Making a Plasma Coil Bottle Launcher

This bottle launcher is a combination of some of my earlier alcohol fueled launchers and the propane pop gun project from a few years ago. I hope you enjoy this one, I'm very happy with how it turned out. A big thanks to my Patrons who have supported this video! A special thanks to my top Patrons: Syniurge, Matthew Leitzke, TheBackyardScientist, & Enzo Breda Lee!
If you'd like to help me keep making these videos yourself check out my Patreon page here: / nighthawkprojects
Schematic for my wooden frame: i.imgur.com/qqpHHMj.png
There are holes that I drilled by hand for zip ties and the U bolts that are not listed on the schematic, but should be easy enough to see in the video. There is plenty of room for customization.
Here is a link to my pop gun project: • Sci-fi Propane Pop Gun...
And here is my previous bottle launcher: • How to Make an Alcohol...
Thanks for watching!
-Ben

[@Nighthawkinlight]

It seems a lot of you missed seeing my last two videos, check them out! How To Make Grass Rope [Improved Method]: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3WqY2mOebWjeJo and an Infrared Action Cam Mod: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKHTn6CbYp6NhaM

[@MREnderman1234]

NightHawkInLight you made it on Reddit!

[@niklas9496]

NightHawkInLight, is it possible for you to make a bottle launcher that looks like an german Panzerfaust and shoots projectiles that have the same look? I think it would look pretty cool. It woukd be amazing if you can make it true. Gretings from germany.

[@LightningEagle14]

What’s the range for the launcher? How far do the bottles fly? Super neat vid btw.

[@sathancat]

I love the original video and this one quite a lot! I want to make a miniature one

[@larrycoleman7604]

You should find a way to make the bottles have a stable flight

[@DailyDoseOfInternet]

Thank you!!!

[@leafish9572]

oof

[@quinnmaulding7736]

Daily Dose Of Internet I FOUND YOU

[@goldking-he8fw]

Hi

[@Dave_0115]

Hi

[@TBL7133]

Heyy thats pretty good

[@matthewmason7792]

Imagine robbing this guys house and he comes at you armed only with this weapon

[@whatgametoplay8016]

If it wasnt a bottle but a metal ball in the tube then that would be a weapon

[@cheesers9314]

my face: *oh sh*t*

[@adurr3510]

“Ya know maybe he won’t shoot me if I give him my stuff instead”

[@After_Tech_Industries]

Throw some nails into the bottom of the bottle and then you go hunting

[@joe1946b]

you're a born teacher, calm, succinct, intelligent. This was my first time watching you and it was totally relaxing. I guess I've watched too many other DIY videos with kids or hyperactive adults trying to show me something totally not worth building or insulting my intelligence. Keep up the good work!

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Thank you very much!

[@zach3096]

Well said Joe

[@taofledermaus]

That's so cool! I have seen those bottles pressurized to over 200 psi!

[@iroquoisplissken3583]

Haha you and SmarterEveryday commented, KZbin is a small world I guess. Love your guy's channels.

[@OwnedEpicStyle]

I love you

[@WUTANG-CLAN]

Me too, i had a friend who had a kit that he bought, and used a 2L coke bottle, and used it as a bicycle horn at 200psi.

[@smartereveryday]

Beautiful shots man! I like watching the flame front propagate. It's fun to think about the chemistry on each side of that flame.

[@DigitalPyro]

very fun yes

[@WPCRpranks]

You need to colab with him his experiments would be extra amazing with your camera filming

[@WitchieNL]

Perhaps some High speed footage and Schlieren imaging might be cool?

[@IchMacheAlles2x]

oh dang its destiny whatsup hello :)

[@greatones1481]

I'll just say SLOW... ...wait for it... ...MOTION!!

[@johnnyq90]

The slow mo footage of this thing firing is just the coolest thing! Nice job!

[@tmoneytechnic]

Wow, I've never seen you anywhere else KZbin!

[@JamieJamez]

"Hey Kids, be sure to wear Hearing and Eye protection." Never once wears Hearing or Eye Protection.

