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Tennis Ball Mortar

by Tetranitrate on May 31, 2007 Table of Contents intro: Tennis Ball Mortar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 1: Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 2: Building the mortar tube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 3: Firing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Customized Instructable T-shirts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 3 4 7 7 8 8 8

http://www.instructables.com/id/Tennis-Ball-Mortar/

intro: Tennis Ball Mortar

.................................................................................................................................................................................. The tennis ball mortar is a great project for many reasons: all the materials are cheap and readily available, its construction is extremely simple, and it gives off a nice loud *pop* which the video doesn't do justice.

Quick and dirty explanation on how it works: The mortar is composed of three sections of Pringles cans duct taped together. The metal bottoms of the top two cans are cut to form baffles, which will focus the force of the expanding hot gas created by the burnt vaporized naptha, onto the center of the tennis ball. Thanks to the near exact match in diameter of the ball and can, the force of the compressed gases is trapped behind the tennis ball for the whole length of the top can. As you can probably guess this design has room for improvements. For example, if the length of the top can were extended, the ball would have a longer time to accelerate and thus achieve a faster speed, but at what point does the downward air pressure on the ball overpower the structural integrity of cardboard and duct tape? How does increasing the volume of the cans affect overall performance? What effect would adding a few more baffled cans have? I'm sure the answer is only a simple math problem or two away, but you look bored and like your enjoying a few too many fingers. (More after the video)

Video

Today (June 1st) I am beginning a contest (Shhh! Its not an official contest so don't tell my bosses Eric and Christy) to see who can come up with the best tennis ball mortar design. No one characteristic defines "best", it is a combination of performance, creativity, adn 1's aBiLiTy 2 not tlak LIEK Dis!!!1!1 I am judge and jury of this contest, and my decision is final. How to enter: Join the group Tennis Ball Mortars (Its moderated) If you feel your design is truly innovative, and that you are making great advances in the field of tennis ball mortarology, write a new instructable and post it in the group. If you just have some pictures, or if the only difference between your mortar and someone else's is the color of the duct tape, post it in the forums, and then add it to the group. Now for the good part *THE PRIZE*. I'm sure your dieing to know what sacrificing several fingers, gaining numerous pounds, and clogging all your arteries will win? ::Drum roll:: The ULTIMATE SUPER GRAND PRIZE is ... ... ... a cookie, thats right you win a cookie (Specifically: (1) Entenmann's chocolate chip cookie mailed in plain white envelope to any address in the world ( Its internationally delicious!! )). I know what your thinking "Damn Tetranitrate you cheapskate, even Fred, the guy who sits in his van by the playground is more generous with sweets then you", to which all I reply is "After all those Pringles you don't need anymore junk food, and you should probably tell a trusted adult about Fred." **DISCLAIMER: By entering this contest, thinking about entering this contest, or even just reading this, you retain all liability should you happen to blow up or injure yourself in an attempt to build this. (edit: I ate the cookie)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Tennis-Ball-Mortar/

Image Notes 1. Office warfare 2.0

Image Notes 1. You can eat all the chips at once, or if you feel like your going to vomit dehydrated potato and processed cheese flavoring turned nuclear orange by just the right amount of stomach acid... you can put them in a bag.

step 1: Materials
1. (3) Pringles Cans 2. Duct tape 3. Lighter fluid 4. Tennis balls (edit: or aerosol hairspray) (Told you it was simple)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Tennis-Ball-Mortar/

step 2: Building the mortar tube

Step 1: Eat the chips. Vomit when necessary. Repeat. (I was making a joke about the flavor of the chips, but it also works nicely as a beginners guide to bulimia) Step 2: Wash out the cans with soap and warm water. Do not get the cans too wet or the cardboard will lose some of its integrity. Dry cans. Step 3: Cut out a circle in the center of two of the cans metal bottoms. The diameter of the hole should be equal to the radius of the metal bottom. Step 4: Stack the two cans with baffles (holes) on top of the solid bottomed one, and duct tape heavily ( 7 - 12 times around) at the seams. Step 5: Completely cover the cans in duct tape at least three times (three layers of duct tape thick) Step 6: Poke a 1/4" hole 1" from the bottom of the mortar

http://www.instructables.com/id/Tennis-Ball-Mortar/

Image Notes 1. 7-12 layers thick

http://www.instructables.com/id/Tennis-Ball-Mortar/

Image Notes 1. You can eat all the chips at once, or if you feel like your going to vomit dehydrated potato and processed cheese flavoring turned nuclear orange by just the right amount of stomach acid... you can put them in a bag.

