Super Soaker Central forums

RacerSoaker445 · 02-17-2006, 01:14 PM

Spudfiles has a LOT of great homemade pneumatic potato cannons that could be adapted to shoot balloons easily.

Flannel · 02-17-2006, 01:24 PM

Wow, cool site. Wouldn't the water ballons bust in the chamber/tube/barrel due to the force/pressure? I was thinking about making a Trebuchet that launched water balloons...
That site has a lot of cool content, thanks for posting...

m15399 · 02-17-2006, 01:34 PM

Well, water balloon launchers ARE spud guns... Just with a different payload.

Flannel, to launch water balloons, you put wadding (plastic bag, styrofoam or plasic cups) into the barrel of the launcher to keep it from bursting.

Ben · 02-17-2006, 01:39 PM

Water balloons wouldn't burst in the chamber, most of the time that is. They're more likely to burst from the barrel itself, especially if no wadding is used. Catapults and trebuchets on the other hand won't get as good performance and will take a lot of effort to make well. I've made two or three water balloon catapults over the years with my Boy Scout troop and they never seemed to be useful for more than a distance test.

DX · 02-17-2006, 05:05 PM

For 3" PVC, a tennis ball can is as close to perfect as you will get using a common item with no modifications to it. You can load the barrel, and the protection will allow all the balloons to fire without breaking, and they will all travel the same distance. Plastic cups work second-best, but not nearly as effectively as tennis cans.

m15399 · 02-17-2006, 05:55 PM

What if you got a male fitting for 3" pipe and then cut off the fitting part and just had the male part that goes into the pipe? It would make a good seal and could be used as a "shell" for water balloons if you put something on the back to keep the water balloon from flying out.

Flannel · 02-21-2006, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m15399

Well, water balloon launchers ARE spud guns... Just with a different payload.

I am sorry if I said that they weren't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben

Catapults and trebuchets on the other hand won't get as good performance and will take a lot of effort to make well. I've made two or three water balloon catapults over the years with my Boy Scout troop and they never seemed to be useful for more than a distance test.

Thanks for saving me the time.

m15399 · 02-21-2006, 12:27 AM

Quote:

I am sorry if I said that they weren't.

Nah, I was just pointing that out to Racer.

Quote:

Thanks for saving me the time.

I usually ask before I try doing something to make sure it's worth the effort. Of course, if it's something small or it's never been done before, it's always fun to try it out.

02-17-2006, 01:14 PM	#1
RacerSoaker445 Still selling stuff. Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 951 UserID: 83	Spud Cannon Plans Spudfiles has a LOT of great homemade pneumatic potato cannons that could be adapted to shoot balloons easily. __________________ I don't check this forum anymore.

02-17-2006, 01:39 PM	#4
Ben Founder Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 6,447 UserID: 1	Water balloons wouldn't burst in the chamber, most of the time that is. They're more likely to burst from the barrel itself, especially if no wadding is used. Catapults and trebuchets on the other hand won't get as good performance and will take a lot of effort to make well. I've made two or three water balloon catapults over the years with my Boy Scout troop and they never seemed to be useful for more than a distance test. __________________ / Please read this before emailing or PMing me Do not ask me water gun questions by email or PM. Please post the question at the forum. Private questions and suggestions are welcome by PM and email. Also, I do not sell or buy water guns online.

02-17-2006, 05:05 PM	#5
DX A Shrouded Figure Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Easton / New London, CT Posts: 1,780 UserID: 75	For 3" PVC, a tennis ball can is as close to perfect as you will get using a common item with no modifications to it. You can load the barrel, and the protection will allow all the balloons to fire without breaking, and they will all travel the same distance. Plastic cups work second-best, but not nearly as effectively as tennis cans. __________________ Mess With the Best, Get Soaked Like the Rest! 2004 Red Sox - World Series Champions 2007 Red Sox - World Series Champions!

02-17-2006, 01:24 PM	#2
Flannel Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cadillac, MI Posts: 20 UserID: 528	Wow, cool site. Wouldn't the water ballons bust in the chamber/tube/barrel due to the force/pressure? I was thinking about making a Trebuchet that launched water balloons... That site has a lot of cool content, thanks for posting...

02-17-2006, 01:34 PM	#3
m15399 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 224 UserID: 495	Well, water balloon launchers ARE spud guns... Just with a different payload. Flannel, to launch water balloons, you put wadding (plastic bag, styrofoam or plasic cups) into the barrel of the launcher to keep it from bursting.

02-17-2006, 05:55 PM	#6
m15399 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 224 UserID: 495	What if you got a male fitting for 3" pipe and then cut off the fitting part and just had the male part that goes into the pipe? It would make a good seal and could be used as a "shell" for water balloons if you put something on the back to keep the water balloon from flying out.

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