[@jameswolf5513]

"Do as I say, not as I do" Someone from somewhere

[@wayne02058]

Kids*

[@user-tb4sl4ex2q]

I made this and wore eye protection but not ear and it was so LOUD. I couldn’t hear for 2 minutes.

[@astronichols1900]

0:03 It's ok, he's got his safety squints. Srsly tho that blink reflex is on point. I'd consider some eye protection anyway tho.

[@MrJackHagan]

@@astronichols1900 Yeah, I mean, eyelids are neat and all, but they don't offer much protection for anything more than a stiff breeze...

[@ewgeldfocker]

Really love how your videos are consistent and concise, none of that fluff and bs other similar DIY channels do.

[@Makebuildmodify]

Wow! Excellent tutorial! Anyone should be able to make one after watching this video.

[@TheNocturnalAlchemist]

We have a time traveler on our hands

[@MREnderman1234]

It says your comment was posted 3 days ago

[@Makebuildmodify]

yup, it does. Patreon patrons get an early showing of the videos. www.patreon.com/NightHawkProjects

[@Howtard]

I'm impressed, you even linked the Patreon. You're living up to your title of Patron!

[@AlexA-cj5my]

haha dude I was thinking the same thing

[@MrEltahar]

The last three Slow mo after the explications are pretty sick !

[@poderr]

I'm here via HaD. The flame travelling through the tubing is memorizing. Beautiful project and great video.

[@joeynovak07]

Dude, this is one of the simplest, coolest, eligant bottle launchers I've ever seen. Thank you so much! I see many "kits" as Christmas presents this year.

[@GlizCaldo]

This might be on the dangerous side, but I'd like to see different kind of ammunition you can load this launcher with. I was thinking of a bottle that's rigged up to hold some lit steel wool. Like I said, it's on the dangerous side because that's firing a flaming projectile, but seeing it in slow motion would be amazing.

[@timmccormack3930]

I wonder if this would impede the thrust, with the expanding gas not being able to escape as quickly. And it might just spray you with flaming steel wool. :-X

[@Nerdforge]

Great project! Saw something similar on fb a while back, and wondered how to make it. So this came out with perfect timing.

[@zero8xkira]

The King of random: "how to make a mini flamethrower yeah" Night Hawk in Light: "how to make a plasma coil bottle launcher"

[@degariuslozak2169]

So glad KZbin recommended this,even if it's 5 years later

[@souravzzz]

The idea of carving out the PVC pipe is simple and brilliant! Great job on the final launcher design!

[@disorganizedorg]

I'd have approached the problem by cutting several length-wise slots almost all the way thru the PVC pipe wall (or all the way through, then use PVC pipe glue and some rolled up thin plastic inserted inside the pipe to seal it there.

[@schelsullivan]

I think the launcher design is brilliant. I think next you should work on the projectiles. Could fins be added to keep them from tumbling?

[@DigitalPyro]

schel sullivan hello there :)

[@JoshuaHerbison_this_is_my_URL]

Like WeX T said, weight in the tip, and 3-4 small fins near the back would probably suffice. I'd be careful with the weight though, be sure it's not free to move at all, otherwise that acceleration will likely mess up the end of the bottle. At camp I was in charge of launching bottle rockets, similar idea but much lower power, we'd fill the bottles half full with water and pressurize them to 100-120 psi. Even that, without combustion, led to some messy catastrophic failures on weakened bottles.

[@t76d777f6d]

Go with fins to keep the projectile weight down.

[@JoshuaHerbison_this_is_my_URL]

taiden In my experience launching at 120psi, fins alone don't help all that much, since they need to be well back from the center of mass. It doesn't need a lot of weight, even a handfull of sand in a cup at the end would be enough, since the bottle is so light that puts the center of mass much farther forward, improving the flight characteristics.

[@t76d777f6d]

That is true, it would be pretty easy to get the weight forward of center without making the projectile very heavy.

[@ashleysmith3106]

I came up with this concept (or rather, your mortar one, as a launcher) many years ago, and found that a length of plastic streamer tied to the neck of the bottle acts well as a stabiliser. I tried making rocket fins, but I damaged too many, and so settled for something simpler!

