American Air Cannons FAQ
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PURCHASE
Please Allow 7-10 Days For Delivery
Q: Can I pay with a money order
or cashiers check instead of a credit card?
A: Yes, we accept Money orders and cashiers
checks.
Please make them payable to:
Pacifica Marketing Group
3639 Midway Dr. B-200
San Diego, CA 92110
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Q: What is the name that
appears on my statement for my order?
A: Pacifica Marketing Group is
the name that will appear on your Credit Card billing statement
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Q: Is combustion or pneumatic type better for
me?
A: Definitely a pneumatic cannon. I prefer
the pneumatic type as it is safer, cleaner and more reliable. It is easy to build and operate and
costs less in the long run than a combustion cannon.
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Q: Are these things legal?
A: That depends on where you live. The Fed's
say they are OK as the letter below outlines.
I have heard of several instances where they were 'not legal' but
that has usually been due to the operator using a launcher in an unacceptable manner (shooting a
hole in the neighbors house). Many cities and municipalities have local ordnances pertaining to the
use of spud guns inside city limits. Ask someone that would know on the local
level.
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ATF -- Yes, they are legal.
Department of the
Treasury
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
Washington, DC 20226
As defined in section 921(a) (3) of Title 18, United
States Code (USC) the term "firearm" means --
(A) any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is
designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an
explosive;
(B) the frame or receiver of any such weapon;
(C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or
(D) any destructive device. Such term does not include an antique
firearm.
As defined in 26 USC subsection 5845(f) (2) the term destructive
device includes any type of weapon by whatever name known which will, or which may readily be
converted to, expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or other propellant, the barrel or
barrels of which have a bore of more than one-half inch in diameter, except a shotgun or shotgun
shell which the Secretary or his delegate finds is generally recognized as particularly suitable
for sporting purposes; and (3) any combination of parts either designed or intended for use in
converting any device into a destructive device as defined in subparagraphs (1) and (2) and from
which a destructive device may be readily assembled. The term 'destructive device' shall not
include any device which is neither designed nor redesigned for use as a weapon; any device,
although originally designed for use as a weapon, which is redesigned for use as a signaling,
pyrotechnic, line throwing, safety, or similar device; surplus ordnance sold, loaned, or given by
the Secretary of the Army pursuant to the provisions of section 4684(2), 4685, or 4686 of title 10
of the USC; or any other device which the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate finds is not
likely to be used as a weapon, or is an antique or is a rifle which the owner intends to use solely
for sporting purposes.
It is unlawful for anyone to make or
possess a destructive device which is not registered in accordance with the provisions of the
National Firearms Act.
We have previously examined that certain
muzzle loading devices known as "potato guns." These potato guns are constructed from PVC plastic
tubing. They use hair spray or a similar aerosol substance for a propellant, and have some type of
spark igniter. We have determined that these devices, as described, are not firearms provided that
they are used solely for launching potatoes for recreational purposes. However, any such devices
which are used as weapons or used to launch other forms of projectiles may be firearms and
destructive devices as defined.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and
Firearms
Firearms Technology Branch, Room 6450
650 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20226
Sincerely yours,
(signature)
Curtis H. A. Bartlett Acting Chief, Firearms Technology
Branch
The feds say they are O.K.....But please
check with your local authorities.
Some cities say NO to using them in the city
limits.
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Q: Are they easy to build if I don't know
anything about building things?
A: The plans take you
step by step through building the cannon. They come complete with pictures, part numbers and a
simple step by step tutorial that shows you the length of each piece and where to glue them
together. If you can glue two pieces of pipe together, you can build one of these cannons. Click
here for a free video sample.
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Q: How much does it cost to build one of these
cannons from your plans?
A: Approximately $25 in
pipe and fittings, $12 for the valve, $5 for the trigger, $2 for the air fill valve,
$2 Brass nipple, $10 Air pressure gauge, and remember, you will need PVC Cement and a drill.
