Tips For Making Your Own Potato Gun

If you are fond of doing some shooting, then you must have your own potato gun. There is a way to make a Do-It-Yourself spud gun.

If you are intending to make your potato gun, you must be aware that though it might be a fun hobby, it can also become quite dangerous if you don't do it right. You must always put safety a top priority so you can be secure that you won't be in the line of danger.

The most common mistake people do with spud guns is that they stare down the barrel when the gun does not fire. This can get you killed so be extra careful. Some people do this and they end up getting fired in the face.

So, here are some tips you can use to make your spud gun. Use some trial and error to make your gun fire longer distances.

If you are gonna make a spud gun, you must take into serious consideration the kind of firing mechanism you will use. You can choose between compressed air or ignited fuel such as aerosol spray or propane.

If you want greater distance for your spud, then igniting a fuel source will give you that. However, you will need an ignition that will create a spark inside the ignition chamber. 

For using compressed air, you can connect an air hose to a valve then attach that to your gun. Make sure your chamber is airtight so you can build enough pressure inside.

You can actually assemble your potato cannon with just about $35 in your pocket. Go to a supply store and look for pipes that you can use for your gun.

The commonly used pipes for making potato guns are ABS and PVC pipe. These are inexpensive and easy to look for. Building supply stores will surely have these in stock.

When choosing between the two pipes, you must know that PVC is pressure rated. You might find the PSI measurement along the pipe. This is actually the better choice between the two. This will also reassure you that your gun won't be building too much pressure.

This might seem funny for some to be picky with potatoes for potato guns but if you want to cover maximum distance with your gun, you should look for the right potatoes.

Idaho potatoes are usually preferable though you can use other varieties, of course. Look for a solid firm potato that fits snugly into the chamber.

If your potato has a snug fit in the chamber, it can be carried across a longer distance than tight or loose one.

Loose potatoes will let air escape so that it will only fly across a shorter distance. Tighter fits might stop pressure from escaping altogether and flames wight shoot out from the chamber.

So make sure you get the right potatoes, firing mechanism and materials for your gun.