Building A T-Shirt Cannon: A Step-By-Step Guide

T-shirt cannons are a fun and unique way to promote your brand or simply entertain a crowd. With some PVC, batteries, and switches, you can create a powerful T-shirt launcher that will wow audiences and create excitement at events. In this guide, we will cover the materials and steps needed to build your own T-shirt cannon, including the construction of the air tank, barrel, and trigger mechanism. We will also provide important safety warnings and tips to ensure a successful and enjoyable experience for all. So, get ready to roll up your sleeves and build your very own T-shirt cannon!

Parts needed

The main components of a T-shirt cannon are PVC, adapters, ball valves, and hoses. You can find most of these parts at your local hardware store.

For the structure, you'll need various sizes of PVC pipes and fittings, including:

• 4" diameter PVC, 2 feet in length
• 3" diameter PVC, 2 feet in length, cut into two 1-foot sections
• 4" PVC caps x2
• 3" PVC cap
• 3" coupler x2
• 3" to 1.25" reducer x2
• 1.25" to 1" reducer x2
• 1" slip to 1" threaded adapter x2

You'll also need plumbing parts, including:

• 1" sprinkler valve
• 1-foot length of 1/4" hose (properly rated)
• 1/4" hose adapter (hose barb) to 1/8" threaded x2
• 1/8" nipple x2
• 1/8" elbow
• 1/8" valve
• Small hose clamp x2
• Bike pump valve or air compressor adapter
• Epoxy
• PSI gauge

In addition, you'll need the following tools:

• Drill
• Various drill bits
• PVC cement and primer
• Popsicle stick
• Duct tape (optional)
• Safety glasses

To control the launch, you'll need to build a circuit with the following electrical components:

• 9V battery clip x3
• 9V battery x3
• Shrink tubing
• Wire
• Switches (one toggle switch and one push-button trigger)

Building the barrel and air tank

To build the barrel and air tank for your T-shirt cannon, you'll need a variety of PVC pipes and fittings, as well as some additional hardware. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Firstly, gather the necessary materials. You'll need a 4" diameter PVC pipe, 2 feet in length, and a 3" diameter PVC pipe, also 2 feet in length, which you will cut into two 1-foot sections. Additionally, you'll require two 4" PVC caps, a 3" PVC cap, a 3" coupler, two 3" to 1.25" reducers, two 1.25" to 1" reducers, a foot-long 1" PVC pipe, and two 1" slip to 1" threaded adapters.

Now, it's time to assemble the barrel and air tank. Take the 3" diameter PVC pipe and solvent weld the coupler to it. Next, solvent weld one of the 3" to 1.25" reducers to the coupler, followed by solvent welding one of the 1.25" to 1" reducers to the previous reducer. Cut a 5" section from the 1" pipe and solvent weld it to the second reducer. Finally, solvent weld one of the 1" slip to 1" threaded adapters to the 1" diameter pipe. At this point, you can choose which assembly will serve as your barrel and which will be the firing tank.

To complete the setup, you'll need to drill holes and attach additional fittings. Drill a hole in one of the 4" caps, large enough to insert a bike valve. For the other 4" cap, drill a hole that allows you to screw in a nipple; you can use Teflon tape to make this process easier. On the 3" cap, drill a hole that accommodates the hose adapter. Once the fittings are inserted, apply epoxy to the inside and outside of the caps to seal any potential leaks.

Now, it's time to attach the barrel and air tank together. Screw the barrel and firing tank into a sprinkler valve, again using Teflon tape on the threading. Finish the valve assembly by screwing the remaining nipple, elbow, valve, and hose adapter together, remembering to use Teflon tape. Finally, attach the hose to the adapters and tighten it in place with hose clamps.

Your barrel and air tank assembly is now complete. Remember to always dry fit your parts before committing to any permanent fixes, and be sure to test for leaks and proper pressure before using your T-shirt cannon.

Drilling and epoxy

Drilling:

• Take one of the 4" caps and drill a hole just large enough to insert the bike valve. This will allow you to inflate the pressure tank.
• Drill another hole in the opposite 4" cap. This hole should be just big enough to screw in a nipple, which will connect to the elbow assembly. Using Teflon tape can make this process easier and create a tighter seal.
• On the 3" cap, drill a hole that accommodates the hose adapter. This adapter will be used to connect the air pump or compressor.
• For the firing tank, drill a hole for the PSI gauge. Ensure that you measure and position the gauge appropriately on the gun. Again, use Teflon tape for a tighter fit.
• If you're using an electrical firing mechanism, you'll need to drill holes for the switches and buttons. Position them comfortably and use epoxy or glue to secure the buttons.
• If you're using a sprinkler valve, you'll need to drill a 15⁄64-inch hole in the 3-inch end cap. Insert the tank valve and screw the cap to the pipe.

Epoxy:

• After drilling, apply epoxy to the inside of the holes to seal any potential leaks. This step is crucial to ensure the cannon holds pressure.
• Once the epoxy inside has dried, apply epoxy to the outside of the holes for added reinforcement and leak prevention.
• For the firing mechanism, you can use epoxy or glue to secure the buttons and switches.
• If you notice any air leaks during testing, use epoxy to seal them.

Remember to dry fit all your parts before drilling and always follow safety precautions when working with power tools and epoxy.

Firing mechanism

There are two ways to fire your cannon: using the electrical solenoid built into the valve or the technique displayed by crispyjones. For the former, you will need the following parts:

• 9V battery clip x3
• 9V battery x3
• Shrink tubing
• Wire
• Switches (one that stays on and one that is momentary)

To assemble the firing mechanism, solder according to the diagram. Position the switches on the gun so that they are comfortable for you. Use epoxy or glue to secure the buttons.

Next, screw the barrel and firing tank into the sprinkler valve, using Teflon tape on the threading. Complete the valve assembly by screwing the other nipple to the elbow, the valve to the nipple, and the hose adapter to the valve, again using Teflon tape. Insert the hose onto the adapters, tightening with hose clamps.

To fire the cannon, tightly roll a T-shirt and slip it into the muzzle, pushing it to the bottom of the barrel with a broomstick. Put on safety glasses. Connect to the air tank and pressurize to 40 psi. Set the toggle switch to on. Aim and fire.

Always remember to dry fit all of your parts before leaving the hardware store and to proceed at your own risk.

Testing and safety

Before testing your T-shirt cannon, make sure you dry fit all the parts before leaving the hardware store. This will save you a lot of time during the building process. It is also important to note that you are building this cannon at your own risk.

When testing your T-shirt cannon, always wear safety glasses to protect your eyes. Before firing, check that the pressure is set to 40 psi and that there are no leaks. Put on your safety glasses, connect to the air tank, and pressurize to 40 psi. Set the toggle switch to on, aim, and fire.

To ensure safety when using your T-shirt cannon, never point the cannon at anyone, whether it is loaded or unloaded. Only turn on and pressurize the cannon when you are ready to fire it. Make sure that the person loading the T-shirt does not stand in front of the cannon. When standing in front of the crowd, point the cannon as high as you can until you are ready to fire. Always put an arc on the T-shirt so that you don't shoot anyone. If your venue has more than one level, be cautious not to put the T-shirt near the edge of the upper level, as fans may dive for it. After you have fired your last T-shirt, turn off the pressure and hit the trigger a few times to ensure that there is no more pressure in the cannon.

Frequently asked questions