Student gives up potato launcher--'Gunshot' sounds startled patrolmen

Dominion Post ^ | 10-9-01 | KATIE LONG

[SJackson]

Morgantown police officers patrolling in South Park were shocked by several loud sounds resembling gunshots Monday afternoon. Upon checking the area they found no gunmen, but did find a WVU student playing with a potato or golf ball launcher in the 200 block of Kingwood Street.

The launcher was a homemade device -- made as part of an assignment for an engineering class, the student said -- using PVC piping. Officer R. Chipps said potato balls, golf balls or wadded up pieces of newspaper can be stuffed into the smaller end. Then a * accelerant, such as hair spray, is sprayed into the wider end, and an ignition source is introduced further into the pipe via a hole or an installed switch.

The tubing creates quite a good missile launcher, and the result can be broken windows, damaged property, or a pretty big welt, depending on the target. Chipps said many people don't realize that objects such as these -- along with BB guns and paintball g uns -- are prohibited within the city.

"The trouble is that people don't realize the law," he said.

Chipps, along with Officer T.D. Webber, confiscated the launcher but did not make any arrests. They said the owner of the launcher was shooting objects against his garage door, which created the loud, shotgun type sounds. The owner didn't cause any trouble, they said, and surrendered the launcher willingly.

Another similar launcher was recently confiscated on Willey Street near Price Street, police said.

[SJackson]

Morgantown Police patrolman first class R.J. Chipps displays a homemade projectile launcher that was confiscated after officers heard shots being fired in the Kingwood Street area Monday morning.

[JRandomFreeper]

I prefer the compressed air type. Less dangerous and easier to use.

/john

[dennisw]

If I had a potato launcher.

[nevergore]

Cool! Where can I get the plans for one of those?

"I never left my juvenile stage according to my wife"

NeverGore :^)

[2Trievers]

LOL Recall when my three sons went through that stage ... I'm lucky the damage was minimal!

[eureka!]

I don't know where you can get plans but I've had the great pleasure of launching over 200 pounds of spuds in my lifetime with some friends who had built some. Talk about feeling like a little kid again...

[Movemout]

Mr Potato Head was denied bail. Mrs Potato Head is being held for further questioning.

[winodog]

Google search for potato gun

[fone]

"SOUTHPARK"??? Too funny!

[abner]

Just a tip; Acetelyne(sp?) is a bad idea in a potato gun. It makes you deaf, and splits the gun wide open.

So, if you have a potato gun, DON't use acetelyne!

[SocialMeltdown]

The Master Potato Cannon Page

Potato cannons are very popular.

[Rustynailww]

Type spud gun into google.

[rightwingextremist1776]

All the more reason to register students!! Better yet lets get students off of our streets by banning them. Maybe Rosie would like to start a new drive!

[Noslrac]

Spudtech this one has a nice aluminum breach loading spud gun

Noslrac

[LJLucido]

Oh, great. Now potatoes will be banned in carry-on luggage.

[fone]

[First_Salute]

M1A1 Pototoe Launcher.

Standard issue of just about any engineering dormitory in the first year.

[justlurking]

I prefer the compressed air type. Less dangerous and easier to use.

There are also legal in Texas. A spud gun / potato cannon that uses ignition of any substance is considered a "zip gun", which is on the list of prohibited weapons.

Violation is a third-degree felony.

[fourdeuce82d]

"Acetelyne(sp?) is a bad idea in a potato gun. It makes you deaf, and splits the gun wide open.."

Ahhh...but Acetelyne & oxygen, optimally mixed via a welding rig, used to inflate a 50 gallon trash bag, and ignited...will ROCK. YOUR. WORLD.

My GOD it makes a big noise!

[Constitution Day]

Dateline MAYBERRY, NC --

In a related development, Sheriff Andy Griffith today issued a new SPUD-10 potato gun to Deputy Barney Fife.
In the interest of public safety, Deputy Fife has only been issued one potato.
When reached for comment, the Deputy said "Nip it! Nip it in the bud!"

[thatsnotnice]

So, if you have a potato gun, DON't use acetelyne!

Along with your warning I'd add gasoline and model airplane fuel to that list. Though we did have pretty good luck with rubbing alcohol, kerosene, and calcium carbide.

[Noslrac]

my best fuel back in the day was carb cleaner, and wd40 before they changed it..

Noslrac

[Darksheare]

Where can I get my very own assualt potato cannon?
I prefer to beef up the tubes to almost and inch or more in thickness and use propane with piezo-electric ignition. Make it out of steel tubing and acetylene won't be much trouble. But you still need to beef it up. And then you can't use piezo-electric ignition unless you insulate it REAL good. I still wonder where all those golf balls went to...

[Noslrac]

Chipps said many people don't realize that objects such as these -- along with BB guns and paintball g uns -- are prohibited within the city.

