Potato Gun

[OldTimer]

Don’t try this at home:

So…….. I’m cleanin’ out the garden shed and I come across a potato gun I made for my son over 20 years ago. Actually it was the second one we made (the first one was OK, but I always try harder…) and had a much larger lower back end gas chamber diameter (for more KAPOW) and also a push button barbeque igniter to simplify ignition. I do recall the next door neighbour running over to our back yard the first time we fired this thing (he was a retired fireman from the local fire department) – he thought my BBQ propane tank had exploded!

I was gonna throw it away – but then thought “Wait – maybe it could be used to get some real long distance casts out on the water”.

My lovely lady had unwisely left me alone to my own devices – so I gathered my gear, the potato gun, butchers string, some potatoes and a can of spray Right Guard deodorant (our preferred propellant (high alcohol content))….. off to the river to do some R&D. Oh boy!

I stopped and bought some Pepomint lifesavers on my way – to be a dissolvable release.

Ok – so I set up – get a nice slug of potato jammed in the muzzle. This slug had a loop of butchers cord tied through it with a lifesaver threaded on. I looped the end of my fishing line through the lifesaver then around and back over itself to attach it (the plan being it should release when the lifesaver dissolves in the water). Put the rod in its holder, pointed out over the water, open the bail. Oh boy!

Open the threaded end – spray in some Right Guard – thread end back in – point out over water – push igniter button – KABOOM! – Potato does shoot out – but splits in two and drops my line only about 75 feet way. Obviously - we need a more substantial piece of potato to sustain the launch without splitting. Oh boy!

No problem – I hand carve a MUCH longer piece of potato and prepare all as before…

Open the threaded end – spray in a lot more Right Guard – thread end back in – point out over water – push igniter button – BIG KABOOM!

When the 4lb mono line reached the end of its 120 yard length it snapped with a loud crack. I have no idea where it went.

Maybe I’ll try that balloon thing instead………… I disposed of the potato gun on my way back home.


Cheers,

OldTimer