Brief: Create a flurry of cards in the air which can be triggered remotely. Prop must be self contained, easy to carry, easy to maintain and easy to operate. Ideally built into a suitcase.
Rod Laver, once my teacher, now a friend and peer has been working on a new Playing Card act. After struggling with a cheap eBay card fountain he asked me if I could make him something to create an explosion of cards at the end of his act. An air cannon was my answer.
I’ve built a few air cannons but they’re never quite the same, they always have different requirements. I’ve briefly documented the process for this one below. There is a video of the results at the bottom of the post.
These are the parts I needed to make the cannon which include, 12v Battery , Paintball air tank, Quick Exhaust Valve (QEV), 12v Solenoid valve, Remote control unit, Pneumatic push-fit fittings and flexible nylon tube, 40mm pipe as barrel with fittings plus the suitcase I built the cannon in to and loads of PTFE Tape! I later changed the battery and air tank to fit the design and function better.These are the main components which make the cannon work, all connected and ready to take the air chamber and barrel. Included is a fill valve which is meant for a car but means you can use any pump to fill the cannons air chamber.A few more improvements on the air fill and release to include a pressure gauge so the power of the cannon can be adjusted more accurately. The copper tubing is the new air chamber, more compact and releases the air more quickly than the paintball tank.All of the components fitted together, electrics connected and mounted on a ply wood base which slots into the suitcase.
All finished and in the suitcase, complete with on/off switch, charging input, charger and foot pump.
Matt Pang 