[@SpecificLove7]

Awesome project

[@NKG416]

you need at least 10 million subs one of the best channel on youtube,no clickbait,no loud music,clear tutorial *clapping*

[@biblebot3947]

No clickbait? The title says plasma, when the gun is using fire

[@jimbert50]

Very cool design! I like your bird too. He is beautiful.

[@admangeezer]

props on the ingenuity of the pvc grinding to allow the gas to flow. As you were describing the issue I got excited about the challenge. Genius is in the simple but effective solutions!

[@JoshTheEngineer]

This was so cool! I also really enjoy the long, in-depth build process videos.

[@HeirloomReviews]

that thing is freaking cool! just so you know that torch has a "break away" built in! it will snap off by the air vents where the ignighter is on the torch! its a safety built in

[@kengamble8595]

☼ Heirloom reviews ☼ Yes it does, dropped one and found out it will snap off ! A fourty dollar torch ! 😲

[@HeirloomReviews]

lol ken your right i did the same! buy craftmans an bring it back!

[@kengamble8595]

☼ Heirloom reviews ☼ GOOD IDEER !! 😆

[@tinderboxcreations]

Hey Nighthawk. I pour water through my vinyl tubing. Then, I put a big heap of Sodium Bicarbonate powder down the tubing so it sticks to the inside walls. Blow out the excess and then put my gas through it. It gives a bright yellow flame whizzing down the tubing. Visible in daylight unlike the blue gas flame alone!!

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Good idea, the same thing could probably be done with other metal salts for other colors, but sodium is probably the brightest

[@tsfarken]

Or add the salt(s) to the bottle - flame color change at launch.

[@tinderboxcreations]

tsfarken He puts charcoal powder in the bottle on one of the slowmo clips for sparks...maybe try magnesium powder?

[@christopherwalker7615]

this is the gift for the person that has everything... so long macaroni glued to a plate!!!!

[@trapper1211]

that green flame looks so beautiful

[@captainsubbot7101]

Properly Proportioned Propane Properly Proportioned Propane Properly Proportioned Propane Properly Proportioned Propane

[@nsocwx]

Great job with the return of this project. The first rendition was actually the video that referred me to your channel and I may just build one of these functional versions for myself.

[@lazardjukovic1691]

Alex Hrdy how is this comment 3 days ago

[@nsocwx]

Lazar Djukovic Patreon early access

[@alexanderthomas2660]

This is totally awesome! Fantastic high-speed camera shots and the coolest bottle launcher ever.

[@harryhathaway1086]

That's sooo cool at the end . A Caeque parrot ! I have 10 parrots that RULE my life. 2 Greys, 1 Sulphur Crested cocky, 2 Conures, 2- Quakers , 3 teils AND A PARTRIDGE AND A PEARTREE !

[@MOMO-qe6gm]

This is sooo coooool. I’m actually about to make this rn.

[@hotdrippyglass]

The slow motion footage is strangely satisfying

[@TylerVizcaino]

That’s awesome! Love the look of the flame coming out!

[@dwaynewladyka577]

Basically, a basic, bigger, bottle blaster, for your buck. Cool project.

[@TheNocturnalAlchemist]

So glad you made this. I've been wanting to make a video on something similar and this will definitely help.

[@ShaneWalta]

The Nocturnal Alchemist As long as you give credit where it's due!

[@TheNocturnalAlchemist]

Shane Walta of course man

[@Nagas4]

I like this bottle blaster! Thanks for showing.

[@robonrd]

I like that you give very clear and complete explanations. Thanks.

[@shaminoranger8588]

Awesome, now the bottle needs some love. Fins, a nose cone and a parachute for the return back to earth :-) I did that for my bottle rockets as a kid but the parachute part was hit and miss. I know you can do better.

[@simofaidate]

Wow, i'm not very good in english, but i was able to understand all the concepts you have talked about. Thanks to your way to explain. Incredibile project! I want to use some ideas to make simething similar 👍👍

[@ShafaqIftikhar-pw9ld]

Love the slow motion real nice touch!!!!!!

[@jullianjosland464]

Thanks- I was having trouble with the tight corners so the right angled pipe bits are a great idea!

