Thread: How do I make a canon explosion?

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I am making a canon from 6-inch diameter PVC, but am not sure the best way to create a loud bang and huge puff of smoke for the simulated canon firing. Firing need not be quick (at MOST, once every 10 minutes), and probably won't be done more than ten times Halloween night (the neighbors do have their tolerance limits).


Would prefer to not to use pneumatics due to the hassle of hoses, compressors, etc.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Here is one method. You could replace the pneumatics with electronic solenoids.
Amazing fog machine-powered cannons! - Halloween Forum

How about a carbide cannon? Remember the little loud bang cannons?

I build one last year for a friend (Civil War style) entirely out of ABS (black pipe)
it looked authentic and the effect was perfect, smoke and all.

Here are some plans for a nice pirate one:

Stuart Peterson's Carbide Cannon

The original version is here (with plans):

Hal Kelly's Carbide Cannon

Toys R Us has an Air Cannon that is just a plastic tube with a bungee cord attached to the center of a piece of thick clear plastic. You pull back on the bungee and let go, POOF! It makes a loud BANG and shoots out a concusion of air more than enogh to shoot out smoke. You could rig up a trigger so that you could fire it manually in time with the smoke.
Ken

Originally Posted by DeathDealer

Here is one method. You could replace the pneumatics with electronic solenoids.
Amazing fog machine-powered cannons! - Halloween Forum

Thanks for the link. I liked the effect - reminded me of Disney's canon firing scene in the ride Pirates of the Carribean. Please let me know if you get any reply as to the details on how to make this.

Originally Posted by HomeyDaClown

How about a carbide cannon? Remember the little loud bang cannons?

I build one last year for a friend (Civil War style) entirely out of ABS (black pipe)
it looked authentic and the effect was perfect, smoke and all.

Here are some plans for a nice pirate one:

Stuart Peterson's Carbide Cannon

The original version is here (with plans):

Hal Kelly's Carbide Cannon

Thanks Homey! I like the explosion and cloud. I printed the instructions and will read up on how to make the recipe. If it seems safe, I think I'm good to go.

Originally Posted by gromit05

Thanks Homey! I like the explosion and cloud. I printed the instructions and will read up on how to make the recipe. If it seems safe, I think I'm good to go.

You can use regular carbide (I got a can from the hardware store) but I had to grind it into a powder to make it work. You can buy bangsite which is more expensive but already finely ground.

personally I use 1500 grains of 2f powder. Oh pvc. ooops!

Here you go and thanks for the email!!! My cannon explosions.

I think during the server move we lost several of our GYM directories. The best explosion is at 2.50 min into the video. We had an incident where I tripped over some wires and had to sync everything back!!!

http://www.graveyardmadness.com/2006...OWEEN_2006.wmv video

If this link does not work, goto Index of /2006 and you can find the video from there.

Thanks
Joel