Bird Cannon [Restoration]

The cannon works by the user mixing calcium carbide and water to create acetylene gas. Once the gas builds up to a certain amount, it is emptied into the explosion chamber and a flint is struck, igniting the gas and creating an extremely loud sound in hopes of scaring away birds and apparently human ears.

This is the most dangerous tool I have restored thus far. The risk of creating shrapnel was present and real during every restoration decision. The main rubber diaphragm was completely rotten and needed replacing, but if I did not find rubber with equivalent thickness, strength, elasticity, and resistance to acetylene, I could accidentally create a massive problem for my limbs. If the restored firing mechanism jams, it may allow for multiple doses of acetylene to enter the chamber, and remove my face. If I accidentally let water enter down the pressure equalization tube in the calcium carbide chamber while moving it around, it could go off while I am holding it, making me deaf for life.

Modern equivalents are made today, but use propane instead.

I'd like to thank @CRCAutoUS for sponsoring this video. I've switched to a food-grade penetrating oil from them as a more safe alternative, and it as worked just as well as the usual penetrating oils I've used.
You can check out the products from them used in this video in the links below:

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[zachfragoso]

It's incredible how you manage to keep finding the most dangerous equipment I've ever seen.

[ericstoever]

My sincere congratulations on surviving this restoration!

[samwisegamgee]

I'm convinced that you started recording yourself taking these apart just so you could recall how to put it all back together again. And then you decided to post it online and for some reason millions of men were like "yeah, this is cool, I want to watch"

[Osgood-em]

This is one of the most entertaining, educational videos I have seen in some time. No music, no extraneous talking, just a great video. Thank you.

[DPrintFarm]

Good ole carbide cannon. My dad used a model similar to this in the 70's. He was a sheep rancher in California and used the cannon to keep the coyotes away. It had water receptacle where you could set the water drip rate via a valve thereby allowing just enough water to come into contact with the dry calcium carbide which in turn would produce acetylene gas which would produce an extremely loud KABOOM!

[andrewhighberger]

In the 60's I had a "Bangsite Cannon" "Big noise for Boys!" It had a small water bowl in the bottom and a mechanism for adding a small amount of Bangsite (Calcium Carbide) for each shot. There was a plunger for a flint and with each press you got a big Bang! I used to blow up all kinds of stuff with that thing. Wish I could find some "Bangsite" again. Thanks for the great video.

[larrycleeton]

Early Model T Fords (including my 1914 Touring car) had an "acetylene generator" on the driver's side running board. It was a similar design to your cannon's with a contained basket holding the carbide and a water tank above with a metering valve. The generated acetylene was plumbed to the headlights. The headlights had burners in them like old gas lamps. You put in the carbide, sealed the canister, put in some water, adjusted the drip to something reasonable, then opened each headlight and lit the burners. The headlights actually have chimneys to evacuate the black smoke and heat. Yes, it sounds scary, but it worked. I replaced the burners with LED bulbs that look like burners and ran the wires through the gas tube. I kept the generator tank and fake plumbing for the inevitable questions at car shows.

[Vickie-Bligh]

I can see why you considered this the most dangerous tool you've restored. It will scare more than birds, I guarantee! Beautiful restoration, thanks for sharing. That was a startling demonstration, HTR.

[michaelskinner]

I'm continually amazed at how much mechanical engineering goes into something designed for the simplest purpose.

[ninaevans]

Mr Hand Tool Rescue, you ARE a GENIUS, of that there are no doubts.
Sadness at this end for one of Canadas greatest sons (yourself included), the passing of the late Donald McNichol Sutherland C.C.
17/07/1935 - 20/06/2024.
Forever Rest In Piece "Sargeant Oddball", one quote in Burning Bridges we'll never forget from Dons character "Hey, don't hit me with your negative waves first thing in the morning!".
It says it all, never give up, never give in. Remain possitive regardless.

[Laz_Arus]

Marvin the Martian: "Where's the Kaboom? There's supposed to be an Earth-shattering Kaboom!"
HTR: "Hold my bucket of Evapo-Rust" 💣

[benjaminaburns]

Thank you for not putting the cover on. I love the gizmosity.

[SlyGuy]

I know what that was, the moment I saw the thumbnail pic. I used to work at an old steel mill in Pennsylvania, we had contaminated grounds that were netted off, and had those around the perimeter, to scare the birds away from the contamination. First time I heard one go off, I ducked, thinking someone with a shotgun was in the area... Fond memories! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!!

[Turnin_N_Burnin]

Started watching your videos on a deployment to Qatar four years ago. Here I am, getting ready to deploy to Iraq and still watching. You are an amazing craftsman.

[bobjohnson]

Does that bring back memories. When i was a kid, a farmer near us had one of those out in his cornfield. Myself and a couple buddies thought it would be a good idea to see if we could shoot an ear of corn out of it. One ear didn't do much, so decided to stuff it full. Something happened then, something bad.
Kind of blew the barrel off it, but it was very loud. Got in a little trouble over that adventure.
Great video as always, thanks for posting.

[TASTYTREATSPLS]

The narrated versions of your videos are so great. People really don't know what their missing.

[Fabric_unfolded]

Watched all the way to the end to see a bird get fired out of the cannon and now disappointed! 😂😂😂 Great resto as usual sir!😊

[braxtonnelson]

The "nipple" reference was worth the price of admission! This is one of the Rube Goldberg-est thing I've ever seen!
And now that I've seen it in action I really want one!

[davidbwa]

That thing is surprisingly complex. I understand how it works but the thought of designing it from scratch seems daunting.

[_Tim_Allan_]

These are only made to go off every few minutes or so. I bet that's why when testing the propane and acetylene, the fuel mixture was too rich. Very cool! Propane and acetylene gas operated ones are still operated today to scare off birds and to disrupt weather so hail won't ruin crops