Image Notes 1. 1" from bottom

http://www.instructables.com/id/Tennis-Ball-Mortar/

step 3: Firing
Safety first: Lighting the mortar without a stand (like I did in the first shot of the video) is asking for trouble. A simple and fast stand can be made from PVC pipe and coat hanger as demonstrated in the photo. If no stand materials are available at least lean the mortar against something (bench, rock, etc.) so it isn't at risk of falling when you are trying to light it. Tip: 3" PVC pipe will fit perfectly around Pringles cans with just the right amount of duct tape on them. A hole can be drilled through the PVC and cans for lighting. This provides extra structural reinforcement to the cans lessening the chances of a blowout. Tip 2: Use a barbecue lighter, or like in the video a quick & easy torch (made by bending coat hanger around paper towel). This will put distance between your fingers and the bottom of the tube, in case of a blowout. Generic safety stuff: Use adequate eye, ear, nut-sack, and various other body part protection.

To prepare for firing: Set up the mortar in a large open area where you have little risk of hitting someone. Squirt about 1-2 teaspoons of lighter fluid down the barrel of the mortar, making sure to aim for the bottom can. Spray a little extra through the hole in the bottom, to help aid in lighting, or, if using hairspray, you can spray hairspray down the mouth of the barrel for a few seconds. Drop the tennis ball down the barrel. The mortar is now loaded, and from now on no one should pass in front of it. To fire: Wait about two minutes after pouring, to give the chamber enough time to fill up with the evaporating lighter fluid (Pouring the perfect amount of fluid, and waiting till exactly the right time to light are the two things to master when it comes to tennis ball mortars). Light the barbecue lighter or torch, and hold it close to the hole on the bottom. If all goes well you should hear a loud bang, and see the ball sail off into the distance.

Image Notes 1. Stand made from thin PVC pipe and a bent coat hanger.

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How to make an ignitor for homebrew weapons projects by Geoffrito

Pack a Surfboard On The Cheap (For Dangerous Airline Travel) by onemisterchristian

ghetto tennisball-head-fones by cheesemonkey

http://www.instructables.com/id/Tennis-Ball-Mortar/

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Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 225 comments

chloride says:

Sep 29, 2008. 10:06 AM REPLY What is the second baffle for exactly? I get the first baffle is to make sure the ball doesn't get to the bottom of the tube but what's the second one for and what would happen if I used more than two baffles?

andrew13 says:
Ya think you can put airsoft BBs in it?

Aug 12, 2008. 6:56 PM REPLY

Kendallkip says:
no, they would all fall down the hole thingy

Sep 7, 2008. 5:52 PM REPLY

andrew13 says:
ok... my friend and i made one, and we made somthing to carry the bbs, it only flew a few feet, but it ws a start!

Sep 8, 2008. 8:37 PM REPLY

darth acexxacer says:

i made this into a RPG-7 out of this its sick as hell PS heres a real RPG-7

Jan 12, 2008. 12:21 PM REPLY

darth acexxacer says:

here it is rough model not quite done as of yet

Jan 25, 2008. 9:21 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Tennis-Ball-Mortar/

bomberman3 says:
what did you use for the grip?

Jul 5, 2008. 3:07 PM REPLY

darth acexxacer says:

an mm's tube

Jul 5, 2008. 3:13 PM REPLY

Kendallkip says:
XD

Sep 7, 2008. 5:54 PM REPLY

darth acexxacer says:

lol yup

Sep 7, 2008. 9:27 PM REPLY

spleinman says:
Dang, that thing looks fun to play w/!