[@USWaterRockets]

This is an awesome update to your previous project, which is one of the coolest videos you have done IMHO. I think you really could take this a bit further by inserting a short section of CPVC in front of the ground areas where the bottle rests so you can put a #22 o-ring there. The purpose of the o-ring in my rockets is to prevent the air and water from escaping, but I think your launcher would benefit from the friction of the o-ring allowing the pressure to build up inside the bottle before the friction is overcome and the rocket releases at a higher velocity. It might also be worth experimenting with a one-way valve as well. I was thinking of a smaller pipe inside the barrel to allow the gas to flow, in the bottle. The one-way valve would be a simple rubber ball affair that is held open by gravity. The explosive pressure would be enough to drive the valve shut. In any case, the footage of your gun in action looks like it would make an awesome blaster effect in a sci-fi movie done without CGI. Very cool.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

If you could get a one way valve to work it would certainly improve performance. Possibly you could have it held open by default with a spring and solve that issue. With a working valve you could add that o ring and probably get a nice result. The o ring alone could be tested on my previous alcohol fueled launchers

[@USWaterRockets]

I'm sure a one way valve would work. Even a flap valve that was held open by gravity or tension of the flap itself. There are a lot of one way valves that are used in air cannons that could be adapted. Also, if you go with the o-ring, you will really need hearing protection! I had another idea... what if you made a gun with multiple barrels coming from a manifold on a single trigger? You could get some cool effects with counter rotating spirals and such.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Dividing the spiral is one thing I've never tried, that could be interesting.

[@TheLegend-bo5vp]

USWaterRockets how did you even get 3 days ago it was updated today

[@alexv.d.h.7331]

The Legend27 patreon, if you support him there you get early access

[@rs_mind8352]

*Sees bird* Video is 1000000 times better now.

[@storr7535]

Yes

[@kyledaniel1487]

This is such a simple idea taken to an amazing level!

[@rexxer6456]

Some of those slow motion shots were awesome

[@electronicsNmore]

Even after clicking the bell, I still don't get notified.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Yeah typical KZbin. If they don't want you to see a video they're not showing it.

[@electronicsNmore]

I have the same problem on my channel. Sucks.

[@Texsoroban]

Interesting. Soda bottle isn't too aerodynamic. Wonder if it could be bent towards being a launcher for one of those Styrofoam gliders? I wonder what kind of payload that bottle could carry? Excellent video sir. Your videos always fire up my imagination and create a lot of questions

[@imyourvice4860]

You could use a larger peice of PVC and fit that over the end instead of a bottle and attach it to that.

[@TheFuriousBean]

@@imyourvice4860 smart

[@FebiMaster]

You could make another pvc pipe as an ammunition, modify it by making some kind of cylinder tank in the front of the pvc so it can launch farther by having more gas stored inside, then cover the top with aerodynamic shape and make rocket fins at the bottom of the pvc to stabilize it

[@robinhellier7436]

A great plasma gun video with all aspects fully explained. I haven't found another tutorial which fully explains the trigger and nozzle pressure of the propane torch. Thank you.

[@joedassin6913]

It is a true joy watching your videos!Very interesting and clever ideas, talented skills intermixed with art, detailed oriented backed with clear and rich English, and super video quality!I just love your videos!!!

[@danielsayre9284]

Could you make a video on refining oil into gasoline? It would be really cool.

[@SuicideNeil]

Hmm, need to scale the concept up using a BBQ gas cylinder and water-cooler bottle... :D

[@Innocentforscratcher]

sounds like a slingshotchannel idea....

[@SuicideNeil]

Oddly enough I had Joerg in mind as I was typing that comment- assuming it wouldn't be illegal to do in Germany, we need to make this happen...

[@Nevir202]

You've got to be careful doing that with those bigger bottles. Square cube law means that all else being equal, the bigger bottle is much more likely to explode in your face. And everything isn't equal, those water cooler bottles are made out of a less pliable plastic and already more prone to rupture.

[@SuicideNeil]

A long length of hose and a safety-tie should be fine...

[@brucebfd]

Wrong kind of plastic...

[@glizda9193]

Amazing. And seeing a person so excited with their experiment or invention, man, just the best.

[@ShafaqIftikhar-pw9ld]

Real exciting project. Love it

[@aserta]

I think there was a military version of this used to launch cord across ships.

