Ping Pong Ball Launcher

This Instructable will show you how to turn a basic leaf blower into a ping pong ball launcher.

(Watch Video)

I first started taking apart the tubing off my leaf blower.

I used an electric leaf blower so this project can be used both indoors and outdoors.

With the tubing removed, I measured the opening. It was a little less than 3 inches. So I went to the local hardware store and picked up some PVC tubing. A 2 inch connector measures to just over 2-1/2 inches on its outside diameter, which was the closest size I could find. So I grabbed a connector that has is a 2-inch to 1-1/2 reducer.

The 1-1/2 inch pipe is the perfect size for transporting ping pong balls.

I also got a 3~foot section of 1-1/2 inch pipe, which is the perfect length for this project. You will also need a 1-1/2 inch T-connector and end cap.

The reducer was just a little too small for my blower, so I added a few pieces of duct tape around the outside. With the tape, it fit snug in the blower.

Next cut a 3 inch section of pipe to fit inside the reducer. I have found that it is best to use PVC cutters so you can have a clean cut surface that does not require any sanding.

And while you have the cutters, cut another 9 inch section of pipe. This section will hold your balls like a magazine hold the bullets in a gun. Make sure to add the end cap before you start to insert the balls. It should hold 6 balls.

The remaining 2-foot section of pipe will become the barrel, and I attached it with the T-connector to the 3-inch pipe. The ping pong ball launcher will work at this point, but the ball holder has to be loaded from underneath and twisted slowly while firing or the balls will roll out of the barrel uncontrollably.

I needed a way to hold the balls in the pipe until I wanted to fire them. My wife came up with wedging a bent paperclip between the magazine and T-connector. The paperclip holds the balls in place until ready to fire.

And by allowing the pressure to fill the tubes before firing, allows the balls to shoot at an even faster rate than before. Almost like a full auto gun.

And that is a great way to turn a leaf blower into a ping pong ball launcher.

If you like this project, you may want to checkout some of these videos:

Double Barrel Rubber Band Machine Gun

PVC Shotgun

Mini Cannon that Shoots