[quote=“Kevin Granade, post:20, topic:2714”]I agree with:
But
Is a completely absurd statement. Everything about a spud gun, from materials to assembly to inconsistent propelant charge to the loading procedure contribute to a very real risk of major failure, particularly if used over a long time. Now with a potato projectile, major failure might not be all that major, but if you’re relying on it to get a pipe bomb far enough away from you before detonation, EVERY failure becomes life-threatening.
Having said that, I’d be far more concerned about the pipe bomb ignition system than anything else.[/quote]
Once again, not as much as you might think. The reason you use wadding is that, on top of providing an airtight seal, it is also a built in safety. The design is very similar to that of a medieval hand cannon, just with a aerosol charge and a slightly heavier projectile. Also, the projectile is not a contact explosive, but a fuse one. If the cannon misfires, lick your fingers and snuff out the slowly burning fuse.
Also, older firearms were tested with a test charge that was many times the amount used for firing in order to ensure integrity. A simple design is surprisingly robust with only a small chance of failure which would generally be caused by you putting in too much wadding or hammering it down way too hard (if you do the latter, humanity is better off with you not existing).
However, that is not to say you should make this in your backyard. People tend to freak out when you fire a cannon next door.