It was actually somewhat expensive to build. The 4 inch galvanized steel pipe with all the fittings was about $160 at a pipe house. Also, large pipe wrenches were required to assemble it.
The result however, is something I wont have to worry about overcharging, as well as insanely durable.
I'm going to have to say, yes the bat was broken.
We Launched it across a field into the back of a concrete wall just to see what would happen. (This is what happens when freshmen and sophomores are left unsupervised with an air cannon) Turned out the bat launched far more effectively after the end had broken off, as the inside of the bat was hollow, and allowed for a sort of "rocket" effect.
Oranges are great projectiles, as they explode on impact like a paintball. Never actually tried a potato, but considering that this is more of a pneumatic "anything that will fit into the 11 foot barrel cannon".....
