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How to Make a Water Balloon Launcher

Nothing will give you a lead in a water balloon fight quite like a water balloon launcher. These incredibly easy-to-make gadgets can be as much as $50 online, but chances are you have all of the necessary materials in your garage to make one yourself. If you don't have clear vinyl tubing, you can find one in the plumbing section of most local hardware stores. This water balloon launcher is capable of firing water balloons at a range of up to 100 feet.

Things You'll Need

Clear vinyl tubing
14-by-14-inch square burlap or old rag
Scissors
Two small pieces of wood
Duct tape
Balloons
Water

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the square of burlap so that it looks like a large plus sign; this needs to be done because the material will be used as the water balloon's pocket. To make the plus sign, cut out a 3-by-3-inch square from each of the large square's corners. The idea is to have the two tabs of the plus sign fold over the wood.
- 2
  Place a piece of wood on one of plus sign's tabs and fold the material over the wood. Securely wrap the duct tape around that material so that the wood is firmly stuck inside. Repeat this process for opposite side of the plus sign and the other piece of wood.
- 3
  Lay out the clear, vinyl tubing so that it runs across one of the plus sign's tabs; curve the tubing 180 degrees so that it also runs across the other side of the material. Tape the burlap securely over the tubing. Do not duct tape the actual tubing itself-- because you want the pocket to be able to slide freely up and down the tubing. During this step you can also duct tape all of the corners and seams if you feel they're not securely reinforced.
- 4
  Fill up water balloons and set them aside in a bucket. Administer the help of two friends by having each one hold up the ends of the launcher.
- 5
  Place a water balloon in the launcher and pull it back to a 45 degree, aim and fire.

Backyard Toys