cleanout plug and spud, and waving it around to force air through it. Replace cleanout plug (and spud) and try again.
- The fuel to air ratio is critical and I do not have a major in chemistry so it is trial and error. If you find something that works, don't forget it. Better yet, let me know and I'll share it with the rest of the world down below.
GOOD FUELS TO USE
These products were sent to me by fellow spudders . . .
I do not personally endorse
any of them.
Just like all the other information
available at this website . . Use
at your own risk!
- Ether (Vehicle Starting Fluid)- Available at just about any auto store.
- WD-40 - If you don't know what this is, you shouldn't be building potato cannons.
- Rave - Hair spray.
- Suave - Deodorant the spray kind.
- Polyutherane - The aerosol kind
- PVC Glue - Rub some on the inside. Be sure to keep it off the threads!
- Propane - Propane from a torch style lighter. Make the hole in the breech large enough for the torch end to go through then pump in some propane then hit the igniter switch on the torch.
- Gasoline - Use at your own risk!
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Rite-Guard - aerosol deodorant
- Denatured Alcohol, 97%
- Gum turpentine works excellent if you put a little into the chamber then spray some Rave hairspray in and let settle for about 30 sec then fire. Works excellent. - Sounds like to many steps, I would just like to spray and fire.
- Xnol - it is like paint thinner, only more potent
- Aqua Net hair spray - use a 3 seconds spray, Make sure to coat the threads with liquid soap before you use it. This stuff is sticky!!
- Raid - Not just for killing bugs anymore!
- PVC Cleaner - Its not sticky and wont build up, will actually even clean the potato scum. (Never tried this, seems like it could weaken the walls of the cannon.)
- Nail Polish Remover - Don't get caught taking it, she won't like the idea.
- Automotive Brake Cleaner - Not just for brakes anymore.
- White Rain Extra Hold
- Baby Oragel
- Lysol spray disinfectant works like a charm, and kills germs.
- Static Guard... it beats most of the cheap, easy to find fuels
- Clorox - The aerosol kind
- Butane - Used to fill cigarette lighters
- Badger Propel or
Testors Airbrush Propellant - Works great, its pressurized air in a
can with some highly explosive chemical.
Its kind of expensive, $6.93 for a 9 oz can, but you only need a little. This stuff works awesome, best I've found. - AXE Body Spray
THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE SUBMITTED THERE FAVORITE FUELS!
If you come across a good relatively safe fuel source that you would like to share with others, let me know and I'll get it posted here.
