3 or 4 soup cans.
Completely remove the top lid using a standard can opener.
Perforate the bottoms of all but one using a can punch
Tape them together making sure the unperforated can is the bottom.
punch a 1/8 inch hole in the side of the bottom can right near the bottom.
Stick a tennis ball in the top opening
Squirt a good blast of lighter fluid in the bottom hole and shake it vigorously for a few seconds.
Aim
Stick a lit match in the bottom hole
Good for about 10-20 yards.
We used starter fluid. The tennis balls went a little farther than 10-20 yards.
Good for about 10-20 yards.
Heh - my neighbor (two years my senior) had an afternoon paper route, and was circling in the street on that big old bicycle with the huge newspaper basket while I was playing with a tennis ball cannon. He laughed at the first few shots, which were disappointing. Continuing to taunt, he offered himself as a moving, live target. I shrugged and complied.
The next thing he knew, he and his bike were laying in the street - newspapers scattered... and there was a tennis ball-sized welt rising on the side of his neck. I quickly stepped through the side yard gate and snapped the padlock, before collapsing in laughter. Guess I finally got the fuel/air ratio correct. :-)
I always hated dealing with the goo from the melting duct tape, though.
We had a Blast doing this in the 60’s and 70’s!! But we also made our own explosives and bomb just for fun, not to mention Rockets!!!