[@WPCRpranks]

aserta that's a good idea

[@sinisterthoughts2896]

The coast gaurd line throwing gun uses a 45-70 blank cartridge.

[@jacobashmore9062]

I heard of a guy using a spin casting rod for heaving lines

[@CAMacKenzie]

There were actually weapons that worked somewhat like this. This sort of inside-out gun is called a spigot mortar. During the Second World War the British used an anti-tank spigot mortar called the Blacker Bombard, and a more compact and portable version called PIAT. Also the British navy used a multiple spigot mortar that launched anti-submarine bombs, called Hedgehog.

[@stocksreview6168]

Please adjust the fired projectile(the bottle) so that it can fly a longer distance!

[@1224chrisng]

Narrower Bottle

[@selmocohadarevic6812]

Seehanur Huang narrow bottle, cone head, some fins.

[@blammo5226]

This looks very steampunk-y. I love it.

[@xanderyoncak6232]

This was amazing. Thanks for all the detail!

[@geraldreeves6344]

If you made the barrel out of steel, then used gunpowder as a propellant, and swapped the bottle for a chunk of lead....oh wait...never mind.

[@fbiofficial8298]

Gerald Reeves so a gun lol

[@DerThomie]

limitless rc Thats the joke...

[@Babaduke97]

New Rainbow Six operator gadget

[@jonathancugz3341]

Awesome footage! Well done

[@bluephreakr]

The sound of that flame going through the vinyl hose... _So good!_ Would make for a sick audio sample.

[@DigitalPyro]

0:18 That is so bad ass :o

[@BenFyvie]

Do you think you would get more velocity by adding a trigger on the front of gun that you would pull after the bottle is primed, but before it is ignited? The trigger would nudge the bottle forward on the PVC so that it is seated on the fully round PVC (not the carved down portion) so that when it is ignited there is no leakage for the first few milliseconds like there is now in the current design. The trigger could be designed to be dual purpose to first nudge the bottle forward and then hit the ignition switch on the propane torch. Do you know if you would get more velocity on the bottle with a design change like this or is the leakage during the first few milliseconds so minimal that it has no significant effect on the bottle's launching velocity?

[@Nighthawkinlight]

It shouldn't have effect. You need air leakage while the flame is traveling so that it moves through the tube quickly as well.

[@maximmilby2016]

I don't think you are using the right word when you say velocity. Speed and Velocity are two different factors.

[@boyep9474]

I WAS SO EXCITED TO FIND OUT YOU HAVE A BLACK-HEADED CAPQUE

[@FoxMacLeod2501]

I love it! Great high-speed footage, too.

[@t-gei7826]

Who came from daily dose of internet

[@ZikyElric]

aye

[@stefanvukcfcgames2724]

@@ZikyElric add me on paladins pls

[@AmithKumar-qo7ne]

@@ZikyElric yea add me too

[@r4rq291]

More than who commented Me btw

[@ZikyElric]

sure, my ign is Potatotizer. send me a request

[@NitroRumble320]

I would love to build this aswell but in Germany you can only buy very different propan torches and on amazon its a bit too expensive. But still a very nice Video !

[@prayashpoudel533]

The slow mo clip is awesome flame travelling through the clear pipe 😍😍 thanks

[@ThistlesGarden]

No problem with the longer video. Loved seeing the slow-mo shots!

[@Expl0siveLem0n]

COOL AS HECK

[@smokapopierdolio1157]

Your talent is so inspiring for all of us, great work!

[@volod88]

I really like the slow motion looks awesome

[@skarfacegaming243]

I was looking at plasma cannon designs that use the swirl of tube but that as a bottle launcher looks like so much more fun for something to build

[@thedude6171]

WIIIIILLLLLL WHHHEATTON

[@misaalanshori]

I don't know why but your face looks like a selfie with the beauty filter maxed out....

[@maltezeller9223]

today at worst pick up lines of 2017:

[@hachikiina]

Malte Zeller lol

[@shamman522]

It actually does

[@bocajnamyerf]

This is litterally the most amazing thing I have ever seen

[@michaeljohn7398]

Well done Mate. Very clever engineering. Exceptionally well explained and video work. Top job. 😁. Cheers from Michael. Australia.

