What To Do With Your Pneumatic Cannon

Step 1: Pneumatic Cannon

This is my pneumatic cannon inspired by the T-shirt launchers seen on Make Magazine weekend projects. I couldn’t find a barrel big enough for launching a T-shirt but I find three different size barrels that I made with screw on ends so there is linear changeable.

Step 2: Air Compression

I’m far too impatient to charge my cannon with a bike pump. So I built mine to hook it up directly to my air compressor.

Here’s how it works with cherry tomatoes.

Step 3: Projectile Plugs

I filed the tips of all of my barrels into blades so I can easily cut perfectly shaped projectile plugs. And just about anything like a pumpkin.

The amount of fun that you can have with one of these is limited really only by your creativity in coming up with new things to stuff down the barrel.

Step 4: Other Objects

There’s always potatoes. This sprinkler marking plugs are surprisingly fun projectile. This thing hit with a surprising amount of force.

Brooms are kind of fun. And of course, there’s always water. It’s been a lot of fun, but don’t forget, this isn’t a toy. So if you build one, be safe.

Thanks for watching and I hope you’ll check out my other videos.