Spud Cannon

How-to Lesson 1:
Spud
CANNON

WARNING: This gun could seriously injure someone if fired directly at them. And it's Illegal in some states, a minor detail that may or may not be of interest.

Materials
PVC piping - 280 PSI, schedule 40 pipe
4" pipe cap screw
4" diameter x 1.5' - 2' pipe.
Reducer: 4" to 2"
2" diameter x 4' pipe (Lengths of pipe can vary)
PVC Glue
Lantern igniter
2.5" screw, and bolt for end

Cannon Assembly

Bore a hole through 4-inch pipe, a few inches from screw cap.
Install igniter into pipe.
Bore second hole in 2-inch pipe toward end that will be joined with the 4-inch pipe (this will stop the potato once it has been loaded into the barrel; use the bolt to secure in place).
Sharpen the far edge of the 2-inch pipe (this will help cut and peel the potato as you're loading it into the cannon).
Use a broom handle or a long stick to stuff the potato down into the barrel - think of it as a musket.
Screw pipes together.
Use combustible anti-rust spray of hair spray as propellant.

TO FIRE CANNON

Remove screw cap from igniter end. Stuff potato down barrel of cannon, using broom handle if necessary. Potato will come to rest at point in barrel where screw is. Spray the combustible spray into the igniter end of the cannon - keep spray five inches away from the opening. Spray for 3 to 5 seconds. Do not saturate the inside of the pipe. Quickly close cap.

Aim cannon in the direction which you want to fire.

Quickly flick the igniter to fire the cannon. The Spark generated by the igniter will ignite the spray inside and launch the potato.

Source:
The Von Hoffmann Bros.'
BIG DAMN
BOOK OF
SHEER
MANLINESS