Build A Ping-Pong Pistol
If you’re looking for some good, clean—albeit semi-reckless—fun, you can’t beat taking some household items and assembling them into a combustion-based ping-pong ball gun.
If you’ve ever built a spud gun, the PVC pipe constructions that help launch unlucky potatoes into the stratosphere, you’ll be more than familiar with the design of the ping-pong pistol. All you need is a paper towel tube, duct tape, hair spray, a utility lighter and a ready supply of ping-pong balls. If you’re feeling particularly industrious you can upgrade the paper towel to a sturdier material, but the paper towel tube should last at least long enough for a more responsible friend to insist you put it down before someone gets hurt.
As always, exercise good caution and judgment but most importantly don’t come crying to us when you burn the hair off your arm. If you have your own fun backyard tricks involving fire or otherwise, sound off in the comments.
How to Make a Ping-Pong Pistol [Dangerously Fun]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
Gives new meaning to "So I got this trick I can do with a ping pong ball"....
"...and that was how I set myself on fire."
Sounds like fun. My cat's gonna love chasing the ping pong balls. Off to Wally World....
Not to be mean, but this is amateur.
dsalehipour
Ah, home combustion experiments: giving natural selection a helping hand since the Renaissance.
Hey, watch this!
"Sign up now for the Darwin awards, and recieve our new welcome kit!"
ThinkerTDM
i saw a woman do that in mexico only there wasn't a tube, or a lighter, or gaffer tape, or hairspray...
I made a PVC potato cannon about a year back and the first day everything set and dried i took it out for a test run, in short i loaded the potato in and then sprayed the hairspray then closed the end cap tried using the lighter and it didnt work so me being the "smart" person i am decided to unscrew the cap and look down to see it for some reason and clicked and burned off my eyebrows and part of my bangs.... not a good day.
Bezike
How long before someone decides the paper towel tube isn't necessary and uses a body orifice instead? Can't wait to see that YouTube video.
kettlewhistle
@mfusion: BAHAHAHA........................ HAHAHA
atomicrabbit
check out the vid if you want to see how it works! Looks pretty fun!
atomicrabbit
@jupiterthunder: Not to mention using ping pong balls as a projectile from a combustion-powered cannon. They're not made from plain plastic, but nitrocellulose, which is delightfully, highly flammable.
Not that it isn't fun to light stuff on fire, launch stuff, and blow stuff up. Just do your research so you'll know what to expect.
jswilson64
I'm not sure that site would have featured it if it used something a little safer than cardboard tubing as a combustion chamber.
I also thing, the site should be mirrored at amusinglydangerous.com
jupiterthunder
@dsalehipour: And immature, can't wait to try it.
Angry Numismatist
you'll put your eye out, kid!
lovely - another really cool project suggestion that just BEGS the nattering nabobs to call lifehacker stupid and irresponsible for posting it, and anyone else stupid and irresponsible for even considering it.
jeez - give as a little credit for good judgement, eh? i ALREADY have ONE mama.
I've done this with a Monster Energy drink can (the one with the twist off lid). Drill a small hole in the bottom to ignite the flamable gas. Then I used a paper towel tube as a barrel. Sure, it gets hot after a few shots, but it won't catch you on fire.