July 2, 2009

Blowing Things Up

It is the fourth of July this weekend. Do all the parades, patriotism, flags, sentimentalizing of nationalism make this one of my favorite holidays? Not really. Does a cultural acceptance of explosives make it one of my favorites? You bet.

Ever since I was a kid, I released my inner pyro-technician (or what some would label pyromaniac) on the fourth of July; splicing fuses and spilling powder to my heart’s content, hoping to set off a truly impressive explosion.

To continue a well honed tradition, this year (with the help of my handy-dandy laser cutter) I made a shoulder mounted four cylinder bottle rocket launcher complete with fold-up sights and hinged storage mode. Here are some pics:


And here is the warning sign I etched into it:

6 comments:

Karen said...

Great warning! But maybe it should just simply say, "Do not use without good health insurance." Cause that is what I am thinking right now.

Brian Franklin said...

So much that was awesome in that post that I don't know where to begin. Hinge-loading, shoulder mount...FOUR bottle rockets...I get to play with that in a few weeks...the warning label. The warning label was hilarious. I think you're getting funnier with age.

Anonymous said...

cool; dad

Kari said...

Best. Warning label. Ever.

(so cool, in fact, that internet vernacular was warranted)

Anonymous said...

I want to see it put to the test!! Post some action shots!! YEEHAW! Famous last words..."Here...hold my beer..." hahahahaha! Love you, Becky

Jacob Haynes said...

Glad everybody liked it (and my warning lable). Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to shoot it off this weekend (you would be surprised how hard it is to find somewhere to launch explosive projectiles), but I will post some action shots in a couple of weeks when I get a chance to use it.