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There is a thread in the Halloween Tech Forum on Air Cannons. There were posts on building one using sprinkler valves and PVC.
I got on a bit of a "soapbox" because I feel VERY strongly against using such practice!! A Home Haunter builds one, using it maybe a
couple hundred times a season, but a pro haunter would use one a couple THOUSAND times a season which drastically increases the
chance of failure. You should NEVER use such inferior parts and procedures when the proper method is available and affordable.
With Ebay, Craigslist, Amazon and all the tools of the internet, real solutions are now affordable. You can build one for about a $100
if you shop wisely. Simple breakdown:
Solenoid: $24
Deltro valve: $30
Transformer: $ 8
Air Tank: $29
Connectors: $10
Total: $101
If you can't afford $100 for an air cannon, then maybe you shouldn't HAVE an air cannon...period!!
Sometimes people do not understand the possible implications of their seemingly simple actions.
You are on on the other side of the country from me. You build an air cannon with a sprinkler valve (designed to handle what, maybe
45 lbs of WATER pressure) now you rig into an air prop and apply 70-90 lbs of air pressure!!! It's called a receipe for disaster!!!
As the prop ages the plastic becomes brittle. If the air pressure becomes too much, you have basically created a concussion bomb!!!
Now you will injury an actor, a customer, maybe both. The newspapers will have a field day. I was one saying you had to use the right
components yet I'm now the one paying higher insurance rates and I have to remove most of my animations because now no haunt can
have a prop that doesn't carry a certified seal!!! Just think how much that new "certified" air cannon will cost now!!!
So a response was made on that thread that if I was complaining, then I should show how to build a good one.... good point!
So here's your sign..... I have an image of a large cannon using a 5 gal tank, an image of a small cannon and a video explaining the parts
of the small cannon. Print the images for reference and download the video..
Now if you want to build one, you have no excuse. You can do it right and it will save you time and money and possibly an injury!!
Also you should make sure no vendor sells you a prop using inadequate components. Believe it not there are still vendors (not many) that
will be stupid enough to use a sprinkler valve!! Makes you wonder what other short cuts they take on their props??????
This is not meant to undermine any vendor selling air cannons. Theirs will be more than $100 because you can wait on ebay and get the one
valve and one solenoid you need used or surplus, they need a lot so they will have to buy new ones at full price. It would more than double
the cost of materials plus their labor, so you see why a good one is $300.
So buy the right parts if you're building...or just buy a good cannon. The injury you save may be your own!!
Rich
I got on a bit of a "soapbox" because I feel VERY strongly against using such practice!! A Home Haunter builds one, using it maybe a
couple hundred times a season, but a pro haunter would use one a couple THOUSAND times a season which drastically increases the
chance of failure. You should NEVER use such inferior parts and procedures when the proper method is available and affordable.
With Ebay, Craigslist, Amazon and all the tools of the internet, real solutions are now affordable. You can build one for about a $100
if you shop wisely. Simple breakdown:
Solenoid: $24
Deltro valve: $30
Transformer: $ 8
Air Tank: $29
Connectors: $10
Total: $101
If you can't afford $100 for an air cannon, then maybe you shouldn't HAVE an air cannon...period!!
Sometimes people do not understand the possible implications of their seemingly simple actions.
You are on on the other side of the country from me. You build an air cannon with a sprinkler valve (designed to handle what, maybe
45 lbs of WATER pressure) now you rig into an air prop and apply 70-90 lbs of air pressure!!! It's called a receipe for disaster!!!
As the prop ages the plastic becomes brittle. If the air pressure becomes too much, you have basically created a concussion bomb!!!
Now you will injury an actor, a customer, maybe both. The newspapers will have a field day. I was one saying you had to use the right
components yet I'm now the one paying higher insurance rates and I have to remove most of my animations because now no haunt can
have a prop that doesn't carry a certified seal!!! Just think how much that new "certified" air cannon will cost now!!!
So a response was made on that thread that if I was complaining, then I should show how to build a good one.... good point!
So here's your sign..... I have an image of a large cannon using a 5 gal tank, an image of a small cannon and a video explaining the parts
of the small cannon. Print the images for reference and download the video..
Now if you want to build one, you have no excuse. You can do it right and it will save you time and money and possibly an injury!!
Also you should make sure no vendor sells you a prop using inadequate components. Believe it not there are still vendors (not many) that
will be stupid enough to use a sprinkler valve!! Makes you wonder what other short cuts they take on their props??????
This is not meant to undermine any vendor selling air cannons. Theirs will be more than $100 because you can wait on ebay and get the one
valve and one solenoid you need used or surplus, they need a lot so they will have to buy new ones at full price. It would more than double
the cost of materials plus their labor, so you see why a good one is $300.
So buy the right parts if you're building...or just buy a good cannon. The injury you save may be your own!!
Rich
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