Fun
FAQs & Helpful Hints
Pocket
Cannon Jollies
The
Pocket Cannon is a confetti/streamer cannon. As its name implies,
it's quite small - only 8" long. Yet it's capable of shooting
streamers to distances of 30', and showering a stage or dance floor
with confetti.
How is such a small device capable of these feats? Every single
detail of the loading procedure and confetti/streamer manufacture
is designed to optimize the effect. Don't expect to simply stuff
the barrel full of party confetti, press the lever, and get the
results I'm describing here. However, these results can be achieved,
and are achieved, by professional and amateur performers all over
the world, every day.
The Pocket Cannon uses one 8 gram CO2 cylinder per shot. When the
firing lever is depressed, the cylinder is punctured, and the gas
is allowed to escape, providing the power to launch the cannon's
contents. Theatre Effects sells only "military specification"
cylinders. These are the most reliable, with the highest pressure,
and the most consistent plating (inconsistent plating damages the
cannon's firing pin, and makes the lever hard to press). If you
want to get the most out of every shot, and more importantly if
you want to know exactly what your shot is going to look like, time
and time again, use only mil-spec cylinders.
The Pocket Cannon uses one 1" Lifting Cup and one 1" Backpressure
Cap per shot. During the loading procedure, the Lifting Cup is inserted
into the barrel before anything else, and pushed down to the bottom.
The Backpressure Cap is placed over the barrel's end after the confetti
or streamers are loaded, and taped around the outside edge with
masking tape. When the firing lever is depressed, these two items
(Cup and Cap) force the pressure to build up for a second, until
finally the cap blows off and the confetti/streamers are launched
high into the air. The height achieved is more that double the distance
you'd get if these two items were not used. If you want to get the
most distance out of every shot, always use a Lifting Cup and a
Backpressure Cap.
The most effective streamer load for the Pocket Cannon is 20-30
18' Aerostreamers. These streamers are made of lightweight tissue
paper, so they float in the air. But the dense design (they're tightly
coiled) means they can be shot high into the air; then they unroll
as they fall.
The most effective confetti load for the Pocket Cannon is 2 stacks
of Turbofetti. Turbofetti is 1/2" x 2" rectangles of lightweight
tissue paper, so they spin as the fall, thus hanging in the air
for the maximum possible length of time. But the dense design (the
confetti is stacked in a "deck") means it can be fired
high into the air; then it separates and the confetti falls slowly
back down.
Other interesting facts:
*Due to the taped-on Backpressure Cap, the Pocket Cannon can be
loaded well in advance.
*Due to the taped-on Backpressure Cap, the Pocket Cannon makes a
loud "pop" when it is fired, thus drawing attention to
the effect.
*Two hands are required to properly fire the cannon - hold the barrel
with one hand, and depress the firing lever with the heel of the
other hand.
*Aerostreamers and Turbofetti are available in flame-resistant varieties,
which are suitable for indoor use, and safe for use in proximity
to pyro special effects.
*The Pocket Cannon can also launch puff balls, business cards, money,
water, and most other lightweight objects that can be stuffed into
its 1" diameter barrel.
*The fact that no electricity is required means the Pocket Cannon
can be easily operated anywhere.
So . . . shoot white streamers as your newlywed friends leave the
church. Shoot multicolored streamers when the fairy godmother appears
in your child's middle school performance of Cinderella. Shoot confetti
at your next karaoke party. Shoot up, shoot down, shoot all around!
Don't be limited by your imagination - ask your friends what they
imagine and do that too!
And don't forget to thrill your neighbors by shooting streamers
and confetti all over their house and yard (including their trees
and pets), being sure to clog up the roof gutters causing them to
overflow when it rains. (See our special feature on how to hide
from thrilled neighbors in next week's article.)
*********************************************
Theatre Effects Customer Service Department
service@theatrefx.com
www.theatrefx.com
Theatre Effects, 642 Frederick St., Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: 1-800-791-7646 or 301-791-7646 Fax: 301-791-7719 *********************************************
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