You're looking at approximately $60 depending on where you get your supplies from. That's why it's
better to just purchase a kit and save yourself the time, gas, stress, and headache of trying to
locate all the items needed to build a quality cannon that will last for
years.
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Q: How many shots do I get from one fill or
charge?
A: You get one shot per fill. You can also
have it connected to an air compressor, so you can fire as fast as you can load. It's still one
shot per fill, but you can fill and load within 7-10 seconds and keep firing at that
pace.
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Q:
How do I fill the cannon with air?
A: You can use
a small air compressor or air tank. Some people use CO2 or a scuba tank. Remember, the
air source units are not included with purchase of any of the
cannons.
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Q: How far will these cannons
shoot?
A: The Potato cannons shoot anywhere from
100 yards to 350 yards depending which model you choose. The Golf ball cannon will shoot upwards of
350 yards depending on which cannon you choose and the T-Shirt cannon will shoot into the bleachers
or 60-80 yards depending on how the shirts are wrapped and prepared. Distance also depends on
weather and wind conditions.
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Q: What kind of Golf Balls do you
recommend?
A: We recommend the
Polara "Extra Distance" XD Golf Balls. They fly further and straighter than any other balls
we have tested. You can find them here: www.polaragolf.com
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Q: What is the difference between your
"kits" and your "prebuilt" cannons other than price? The description on your site is nearly the
same for both cannons.
A: The kits says "It comes unassembled with
a pneumatic trigger", whereas the Pre Built cannons say "It comes pre built with a pneumatic
trigger". The kits come with
everything you need to assemble the cannon yourself, whereas the pre built cannons come pre built
for you. All you have to do is connect the valve and it's ready to go.
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Q: I have been looking at your kits and doing
research online, what type of PVC are you using?
A: We use schedule 40 PVC rated at 300
PSI.
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Q: I've seen
lots of other Golf Ball cannons that are lined with a thinner walled PVC that pretty much fits a
golf ball perfectly. Are you doing that with your kits?
A: YES... We sleeve the
Golf Ball Cannons with an inner liner that fits the ball
better.
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Q: Do you offer any discounts for multiple
orders?
A: YES... Buy two or more cannons and
receive a 10% discount. Order three or more and save 15%. You can mix and match cannons. All
cannons are shipped separately unless you are purchasing kits.
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Q: I was able to get the sprinkler valve and
trigger at Home Depot and Lowes, but can't find some of the pipe and fittings. Where is the best
place to find these parts once I have purchased your plans?
A: We get the 3/4" valves and triggers at
Home Depot. But we get our pipe and fittings from Hydroscape (www.HydroScape.com). The pressure gauge and air fill valve we get from Grainger (www.Grainger.com).
All part numbers are listed in the plans.
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Q: I am having a problem with a valve. I watched the video and put the
sealer in, let it dry. Put the valve back together and when I had
the cannon all together,
tested the air chamber it will not hold pressure. The air
seems like it is bypassing
through the valve somehow. I made sure that my valve was in the correct direction with the arrows pointing away
from pressure
cylinder toward barrel. What am I doing
wrong?
A: You simply have the trigger screwed in too
far. Back out the trigger one full turn, then as you pressurize the
valve, squeeze the trigger back and forth
until it starts to hold air.
You should only have to do this once to
seat the diaphragm.
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Q: I just assembled my Air
Cannon, but I'm
getting air leaking through the valve, not holding
pressure.
A: If the cannon is leaking from the 1/4" nipple where the trigger joins the
valve,
try screwing the trigger in further into the green valve until leaking
stops. There is a fine adjustment to get this correct, and takes a moment to fine
tune.
If the air cannon isn't filling, try rapidly squeezing the trigger until the
diaphragm seats in the valve.
These valves are brand new and they are sticky
at first.
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Q: What glue do you
recommend?
