Potato Bazooka Igniter
Author
Discussion

TorqueVR

Original Poster:

1,978 posts

230 months

Sunday 15th June 2025
quotequote all
Hi Guys

I need some help. I want to make a mortar to fit my grandson's jeep trailer (see photo) from plastic pipe



This is the sort of thing I have in mind, and I'm OK with the basic components but I can't work out what he's used as an igniter/trigger. Any suggestions?
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qj294iJOHA8

GliderRider

2,935 posts

112 months

Sunday 15th June 2025
quotequote all
How about a piezo igniter as found on cigarette lighters and gas ovens?

For greater reliability, but at much greater expense, some form of trembler coil would put out a continuous stream of sparks.

Back in 1992, I visited the ex's parents near Moscow. By their cooker they had a thing about the size of a soldering iron that plugged into the mains and had two electrodes on the end. When a button was pressed, a continuous shower of sparks, a bit like arc welding, was produced between them. I don't recall any problems getting the hobs lit!


Edited by GliderRider on Sunday 15th June 13:42

.:ian:.

3,167 posts

234 months

essayer

10,410 posts

225 months

Sunday 15th June 2025
quotequote all
Section 5 firearm, prison etc

That said, we used the igniter off a gas bbq with hairspray.
Worked well.

rallye101

2,517 posts

228 months

Sunday 15th June 2025
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Jesus, go easy....those things are bloody lethal. A mates potato broke a brick wall at 100 yards...

JoshSm

5,322 posts

68 months

Sunday 15th June 2025
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rallye101 said:
Jesus, go easy....those things are bloody lethal. A mates potato broke a brick wall at 100 yards...
Yep, some sort of glorified NERF gun might be a bit more child friendly - whatever is coming out of it needs to be something that won't do any damage 'cos you know that sooner or later it's going to be pointed at someone if a kid has it.

Murph7355

42,019 posts

287 months

Sunday 15th June 2025
quotequote all
JoshSm said:
Yep, some sort of glorified NERF gun might be a bit more child friendly - whatever is coming out of it needs to be something that won't do any damage 'cos you know that sooner or later it's going to be pointed at someone if a kid has it.
I'd just use a Nerf gun.

You can get some pretty good belt fed ones. Spray it up and job done.

brycheiniog1

120 posts

161 months

Monday 16th June 2025
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We progressed from launching potatoes to rubber door stops with a 3" wood screw through the middle. It would punch right through the plywood sheet we used for a target at 30 yards. If it hit where the wooden supports were it would drive the screw in so the door stopper was flush with the surface....

All good fun smile

Byker28i

92,871 posts

248 months

Monday 16th June 2025
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Surely a XSHOT Insanity Manic Blaster



£50 in Argos

Prawo Jazdy

5,037 posts

245 months

Monday 16th June 2025
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Why is there a phone number printed on it out of interest?

DonkeyApple

70,618 posts

200 months

Monday 16th June 2025
quotequote all
TorqueVR said:
Hi Guys

I need some help. I want to make a mortar to fit my grandson's jeep trailer (see photo) from plastic pipe



This is the sort of thing I have in mind, and I'm OK with the basic components but I can't work out what he's used as an igniter/trigger. Any suggestions?
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qj294iJOHA8
I'd opt for compressed air as the propellant.

Nerf do a spring powered mortar that could be painted up etc but if the desire is to make something bespoke then definitely go with compressed air.

GliderRider

2,935 posts

112 months

Monday 16th June 2025
quotequote all
Prawo Jazdy said:
Why is there a phone number printed on it out of interest?
If you live in the middle of nowhere, its getting late, and two small boys turn up in a mini-Jeep & trailer, you know who to call to come and retrieve them. biggrin


Prawo Jazdy

5,037 posts

245 months

Monday 16th June 2025
quotequote all
I see, so it's not an assault-for-hire business then hehe

GliderRider

2,935 posts

112 months

Monday 16th June 2025
quotequote all
Prawo Jazdy said:
I see, so it's not an assault-for-hire business then hehe
Well, it doesn't say its not! Maybe the A-Team traded in their van?

silentbrown

10,988 posts

147 months

Monday 16th June 2025
quotequote all
essayer said:
Section 5 firearm, prison etc
Is a potato a "stabilised missile", or is there some other clause that covers this?

(ae)any rocket launcher, or any mortar, for projecting a stabilised missile, other than a launcher or mortar designed for line-throwing or pyrotechnic purposes or as signalling apparatus;]

Murph7355

42,019 posts

287 months

Monday 16th June 2025
quotequote all
silentbrown said:
Is a potato a "stabilised missile", or is there some other clause that covers this?

(ae)any rocket launcher, or any mortar, for projecting a stabilised missile, other than a launcher or mortar designed for line-throwing or pyrotechnic purposes or as signalling apparatus;]
ICBP.

Might resolve Middle Eastern troubles smile

InformationSuperHighway

7,583 posts

215 months

Monday 16th June 2025
quotequote all
rallye101 said:
Jesus, go easy....those things are bloody lethal. A mates potato broke a brick wall at 100 yards...
I've seen one of these things in action before and it was stunningly powerful. Would easily cause irrevocable damage to a person / death if pointed in the wrong direction.


MDT

906 posts

203 months

Monday 16th June 2025
quotequote all
silentbrown said:
essayer said:
Section 5 firearm, prison etc
Is a potato a "stabilised missile", or is there some other clause that covers this?

(ae)any rocket launcher, or any mortar, for projecting a stabilised missile, other than a launcher or mortar designed for line-throwing or pyrotechnic purposes or as signalling apparatus;]
Did you know a simple shotgun licence actually covers you up to anything with a 2" bore. On the condition it is smooth bore.

I looked into this when a small cannon came up for sale close to me once.

TGCOTF-dewey

7,956 posts

86 months

Monday 16th June 2025
quotequote all
https://www.dandbmilitaria.com/deactivated-breda-m...

By the time you spent few hundred quid on bits to make potato bazooka, you could have a real.machine gun or a real bazooka.

silentbrown

10,988 posts

147 months

Monday 16th June 2025
quotequote all
MDT said:
Did you know a simple shotgun licence actually covers you up to anything with a 2" bore. On the condition it is smooth bore.
How else are you going to go wildfowling?