[@Inkwellish]

Try MAPP gas Years ago I built a potato cannon that had a fuel metering system and I always found that MAPP gas was the most energetic "safe" fuel...acetylene always made me nervous

[@whatstdiggn]

Mapp gas burns off carbon monoxide. It is not safe.

[@randombloke82]

whatstdiggn any hydrocarbon combusted with insufficient oxygen will create carbon monoxide. Mix ratios are important.

[@sandadan]

Really cool Project! i think the bottleneck (sorry) of the range of those soda bottles is them being not very aerodynamic. in that one shot the Bottle turned mid-flight. Maybe you could put a tip and some wings on to stabilise their flight or put some weight at the bottom of the bottle. It takes away a bit of the simplicity of the projectile so maybe you already thought about that and ditched the idea.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

I've thought about it, I might make another video about making bottles aerodynamic in a few weeks.

[@kengamble8595]

NightHawkInLight I think all you would need is a little weight on the bottom of the bottle !

[@Howtard]

Ken Gamble, that's an interesting idea.. Here's my thought; a weight on the bottom could help keep it from tumbling but wouldn't stop it from veering left or right. What if you put a single fin along the bottom of the rocket? It could act as a stabilizer and stop turning at the same time. (Maybe a small fin on top and a larger one on the bottom would be better?)

[@kengamble8595]

Howtard Would probably work. I guess you could take it as far as you want and do a lot of things! That's the beauty of a project like this!

[@GrassPossum]

I once made a water bottle rocket for my son's school project after they'd all been show how and challenged to get the highest. I added three stabilisers and a conical head and our bottle rocket easily launched triple the height of anyone else from this. That was harder because we had to fit fins in a way the pressurised expanding bottle didn't drop them first. Not necessary here but I bet it will give you many times more range to do it.

[@brianzyskowski8186]

Some sweet high speed shots here man, really cool project and design

[@ayzc4164]

Thanks for putting the science behind it. As a scientist, I’m glad you break it down.

[@catatonic8313]

upcoming fallout 5

[@Yonatan24]

Why won't those "pencil flame" torches work for this?

[@Nighthawkinlight]

They don't mix air with the propane as effectively and in my case my pencil flame torch doesn't have a button ignition which you need to fire. Some may work, but probably not as well as a spiral flame torch as i use in the video.

[@thaynmoore4997]

Have you tried using a hotter burning gas like MAP-Pro?

[@rougeneon1997]

This will be the first thing I've seen on KZbin and cared enough to recreate. Great job!!!

[@dobos420]

Killer looking gun man. Ty for sharing

[@vivekkumarsingh4226]

Make liquid air using linde himpson air liquefier setup.. It's quite easy

[@Nighthawkinlight]

I'll have to look into that, it would be cool to have.

[@xWood4000]

*PVC+flames=hydrochloric acid*

[@xWood4000]

Also to be scientific; it produces water, carbon dioxide and hydrochloric acid.

[@StereoSpace]

Awesome project. I'm always totally impressed with your creativity and your engineering talent. Very cool results.

[@geo33t]

Nice, simple and efficient!

[@nielscremer599]

Make one that shoots airsoft bullets!

[@TheKicxVEVO]

2 minutes ago and coments from 3days.. what is this madness!

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Patreon supporters get to see videos early.

[@charliedulol]

more than just see it seems.

[@jakobboers5067]

KZbin is drunk😂

[@Gamerdu45]

madness... madness and stupidity.

[@USWaterRockets]

Patreon Supporters have exclusive access to the DIY Flux Capacitor video.

[@TheBigBigBlues]

Really nice project, it looks great!

[@whistle3man]

Great video. Great slowmo footage. Well done. Loved it.

[@tunaburnak5650]

Who is here because of Daily Dose of İnternet?

[@kdmtrap7268]

Lol half of these views are from daily dose

[@superknightlol]

its not, he make alot of viral video.

[@Phiro101]

it has been 4 years since i last saw your stuff... glad to see you are still at it

[@doctorgregg6847]

Fantastic man! Always creative, awesome