Jan 14, 2008. 5:11 PM REPLY

darth acexxacer says:

ya totaly

Jan 14, 2008. 9:47 PM REPLY

James (pseudo-geek) says:

Those things are nasty powerful too, I'd hate to get hit with one.

Jan 13, 2008. 2:57 PM REPLY

darth acexxacer says:

Jan 13, 2008. 3:27 PM REPLY i saw a show about someone who was 15 feet away from one when it exploded and he lost his right arm and half of his right leg

RFilyaw says:

Jan 29, 2008. 9:14 AM REPLY Unless you're using some sort of high explosives like C4, nitroglycerin or black powder, salt peter, etc, you're not going to lose any limbs, especially from 15 feet away. The worst this might do is break your nose or a few teeth when the ball hits you.

darth acexxacer says:

i was talking about a REAL RPG-7

Jan 29, 2008. 5:11 PM REPLY

James (pseudo-geek) says:

ouch.

Jan 13, 2008. 3:35 PM REPLY

darth acexxacer says:

tell me about it but its cool because he got some prosthetic limbs

Jan 14, 2008. 3:52 PM REPLY

darth acexxacer says:

can i enter it in to the contest when im done building it?

Jan 12, 2008. 12:47 PM REPLY

Scythica says:

May 3, 2008. 8:13 PM REPLY i made this and fired it using a storm drain as a bunker i worked once but then the mortar court fire lol i tred it at a mates again but we re-enforced it and used a more power put propelent (Av gas (jet fuel) vapour)and we fired tennis balls filled with very fun stuff if you want to know what those fun stuff was email me and i'll be glad to share

thinker says:
message me with it, im intrigued

Aug 10, 2008. 3:07 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Tennis-Ball-Mortar/

magician13134 says:
Lighter fluid didn't work for me, it just hissed a little bit. Does anyone know why this is or how to fix it? Thanks!

Mar 23, 2008. 4:59 PM REPLY

katanakreater says:

Aug 10, 2008. 2:05 PM REPLY You may have been using charcoal lighter fluid... it took me about 2-3 mortars to realize therew was a difference. Hair-spray can work if you spray down the barrel and in the hole that you light at.

geewizartcool says:
you may not be using the correct fuel or tour combustion chamber is not sealed well.

Apr 7, 2008. 3:18 PM REPLY

Geoffrito says:

Apr 5, 2008. 10:04 AM REPLY make sure its naptha (naptholene) lighter fluid, as opposed to kerosene lighter fluid. I"m not sure what anyone uses naptha for any more, but you can buy it under the name 'ronsonol'. Kerosene lighter fluid is the common stuff used for lighting grills. it doesn't vaporise as easily and needs different parameters to burn.

beechy says:

Jul 24, 2008. 2:21 AM REPLY get a 500ml coke bottle take off the lid spray butane inside and then stick it in the mortar and fire it. it makes the botlle go further ! i tried it and it doubled the range on my weapen

gamerguy314 says:

Jul 15, 2008. 4:40 PM REPLY whats the "Cut out a circle in the center of two of the cans metal bottoms. The diameter of the hole should be equal to the radius of the metal bottom." for? is it like a chamber for the evaporated lighter fluid?

Admiral Puffinfresh says:

Hahaha love the bulimia joke. Very tasteful. =] Also, try using this as an over-the-shoulder rocket launcher? =]

Jun 30, 2008. 4:07 AM REPLY

four_eyes954 says:

Feb 3, 2008. 2:15 PM REPLY if i were to fill about a quarter of the tennis ball with match heads and put in about 200 air soft bbs could i have an air soft mortar

coolcaleb says:
read my comment above i could make an instructable about how to make an airsoft mortor/bazooka

Jun 26, 2008. 6:05 PM REPLY

dUc0N says:

