Christmas is near. I know, not because of cooler weather, although the night air is "fresh". Our neighbor is making his rum punch. Last year it was a peanut punch. This year he's making a plum punch.Another neighbor up above us has been shooting off his bamboo cannon,also a Christmas tradition. It's a homemade firecracker. They heat kerosene in the tube and it gives off a huge BANG!
So, I know you're wondering..." How Do You Make A Bamboo Cannon?" by Nidahas.com
First, take a 4-5 feet long piece of big, young, yellow bamboo, one that has about 5 walls (the things that separate the “compartments” in a bamboo pipe). Make sure you cut it so that the bottom end is close to a wall.
Then drive a stake through it to remove all but the last wall, the one at the bottom end of the pipe.
Make a small hole (say, a 1-inch square) on the side of the cannon at about 3 inches from the wall at the closed end.
The cannon should be kept horizontal and slightly tilted so that the open end is at a level couple of inches above the closed end. The small hole on the cannon “barrel” should be facing upwards.
Pour one cup (~200ml) of kerosene through that hole. Don’t use anything more inflammable, unless you want to blast your head off. Don’t put too much fuel, or it’ll take ages to get it firing.
Light a small fire (one that does not burn the bamboo) under this “fuel tank”.
When the cannon is heated sufficiently (say, hot to touch) blow like mad through that hole so that the kerosene vapour is ready to go bang at the slightest provocation.
Get a firebrand (don’t use lighters unless you’re suicidal), and bring it to the hole, making sure you keep all your precious body parts as far away from it as possible.
BANG!… *smoke* *cough*
Rinse and repeat.
Tip: The trick to making loud blasts is in blowing just the right amount of air through that hole, and knowing when to “fire”. It’ll take some getting used to, so don’t be discouraged by any embarassing “farts” at the beginning.
