Thread: Air Cannon Build Breakdown

Tweet

I built an air cannon this week. I put together a how-to so you can too!



A - 1/4" Female NPT Plug (Home Depot) http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053
B - 1/4" NPT Check Valve http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/CDI...914?Pid=search
C - 1/4" NPT Air Pressure Regulator and Gauge http://www.harborfreight.com/150-psi...uge-68223.html
D - Unneeded if you get the correct Air Pressure Regulator and Gauge
E - 1/4" x 2" Galv Steel Pipe Nipple (Home Depot) http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053
F - 1/2" x 1/4" Bushing (Home Depot) http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...kuId=202904823
G - 1/2" Tee (Home Depot) http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053
H - 1/2" x 2" Galv Steel Pipe Nipple (Home Depot) http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053
I - 1/2" Electric Solenoid Valve, 12vdc http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...All-Categories
J - 1/2" x 12" Galv Steel Pipe Nippe (Home Depot) http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053
K - Teflon Thread Seal Tape http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-hal...ape-39625.html (or Home Depot)
L - 1/2" x 3 1/2" Galv Steel Pipe Nipple (Home Depot) http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053


Once you have all your parts gathered, lay them out exactly as they are in the photo.
NOTE: There are arrows on the check valve, air pressure regulator, and solenoid valve. They must all point in the same direction, towards the exaust. In my photos, they are all pointing to the right.



Then put teflon tape on all threads that are going to be screwed together.
TIP: Wrap all the threads clockwise with the teflon tape so that when you are screwing the parts together, the teflon tape doesn't come unraveled.



Now screw all parts together exactly how they are laid out. The order that you put them together doesn't matter, only that you get them screwed together tightly so you don't get any air leaks. I used a pipe wrench for this. If you don't have one, borrow one from a neighbor. In a pinch, vice grips will work, but a pipe wrench will do a much better job to ensure that you have no air leaks.



Finally, screw the whole contraption onto a portable air tank. Remember to use teflon tape for this connection too. I used an 11 gallon air tank, but only because Harbor Freight was out of the 5 gallon.
http://www.harborfreight.com/5-gallo...ank-65594.html




Hook up to air and enjoy! I will post a video later of my air cannon in action. Let me know if you have any questions.

This is a great little tutorial.... Resurrecting this thread! Do you have a video of it in action? What psi do you keep the regulator at?

Nope, no videos. I got zero responses to this tutorial so I assumed that no one was interested. It did work great on Halloween though. Got tons of scares with it and it was LOUD. I turned it down to about 45 psi so it didn't hurt people's ears.

Hard to believe this went through without any responses. Great detail and the links are a plus. Thanks for putting this together!

Great tutorial! Sorry we missed it!

I will be referencing this 4 sure!
I wanted an air cannon, this will help a great deal.

Thank you

That's awesome! Ill be building it for sure!

Nice tutorial! It's great to see something broken down into an easy to follow format. Sorry it was missed the first time around, but I'm just getting used to looking somewhere other than the props section.

...i love you!!!

I didn't even know what an Air Cannon was back in September, so wouldn't have looked inside. I have since acquired a compressor, and am now very interested in your tut! I agree with Halstaff...the links are a godsend for newbies and first time builders. Even an idiot like me will have trouble screwing up this build. THANKS!!!