Oh my gawd what have I done...

**Butterfingers** · 01-16-2002, 08:04 PM

I decided to make a potato cannon to quelch my boredom... It was an abstract idea and it ended up working really well.

Introducing the worlds first ultra high pressuure pnumatic potato cannon.

The chamber is made out of high strength carbon steel piping and a 1 1/2 in stainless steel ball valve to handle the 800-1000psi max pressure. Approx volume is 40ci. this will act as a dump chamber.

The barrel is 5 feet of 1.5 in diameter schedule 40 330 psi rated PVC piping. All attached together in a linear fasion. Just like an automag without the bolt.

The valve lever is hooked up to a spring loaded actuator designed to slam open the valve as fast as possible.

The Power Source is a 3000psi air america raptor tank. lasts about 8-10 shots BAH. Going 20 lb co2 soon.

PROBLEMS:

I have to fix my tool shed now cause the POTATO blew a hole through the door. 1/2 inch plywood. Albeit slightly weathered. Potato vaporized.

HORRIBLY innefficent. Should be fixed when I get a bulk co2 tank.

Leaked like a sieve. FIXED heh nothing like 2 bottles of loctite red to seal things together.

Computerized results:

I put the figues through a FPS calculator. Given the weight of the projectile, the pressure of the cannon. The size of the dump chamber the length of the barrel and other such fun figures the computer calculated my muzzle velocity to be over 1200 FPS!!! Yep actually faster than a speeding bullet.

im scared...

**Cliffio** · 01-16-2002, 08:14 PM

take some pics of this monster

**Butterfingers** · 01-16-2002, 08:44 PM

here ya go

**Butterfingers** · 01-16-2002, 08:46 PM

pictures

**Restola** · 01-16-2002, 09:03 PM

please dont aim that at ohio....

**CRiZO** · 01-16-2002, 09:46 PM

AHAHAHAHA dude thats freakin awesome.... i think there should be a potato cannon contest.

**SoupRman** · 01-16-2002, 10:02 PM

be careful man. that soudns really crazy. but fun

**Cliffio** · 01-16-2002, 10:17 PM

Originally posted by Restola
please dont aim that at ohio....

BAHAHAHA

good call

ohio or big hole in the ground

Soup- nice piece man

**vf-xx** · 01-16-2002, 10:30 PM

can you make plans and shopping instructions?

**Butterfingers** · 01-16-2002, 10:49 PM

I don't have anything drawn out I sketched it out in my head while pacing back and forth in the plumbing isle in home depot, the salesmen were looking at me funny...

Just give me some time for detailed plans. Pretty much self explainatory ask if you have questions. Just think of how an automag works with a huge valve in place of a bolt and the regulator on the tank instead of integrated. Its nearly identical.

and... I am not responsible for any actions or consequences that might occour as a result of you building this.

**Army** · 01-16-2002, 11:51 PM

You are absolutely crazy to build and fire that thing...............that's why I love ya!

**Smoken** · 01-16-2002, 11:59 PM

That's awesome. Just awesome. As I think of the wide open field next to my house a thought comes to mind: How far will that sucker launch a potato or whatever? And don't make me do the physics on it, I just got done with an exam today.

**Smoken** · 01-17-2002, 12:13 AM

My curiosity got to me, so I did the math anyway. Assuming your figure of 1200fps muzzle speed is accurate and without air resistance, this thing would launch a potato 7.34 miles when launched at an angle 30* above horitontal. Due to air resistance we could only hope to achiev a fraction of this distance. But still, WWOOOOWWWW!!!

**udtseal** · 01-17-2002, 06:54 AM

HAHA!!!!!! Hey, Aim it at my college then maybe I wont have to go there anymore!!!! HAH!!

**Hexis** · 01-17-2002, 10:16 AM

I wonder if it recharges faster than a WDP reg.

**wyn1370** · 01-17-2002, 10:32 AM

how much kick does that thing have?

**Thordic** · 01-17-2002, 11:45 AM

How much did that thing cost you in parts? THe metal end anyway...

Do you realize that a 1200 fps potato breaks the sound barrier?

You have invented the first Mach 1 Potato Gun

**BTAutoMag** · 01-17-2002, 11:58 AM

good god i am laughing so hard right now. a mach one potato. you have got to stick some instructions up. ive gotta build be a morter launcher.
fille a balloon with paint and put it in a cardboard cilinder and launch it into a wall and see what happens. then take pictures. you could have the first supersonic paintball cannon. stick that on the hellhound tippmann...

**joeyjoe367** · 01-17-2002, 12:03 PM

POST INSTRUCTIONS!POST INSTRUCTIONS!POST INSTRUCTIONS!!!!