Are bb guns and paintball guns illegal or is shooting them inside city limits illegal?

Noslrac

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I converted mine to welding gas. Less sticky than hair spray.

[Protagoras]

Violation is a third-degree felony.

Talk about overkill! This is what happens when you deny people their second amendment rights. You can own a shotgun but not a potato gun? If someone is convicted of a felony, he loses many rights forever. For a potato gun.

[VRWCmember]

I can understand why an officer named Chipps would be very concerned about a potato gun.

[Boonie Rat]

Just say NO! Prohibition ended when juries refused to convict citizens for drinking. If juries "JUST SAY NO" to these ridiculous indictments, the prosecuters will have to turn to actually prosecuting crime.

Boonie Rat

MACV SOCOM, PhuBai/Hue '65-'66

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

I used Zippo lighter fluid for mine.

My favorite "accelerant fueled launcher" was built large enough to accomodate tennis balls. Spectacular effect at night if you put a littel extra accelerant on the fuzzy little boogars!

Used to shoot these "flamers" across the neighborhood and scare the scatology out of passing cars.

Ahhhh, youth! Why is it wasted on the young?

[Wm Bach]

Too small a caliber. Real men pack a pumpkin launcher - also good for launching frozen turkeys...

[been_lurking]

Where can I get my very own assualt potato cannon?

Don't forget to order the optional bayonet lug, flash suppressor, and extended clip.

[openotherend]

We used to shoot wet socks when we lived in town. People would come by and ask us how we got those socks to hang on the electric lines. Hair spray is the best. WD40 would wear out the flint too quick.

[Gasshog]

Surprise! its Tourist Guy™!!

[Bill Rice]

REAL men don't mess with no stinkin' potatoes, they shoot Pumpkins!

Bruce Bradford of Howell tosses a pumpkin in front of a cannon he built to compete in the 15th Annual Punkin' Chunkin' competition in Delaware.

[Gasshog]

So, if you have a potato gun, DON't use acetelyne! Along with your warning I'd add gasoline and model airplane fuel to that list.

Though we did have pretty good luck with rubbing alcohol, kerosene, and calcium carbide.

Um...Calcium Carbide when wet produces Acetelyne Gas!

[Protagoras]

If juries "JUST SAY NO" to these ridiculous indictments, the prosecuters will have to turn to actually prosecuting crime.

I agree totally. Now if the trend turned to other unconstitutional things like the WOD, we would really be getting somewhere.

Guess I better zip up my flameproof undies again. :-)

[Hatteras]

I knew a young fellow that had built a revolving turret on the roof of his olive-green'73 Dodge Polara. His ammo of choice was tennis balls.

[dead]

Nothing to see here folks

Move along.

[Protagoras]

I guess I'm too old for this stuff. When my kids had a water fight a few years back using a giant sling shot loaded with water ballons and manned by three people I thought it was the ultimate. I guess I just don't get it.

:-)

[rightwingextremist1776]

Yea, but how do you ignite it without looking like this moron

[FreePaul]

Calcium Carbide when wet produces Acetelyne Gas!

The old Bangsite cannons used calcium carbide dropped in water and ignited by a spark to creat noise. I had one that I shot thousands of times and probably drove neighbors crazy. Other kids in the neighborhood had them also. A bottle cap would fit over the end of the barrel and go a long way but was not accurate. I would like to have one today but it is probably against many laws now.

[BlueLancer]

We used to shoot "sock muskets" at each other when I was at the Naval Academy. Take a coke can and punch a hole in the side near the closed end of the can. Take a paper towel cardboard roll and tape it will to the open end of the can (we used extensive amounts of duct tape). stuff a rolled up sock into the the cardboard roll, spray lighter fluid into the hole punch you made at the other end of the can, point, and touch it off with a lighter.

Some of these would last 50 or 60 shots before the damage to the roll became such that you couldn't use it any more. Needless to say, your socks got scorched.

A couple of guys used a coffee can with PVC piping to make cannons ... the "boom" would rattle the windows.

Ah, yes ... Annapolis ... where Naval "gentlemen" are created ...(snicker, snicker, smirk)
8')

[fone]

Ok folks! Away from the computer screens!

GET BACK TO WORK!

[fone]

LOL!

Even Mayberry is in the 21st century now. Barney has a tazar....

[fone]

Pyro!

[Constitution Day]

Ok folks! Away from the computer screens!
GET BACK TO WORK!

Yes, SIR! Right away, SIR! ;-D

[Darksheare]

Um. They took it away so that they could play with it themselves? And also to check to see if it had a bayonet lug with flash supressor a folding stock and extenda-clips!
Seriously.. one of our local agencies here in Orange County New York absconded a slingshot.. then later used said slingshot to toss pennies across a highway from a moving patrol car. *Shrugs* go figure.

[Constitution Day]

"Barney has a tazar..."

If Barney had a Taser, he would have already electrocuted himself.