A: I use P-68 Primer and "Christys
Red Hot" glue from Home Depot or Lowes. I always primer the parts I am gluing together first and
then use the Christy's Red Hot glue on both joints before connecting. Be sure to use an ample
amount and twist the parts together to make sure they are air tight.
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Q: Can you hook these cannons up to a
continuous air source, like a paint ball system?
A: Yes, Lowes carries a small portable CO2
unit that hooks directly to these cannons. See this page for
more info.
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Q: How many t-shirts (on average) can I
shoot with the CO2 kit with a 20oz CO2 bottle?
The application is a small town football game.
A: You
will have to experiment and the shots will vary depending on how much CO2 you use
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Q: The pipe I bought has SCH 40 printed on
it... But it also says DWV.... Is it ok to use?
A: When selecting pipe for use in building a
spud gun or other type of novelty launching device, make sure the pipe has a pressure rating
printed on the pipe. The typical printing on a length of pressure rated pipe will look something
like this: (2" PVC pipe)
"MANUFACTURES NAME" PVC 1120 SCH 40 ASTM
D-1785 NSF-PW 280 PSI @ 73F
The thing you want to look for is the NSF-PW
280 PSI (or whatever the psi rating is on that size of pipe) It doesn't matter if it is SCH 40, 80,
or 120....Look for the pressure rating.
If the pipe has a pressure rating on it, it
is ok to use. The reason that it also says DWV is because all ratings for the pipe must be labeled.
If a piece of pipe is rated for 280 psi... It is obviously approved for use as drain pipe. There
are all kinds of labels you might find. One is "cellular core". If it has a cellular core
label..... dont even think about using that for a spud gun. It will eventually fail on
you.
To make a long story short..... I don't care
if the pipe is labeled "Blessed by Mother Theresa".... If it has a PSI rating printed on the pipe,
go ahead and use it. If not, find some that is!!!!!
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Q: I built a spud gun with dual ignition but I
can only get one spark... What am i doing wrong?
A: Buy one of our Pneumatic launchers. It
works every time and you won't burn yourself, make a mess and save money on flammable liquids, as
our spud guns use free air.
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Q: How do I build a potato
launcher?
A: Check out the "Plans" page of this
site.
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Q: My Tennis Balls
won't fit down the barrel, what type of Balls do you recommend?
A: Some Tennis Balls are larger than others.
We recommend PENN Balls. Poke a hole in one side which will help the ball deflate enough to shove
down the barrel with a broom handle.
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Q: I can't get my sprinkler valve to
work..... How do I work this damn thing?!
A: Buy a set of plans from this site. It outlines in detail how to build a
terrific Spud Cannon for less than $80.
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Q: What size barrel should I
choose?
A: Any size you want. Typically people use
1.5" or 2" pipe for the barrel, this being that regular potatoes are of this size. It is important
that the spud seal all around the barrel surface. Make sure it is not too small however, especially
if your chamber is large, or the air may not be able to get out fast enough.
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Q: What should I use for
fuel?
A: Use air. It's free. non toxic and the
potato cannon will launch every time.
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Q: Do you have any plans that I can buy from
you?
A: Yes. I have several designs in the
"Plans"
section.
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Q: Is PVC or ABS better?
A: They are both fine materials for building
a launcher. Keep in mind that ABS is not pressure rated. Your chances of it failing are MUCH
higher. More often than not I have heard of availability being an issue, but you should always be
able to get PVC at a large hardware store.
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Q: How long should I wait for the glue to
cure?
A: AT LEAST 24 Hours!! Proper solvent
welding is a must, and the joints should be allowed to fully cure before loaded with the stresses
of igniting something quickly.
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Q: How long does it take to get my
cannon?
A: Each cannon is
built by hand and tested on the per order basis.
The usual turnaround time including shipping is approx 7-10
days.
It may take 2-3 weeks or longer during the Holidays unless you specify expedited
shipping.
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Q: How long does it take to get my
parts?
