Autumn leaves are piling up in driveways, sidewalks and garages, but a powerful battery-powered blower can do more than clear them. After testing major cordless leaf blowers on fabric leaves and concrete blocks, the Ego Power+ 880 CFM stood out for combining gas-like power with the quietest operation in the test. It was also the only model that flipped a 5-pound brick paver without using turbo mode. The blower is on sale at Lowe’s, with the kit’s price reduced from $439 to $379, and it can also be adapted into a toilet paper cannon for a Halloween project.
Turning a leaf blower into a toilet paper cannon
Just in time for Halloween, the blower can be combined with a few hardware-store parts and household materials to create a device that unrolls one or two layers of toilet paper in seconds. Once assembled, it can be displayed at home or used as entertainment for children. The Lowe’s sale runs until November 4.
A blower’s airflow is typically measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm) and miles per hour (mph), measurements that help describe its effectiveness. Fast-moving air creates a low-pressure flow, while the relatively still air around the roll pushes it toward that flow. As the air follows the roll’s curved surface, it lifts the roll and carries the paper forward through friction. Bernoulli’s principle, the lift created by the curved surface and the airflow pulling the paper forward all contribute to the effect.
To determine where the toilet paper should sit relative to the blower, the article consulted Safran Wise, a vice principal at the international engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti, which specializes in fluid mechanics. “Putting a roll under the nozzle is a little better because you’re pulling the paper upwards toward the airflow, which does most of the work and forces the paper to move upwards,” Wise says.
Leaf blowers generally include a tapered, round tube. The Ego model used here also comes with a wide, flat attachment. Wise says tapered round tubes are the most stable option because they provide broad airflow, but the flat attachment can be useful when speed and reach are the priority. “The narrow nozzle arrangement that tries to flatten the airflow probably gives you more power and more velocity, so it’s more likely to reach farther,” Wise says. If a blower does not include a flat attachment, a similar shape can be made with duct tape and cardboard.
How to make the toilet paper cannon
1. Prepare the roller
Start with a mini paint roller designed for standard nap rollers. Avoid models made for foam rollers, which are too narrow. Slide the toilet paper roll onto the roller cage. If the fit is loose, wrap the cage first with painter’s tape and then with duct tape, adding layers until the roll is secure. The painter’s tape allows the roller to be used for painting later.
2. Attach the roller to the blower
Place the toilet paper on the roller and center it in the airflow beneath the blower nozzle, about 3 to 4 inches from the tip. Use a 12-inch piece of duct tape to attach the roller handle to the blower, measure the position again, and then add more tape to secure it. To protect the nozzle from adhesive residue, cover it with painter’s tape before applying the duct tape.
3. Launch the paper
Pull out the first few sheets, pull the blower’s trigger and let the paper fly.
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Source: www.wired.com
