Build Your Own Launcher

Alright, you want build your own potato gun. These instructions will help you on your way to an effective yet simple spud gun that should provide hours of enjoyment for you, your friends, but probably not the old man down the street who gets mad when your car backfires! SPUDGUNS ARE NOT TOYS!!!
Spudguns can be extremely dangerous when used unsafely or inappropriately.

Spudgun Do's and Do-Not's

Let it be noted that PVC pipe/fittings are not intended to be used for the purpose of constructing spudguns.
First, please...

...do wear safety equipment like ear plugs and safety glasses. ...do have fun with your spudgun. That's what it is for. If you think it is a useful tool for a task, or serving as an effective offensive or defensive weapon, please forget you even know what a spudgun is. ...do treat is as a real gun/weapon, although it is not such. Even if you KNOW it is not loaded or charged, it isn't funny to point it at someone else. This might scare that person, leading them a reason to point it at you in the future, perhaps charged... ...do launch potatoes in a safe locale. This usually does NOT mean a residential housing tract. A good rule of thumb is if you THINK (do NOT test your theory) you can hit your neighbor's house with something out of your launcher, chances are they will hear it and call the cops. ...do learn about how to safely build and operate them using this and the many others out there that deal with spudguns and related activities. Ask questions. Although I don't have all the time in the world to address every question I try to answer any I feel relevant. ...do always make sure you have enough spuds and fuel for an outing you have planned. Nobody wants to be labeled as: "...the guy who ran out of spuds and/or hairspray and there was still daylight left!" NOT cool!

Following...

...DO NOT EVER USE GUNPOWDER OR OTHER EXPLOSIVES AS FUEL IN A SPUD GUN. Use only low power fuel like hair spray. ...do not use a spudgun in a reckless manner (you can see this coming, kinda reciprocal of the above rules). Many instances exist when, even 'just once,' it was fired at something, or where someone else heard it and got scared, and the cops get called.

...do not use a spudgun in cold weather. This means less than 32F (0C) for PVC launchers. ABS launchers can go a bit colder, but not much colder than 0F. The plastic gets too brittle and it might shatter on you. ...do not use it in very hot weather either. Temps above 100F should be avoided as well, as the plastic's physical strength starts to precipitously decrease above this temperature. ...do not 'rapid fire.' High temperatures applies to multiple firings as well. Say a continuous duty of one round every minute, or 'rapid bursts' of no more than three rounds, with a five minute wait afterwards. This of course only applies to combustion launchers. Not to be outdone by the previous rule, rapid firing of a pneumatic launcher can lead to cold-brittle failure, even on a hot day...WHY?!?! Dumping a tank of air rapidly causes a rapid decrease in the air temperature. This cold air cools the plastic, and depending on how big a tank/pressures reached and a lot of other factors, can really cool the pipe down. This does NOT make a good refrigerator for beer, just be careful, no faster than one round per minute.

danger level

negligible moderate high do not do this

tools

K. Drill L. Hand saw M. File

Materials

A. Flint igniter (lantern lighter) B. 4" PVC cleanout plug (schedule 40) C. 4" PVC fitting cleanout adapter (schedule 40) D. 4" PVC coupling (schedule 40) E. 4" x 24" PVC pipe (schedule 40) F. 2" x 4" PVC increaser reducer (schedule 40) G. 2" x 48" PVC pipe (schedule 40) H. PVC cleaner, primer, & cement I. Sack of potatoes J. Hair spray (aerosol) K. (optional) piezo igniters (for camp stoves,) All of the materials listed can be found at any home center, (Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, Ect.)

Important SafetyTips
1. When trying different propellants; you should be extremely careful about using petroleum based propellants and NEVER use gasoline because it will weaken or dissolve the PVC.

2.

It is important to point out to that the aim of your spud gun is increased by the length of your barrel. You also need to note that the compustion chamber has to be enlarged if you are using a longer barrel or are looking for more distance. The best models I have seen so far have a shorter combustion chamber with a wide diameter, an electric ignition off of a portable camping stove, (K) a sharpened barrel edge (for faster loading of potatoes), a shoulder strap for easier aiming, and an under-barrel ram rod similar to those used on muskets and antique rifles. Oh, and I almost forgot, never fire a potato gun from on top of your shoulder. A misfire by your ribs can do some damage, but a misfire next to your face can kill you.

3. Water test your cannon first (put it under water and make sure its not leaking). If you do really well, and your sparker is well sealed, you can even fire it with the chamber/sparker submerged. 1: Alcohol is about the best propellant you can get for this 2: Experiment with the aeration time (spray a second of hairspray into the chamber, then play with the time you give it to evaporate before closing). I recall 3 seconds being ideal for mine, but it had a complex chamber. 3: propane and butane produce very disappointing results compared to a well timed hairspray. 4: fresh (non soggy) apples compress and then expand when shoved in, so if your gun doesnt explode on you, they will be more powerful projectiles And for fun, try unused paint roller brushes stuffed with paper towel! Do it on on wet day so you dont start any fires though. 4. Use schedule 40 pvc not the cheap stuff, if you use anything less than schedule 40 then you will have to wrap the gun because it will eventually give way.

5. Use Vaseline on the threads of the end cap. This will take care of the hairspray gunking up the threads.

6. Use good glue. A friend of mine built one but he used cheap glue (not sure if perhaps it just wasnt the right kind), and after it sat in the sun all day at our campsite, he decided to try it and all the pieces blew apart. He got a nice bruise on his hip, and the potato didnt leave the chamber.

7. IT IS HIGHLY RECCOMMENDED THAT YOU WAIT AT LEAST 24 HOURS FOR THE GLUE TO FULLY CURE AND SOLVENT TO DISSIPATE.

How-to
1. Cut the PVC components to length and clean and prime the joints. Cement components C thru G together. 2. Drill a hole for the lantern lighter in the middle of pipe E and then install the lighter with its included hardware. These lighters are very compact and use flint to produce a strong spark. You can find them in the camping section of large department stores. 3. With the file, sharpen the circumference of pipe G. This makes shoving the potato in easier because the pipe will cut off the excess potato. 4. Youre ready to launch! 1. i. Find a very large, open area to launch the gun. 2. ii. Load a potato. Use a stick or rod to plunge it most of the way down the barrel. 3. iii. Spray the hair spray (make sure its flamable) into the fat end of the gun. If you use too little the potato wont go far; too much and it wont launch at all because there isnt enough oxygen in the chamber. 4. iv. Quickly screw on the plug (part B). 5. v. Hold the gun at your side, aiming in a safe direction. Give the lighter a quick flick, as if youre snapping your fingers. 6. several layers of Fiber Reinforced shipping tape, in several directions, especially around the ignition chamber. PVC shards when it fractures, always use (schedule 40)PVC.