Air cannon

[Kirbydoc]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q508d3k9518

[Clayt]

A buddy uses something similar to launch tennis balls with string attached to put up Ham Radio antennas over the trees.

[versifier]

I love it!

[Hellrazor]

Would be fun with stray cats.... I can't get bottle rockets all too easy anymore.

[BBerguson]

Velocity?

BB

[Kirbydoc]

Can't be super fast. When he fires the longer-range shot you hear it and then the impact.

[versifier]

I'm thinking 2-300fps, depending on size/weight of potato loaded. Slower than an arrow I'd guess. Maybe more but I am unsure how much pressure the gun can handle. Might be smart to add a dial gage too. I like this setup much better than the conventional potato gun with hairspray fuel and spark lighter. I know they can be quite accurate (minute-of-trashcan-lid) out to 100yds and beyond when you can figure their trajectory and are careful about the weight of projectiles and the amount of propellant sprayed into the combustion chamber. I see no reason the compressed air cannon couldn't do as well or better. I wonder how well a chrono would work with flying potatoes. If you were off a bit in aim I bet the chrono would survive much better than it would being hit with a bullet.

[j1]

Interesting.

By the way v they say that great minds think alike. I too thought that a pressure gauge might be nice. Consistancy from shot to shot promotes accuracy.