Simple Diy Mini Air Cannon

This is a very fun simple project to do. It is essentially an air cannon i.e. it works by compressing air. You could even call it a mini potato cannon. While this is not a full blown real air cannon...it can be very fun to play around with . This version is totally harmless but be careful anyways.

Anyone can build this since it is very easy to build and the stuff you need will be lying around in your house.

Pens

scissors

All we need for the cannon is the refill of 2 pens. You can use any type of pen you have but keep in mind that one pen(the tubing that contains ink) must be a little bit bigger(wider) than the other one.

Now you have to empty the ink inside the tubes best as you can and thoroughly wash it.

After emptying the ink from the tube, cut the wider tube a bit shorter than the narrow one. Then check to see if the tubing fits as shown in the picture.

Now use a little bit of hot glue to add a handle like shape to end of the narrow tube as shown in the picture. This will make it easier to hold the cannon.

Cut a slice of potato as shown in the picture. Then use the wider tube to stab and poke a hole through it. Do the same on the other end of the tube.

The first projectile (potato) is very easy to do but this one really takes things up a notch. You can use either but I personally prefer this one because its more powerful and creates more of a sound.

So for this one, take a piece of paper and submerge it in water for a little bit until its soft. The roll the piece of paper and fit it inside the wider tube. Then use the other tube to compact it down as shown in the picture. Make two (or more) of these pellets or projectiles. Stuff these pellets on the either side of the narrow tube and you're good to go.

To launch this, stick the tube inside the wider tube after the previous step. Push the other tube in and the projectile launches and sometimes (with projectile #2) even leaves some smoke in its trail.

Here is a video of both the projectiles shooting.