Simple Homemade Pneumatic Devices

Pneumatic Bellows

• A bellows was one of the earliest pneumatic devices, dating back to the Middle Ages. The bellows consists of two flat boards that are hinged together at one end. The other end has a small valve where the compressed air is blown through. The opening on the valve is small, making the air come out forcefully. The earliest bellows were used by blacksmiths and iron workers to stoke their fires and make them hotter.

Scissor Lift

• Small scissor lifts can be made at home using a pneumatic switch and air pump. The height and materials of the lift are up to you. This type of lift can be made for a variety of reasons, such as for a toy or dollhouse elevator. A pneumatic lift is also educational, since lessons can be learned about compressed air and how it works.

Air Guns

• There are a variety of guns that can be made using compressed air. Everything from a marshmallow shooter to a speargun can be made, with varying degrees of difficulty. The easiest ones, like marshmallow or potato shooters, are made with the use of a pneumatic tube, which can be purchased at hardware stores. These guns are customizable, so the tube can be cut to suit any length.

Lawn Decorations

• Pneumatic tubes are an excellent device to make an object jump up and down. The compressed air can launch an item in the air repeatedly. Attaching arms and a pneumatic tube to something like a spider or pumpkin at Halloween can scare trick-or-treaters.