It’s hard to imagine something less lethal than marshmallows, which is what makes them the perfect ammunition if you’re going to teach a child how to make a gun. As summer winds down, bored kids across the country are looking to squeeze the last bit of fun out of their break from school, and eager for a new diversion. Whether you’ve got kids of your own to entertain, or want to cement your place as the world’s greatest uncle the next time you babysit, marshmallow guns are a simple and easy project that are sure to turn any bored kid into an excited marshmallow mercenary.
Marshmallow guns are great for a few reasons. First off, they’re exceptionally easy to make. A competent person with the right tools can knock out a basic model in less than 10 minutes. Second, they’re surprisingly effective and often capable of firing your ammo 20 feet or more. Lastly, they’re dirt cheap to make. Assuming you have a pipe cutter or a hacksaw, the materials for one gun will set you back less than $5 at most hardware stores. Below is a tried-and-true design, but you can make countless variations by extending the handles, making the barrel shorter, or using different connectors.
Supplies/Tools
- 27 inches of ½ inch PVC pipe (for this, and the PVC materials below, make sure to get the non-threaded type, also known as “slip” pipe)
- Two ½ inch PVC 90-degree elbow joints
- Two ½ inch PVC T-joints
- Two ½ inch PVC caps
- Pipe cutter or hacksaw
- Measuring tape
- Miniature marshmallows
Directions
Step 1: Cut your PVC pipe into sections using your pipe cutter or hacksaw. A pipe cutter made for cutting PVC is not only faster, it makes cleaner cuts that allow for easy pipe fitting when compared to most hacksaws.
Cut list:
- 5 3-inch pieces
- 1 5-inch piece
- 1 7-inch piece
Step 2: Lay your pieces out in the basic shape of the gun to make sure you aren’t missing any sections.
Step 3: Insert the pipe sections into the connectors to build the gun. Make sure to press the pipe all the way in. They should fit tight without any wiggling.
Step 4: Load up! Place a marshmallow just inside the top tube and give it a firm blow to shoot it.