A: Each parts
kit is built by hand and tested on the per order basis.
The usual turnaround time including shipping is approx 7-10
days.
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Q: How do I pressurize my
cannon?
A: I suggest two different portable air
compressors on our air
compressor page, the first
starting at only $19.95 at Home Depot. These can be used anywhere by simply plugging it into your
cars cigarette lighter or cell phone accessory charger.
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Q: How much
pressure to do I use in my cannon?
We suggest a PSI of no more than 80-100
PSI.
There is no difference in speed or distance with a higher PSI.
Higher PSI also voids warranty and could result in damage to the unit.
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Q: I purchased the plans to your tennis ball cannon. I
ordered some schedule 40 2.5 inch pvc for the barrel, as directed. A tennis ball does not fit into
that barrel. Any suggestions??
A: Almost ALL tennis balls will fit. They fit
very tight. so they need to be manually shoved down the barrel. This is what forms the pressure
behind the balls in order for them to launch correctly.
They need to be shoved down the barrel with a broom handle or other
form of stick.
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Q: I purchased the T-Shirt Cannon, followed
your instructions for folding the shirts and pressurized the cannon to about 80 PSI. The cannon is
holding air perfectly, but the shirts only shoot about 30-40 yards. What are we doing
wrong?
A: All shirts are different weights and
blends. You will have to experiment with each shirt style to maximize your launch distance. Make
sure the shirts are rolled tight and fit snuggly into the barrel. The tighter the fit in the
barrel, the further they will travel when shot. Keep in mind wind and air moisture will also play a
factor. If you still cannot get the shirts to shoot a satisfactory distance, try using some sort of
wadding in the barrel first, then stuff the shirts down after the wadding. This will help trap the
air behind the shirts and give you more distance.
A good piece of wadding would be a plastic
cover from a Pretzel Can, Potato Chip Cannister, or other resealable food can
cover.
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Q: I purchased a set of
plans and would like to sell my own version of your air cannons. Is this okay, or do I need
to have permission to do so?
A. All AAC Digital Downloaded Plans are copyrighted and
sole property of American Air Cannons. Any redistribution, copying, selling and dispersement of
said plans is in direct violation of these terms and subject to penalties and damages. © 1998 Mick
Moore / American Air Cannons / Pacifica Marketing Group, Inc. All Rights
Reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying,
recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the
publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other
noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher,
addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address
below.
Further more, you are not authorized to build a cannon from
these plans and resell it online as your own or as a reseller of ours without special permission
from American Air Cannons / Pacifica Marketing Group, Inc. Failure to comply with the formentioned
terms and conditions will hold you liable for damages and
fines.
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Cancelation
Policy:
We will gladly cancel any order as long
as it is done so within the first 24 hours of purchase.
Any orders canceled after shipping or the initial 24 hour time period
will be subject to a 20%
restocking fee.
Return
Policy:
To be eligible for
a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it.
It must also be in the original packaging.
Please be aware that the refund is granted only for the purchased item.
The shipping and handling cost is non refundable.
Digital
Downloaded Plans Are Non Refundable!
We will gladly replace any damaged
or missing components.
We will only replace merchandise if the product has a
defect.
A 20% restocking fee will apply to any and all
returns.
Shipping and Handling fees are non refundable.
You must obtain a return
authorization number within 10 days of receipt of the order.
You Must Return Merchandise At Your Own Expense.
An unauthorized return is subject
to a non refund or refusal to restock.
All Cannon kits are non-refundable
since we cannot quality control your assembly process.
If you have a kit that is not operating correctly, please contact Support@AmericanAirCannons.com
for assistance.
All
Parts kits are non-refundable since we cannot quality control your assembly process.
If you have a part that is not operating correctly, please contact Support@AmericanAirCannons.com
for assistance.
Please email us to request a
return Authorization number for all returns.
Support@AmericanAirCannons.com
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