Apr 21, 2008. 5:24 AM REPLY Nah, that's not likely. The match heads would go as it leaves the tube thanks to the concussion from the gas exploding. Real mortars have timed fuzing for that.

greenupkid says:
hey use pvc pipes and pipe glue it works better and shoots farther

May 14, 2008. 9:49 AM REPLY

NapoleanDynamite says:

May 27, 2008. 12:53 PM REPLY Yeah, PVC pipes work better. They don't get obliterated after firing them a few times. I made one out of pringle cans, and after firing about 3-4 times, I had to throw it away.

coolcaleb says:

Jun 26, 2008. 6:03 PM REPLY Ya use pvc thats what i do SOOOO much better also try using a flicker thing that makes sparks i made a bazooka that u hold over ur shoulder and launch anything but my favorite ic putt ing a cup filled with airsoft bb's and using it like a shotgun

Arzon says:

Jun 25, 2008. 10:28 PM REPLY Ever thought about making a triple barreled cannon? Use 9 Pringles cans, tape them together real good and fire one at a time? Fire, rotate, fire rotate, fire, rotate, reload? When I first saw this, thats what I was going to do, but I'm underage, so I can't. Oh and one more thing, Could you use those tubes at those clubs that can hold up to 6 to 9 at once? Obviously can't fire that many at once, but the tube might work out..Allot tougher than those Pringles cans.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Tennis-Ball-Mortar/

Arzon says:
You could angle the hole on Step 2 part 6 so they all face the same direction, up. That way you don't need to rotate it.

Jun 26, 2008. 5:23 PM REPLY

rawdog33 says:

Jun 20, 2008. 1:49 PM REPLY I built this cannonthng and when fire it the cannon makes a shwoop type bang noise but the tennis ball wont leave the barrel. What am i doing wrong?

thedog458 says:

Apr 19, 2008. 4:42 AM REPLY hey really good Instructable. now this is gona be a really dumb question but do u have to use the lighter fluid?(coz where I live they don't sell it) :(

pyromanizak says:
spray some butane in there

Jun 14, 2008. 12:00 AM REPLY

Tetranitrate says:
Yeah, you kinda do need the lighter fluid. Where do you live that they don't sell it, North Korea?

Apr 19, 2008. 9:19 AM REPLY

thedog458 says:
lol no I live no coober pedy. but thanks any way.

Apr 19, 2008. 11:20 PM REPLY

irish meatball says:

Jan 2, 2008. 11:14 AM REPLY i love this thing! i almost lit my neighbors house on fire with it though.... when i shot it the ball came out on fire and landed on their roof! (thank god it rolled off)

paintballer111 says:
hey you can soak the ball in water and it'll still shoot

Mar 13, 2008. 6:54 PM REPLY

pyromanizak says:
its better to soak it in petrol

Jun 13, 2008. 11:58 PM REPLY

solidacid says:
because you liked the pain Hmm?

Apr 22, 2008. 6:53 AM REPLY

XI3 says:
lol thats hilarous. i made a mini one out of some small pvc pipe, (shoots mini marshmallows and marbels) and the bottom blew off of it and sent burning lighterfluid onto my pant leg. i almost didnt put it out,.

Feb 1, 2008. 9:13 AM REPLY

Kendallkip says:
perfect for mini smores lol

Jun 19, 2008. 5:39 PM REPLY

i do crazy stuff says:

Jun 9, 2008. 8:58 PM REPLY maby if you shacke the liquid it could makevapour easier too and if u head it up using blueice you can heat that up and then it will make it combustable hint: put the blue ice around the propelant cartage and let it head up awesome for shooting and if you play airsoft you can use it to make covering fire

i do crazy stuff says:

lolz i have the stuff to make it my parents are strict though so i cant make one but i can make a modle

Jun 9, 2008. 8:56 PM REPLY

lighterkid19 says:
would it work better if you put the lid on the top can when the fuid was evaporating so the gas couldnt come out?

Jun 4, 2008. 11:56 AM REPLY

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http://www.instructables.com/id/Tennis-Ball-Mortar/