Got Chris’s cannon to the point that we were able to fire it a few times. After figuring out that wadding was required (a paper towel folded twice does nicely) with the 20 oz Coke bottle we were able to fire the water filled bottle well over 400 feet with 100 psi of air in the chamber. This is with a 3 inch diameter barrel about 6 feet long.
We welded up a tank out of a 4 foot long 5 inch diameter pipe that already had one end on it and cut the end off another and welded it to on. Cut a hole in one end and welded in a piece of 3/4 inch threaded pipe. Added assorted fittings and then pressure tested it to 145 psi and after a couple of redos had no leaks. Will post some pix as soon as I get them.
Was dark when we got it all working but the sucker is able to fire from the front of the barn to around the camp on the other side of the creek, well over 400 feet away. Bill said the bottles made no noise coming in. Before they hit that is. They burst upon impact so suspect that they still have a hell of a lot of energy left… 😉
Got the breach partualy machined for the one I am building with a 2 inch pvc barrel. Looking at old freon canisters for the air chamber. More on it as I get more done.
Full Belly Project
Interesting and useful project.
Murphy Beds Came First, Then Wall Beds and Now Flying Beds
Cool stuff. The prices are on the steep side but home made will work here too. The computer desk/bed (2/3rds of the way down the main page) is great!
Wood Bikes You Can Make
This stuff is great! WIsh I had thought of it years ago. Now for the time and energy to build some of my own!
Shocknife – Gizmodo
Interesting training toy. 😉
Treehugger: BOB Gets Around: Andrew Maynard’s Mobile Home
This makes no real sense to me but does look neat. Nowhere near practical but neat…
Business 2.0: A car that could save the planet—fast – May. 5, 2006
Love the Porsche’s drivers comment:
“It never occurred to me that I would lose,” says Kim Stuart, the Porsche’s driver. “It was like a light switch. He hit the pedal and was gone.”
😉
GRYNX » TicTac flashlight
Interesting concept but I think his math on the lifespan of the batteries could be off just a bit. Unless this is not designed to be actually used that is.
Robot Chair That Reassembles Itself – Gizmodo
I’m not real sure what to say here. Nope. Nothing.
Tristan Perich – Portable Telephone
Cool! Retro! Impractical, but looks like fun!
Collecting Antique Mole Traps
Thought I had posted this earlier (much earlier, like last year). Just noticed it was in unpublished drafts.
Bibliochaise – Gizmodo
Certainly doesn’t look practical to me. I think they need to get someone who actually reads books on the design team… 🙁
MP915-B Barebone Mini PC – Silver (AOpen-918EX10I9P) – eHomeUpgrade | PriceGrabber
But I don’t need another computer! No matter how cute it is. And the price is quite reasonable. For what you get, it is amazing!
Solutions
If they say so. For cat lovers. Lazy cat lovers. Or is that cat lovers with lazy cats. Whatever. Interesting design.
Comments (3) 
Themocracy