Now, if we could borrow some tank shells from Army....*evil grin*

**clockworkmiller** · 01-17-2002, 12:38 PM

Umm, I dont mean to be the naysayer, seeing as how that is by far the coolest thing Ive seen on this forum to date, but...

Would a patato be dense enough to remain in one piece with that much air pressure hitting it?

Since its a boom acceleration as my fisix teacher likes to call it, it starts at rest and is suddenly hit with all this energy, I would imagine you'd be shooting mashed potatoes out the other end.

Then again, I hope Im wrong.

My friends and I are gonna be putting something similar together using our spare 20oz liquid tanks. We figure 4 of those wired together should get some amazing pressure, and the expansion rate should be safe enough so we wont have to worry about our chosen projectile (still under debate, but the leading idea is the tippman squadbuster).

When we finish it, I'll be sure to post our mortar cannon on here.

**cphilip** · 01-17-2002, 01:04 PM

Slap a piece of half inch mesh hardware cloth over the end and Boom! Ooodles of French Fries! if you can find em...

**the JoKeR** · 01-17-2002, 01:19 PM

I'm no lawyer, and have no intentions of being one, and hate to rain on parades, but one word: caution. Mainly with the plans for one. I wouldn't be surprised if lawsuits could be directed towards the originator of the plans. With that said, I'd LOVE to see that thing in action! How 'bout some pics of the damage??

ThePatriot · 01-17-2002, 02:16 PM

That is no doubt one of the nicest things i have hmmmm....EVER seen, u gotta get us pics of the damage that mother does....dam, just dam

**Thordic** · 01-17-2002, 03:53 PM

Couple things -

1) I don't think potato guns are legal anywhere, so thats kinda a given.

2) You could use 40 CO2 tanks, and you'd still only get 800 PSI.

3) If you made ice shells for this gun, you could probably launch them a good couple miles. Of course, they'd land like an artillery round. I'd bet an ice projectile for this gun would go straight through a car roof

For anyone who doesnt understand how to make ice projectiles for potato guns, well, its rather easy

**synreal** · 01-17-2002, 04:07 PM

<pre> DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Washington, DC 20226
E:CE:F:TE:RAT
Sep 12 1995 3311.4

Mr. XXXXXXXXX
address...
City, State Zip

Dear Mr. XXXXXXXXX

This refers to your letter of August 18, 1995, in which you ask about
the legality of a device known as the "Spud Gun."

These subject devices are generally constructed from PVC tubing and
fittings and are designed to launch a muzzle loaded potato using aerosol
hair spray or other type of propellant. Ignition is by means of some
type of "spark" igniter.

The Bureau has previously examined devices known as "Spud Guns, Potato
Guns, or Spudzookas" and have determined that such devices, in and of
themselves, are not firearms as defined in Title 18 United States Code
(U.S.C.), Chapter 44, S 921(a)(3) or 26 U.S.C., Chapter 53, S 5845.

However, any similar devices which can be determined to be weapons by
reason of their design construction, intended use, actual use,
ammunition or other factors may meet the definition of a firearm under
Title 18 or 26 U.S.C.

We suggest that you contact your State and local law enforcement
authorities concerning possession of such devices.

We trust that the foregoing has been responsive to your inquiry. If we
may be of further assistance please contact us.

Sincerely yours,

Edward M. Owen, Jr.
Chief, Firearms Technology Branch
</pre>

some areas have bans/restrictions on them, but there is no nationwide law against such a device

good thing, because they are really freaking fun to set off

**Thordic** · 01-17-2002, 04:16 PM

THey called it a spudzooka! hahahahahahaha

**spacemanspiff** · 01-17-2002, 04:46 PM

Dude that thing is so kewl. I'm sittin here laughing my arse off. Potatos flyin all over the play. Hey look ita UFO no its a UPO (unidentified potato object)

**rhetor22** · 01-17-2002, 07:28 PM

If he aims it at Ohio, there would be 5 million potatoes flying right back at him!

That thing is really awesome. How does it compare to an aerosol operated beast?

**FooTemps** · 01-17-2002, 07:57 PM

The air fired ones usually have been rumored to be more powerful... mach 1 potato!!!

**Butterfingers** · 01-17-2002, 09:15 PM

Originally posted by Thordic
How much did that thing cost you in parts? THe metal end anyway...

Do you realize that a 1200 fps potato breaks the sound barrier?

You have invented the first Mach 1 Potato Gun

The metal end excluding my tank cost less than 50 dollars. I had a lot of the 1/8 inch npt fittings from my paintball stuff. Carbon steel pipe is pretty darn cheap. The ball valve is the most expensive part. $21 on yellow tag special. The cables and parts used for the firing mechanism I had laying around in the toolshed, which ironicly has a hole in it now...

It should be pretty safe according to the pipe company normal guage steel pipe has a bursting pressure of around 4000-5000 psi.

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