Backyard Ballistics by Gurstelle, William

ewhjacobs
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Located in: Monona, Iowa, United States
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eBay item number:115745136088
Last updated on Oct 26, 2025 12:05:21 PDTView all revisionsView all revisions

Item specifics

Condition
Good: A book that has been read but is in good condition. Very minimal damage to the cover including ...
Country of Origin
United States
Binding
Paperback
Product Group
Book
Personalize
No
Type
Activity Book
Signed
No
Narrative Type
Nonfiction
Features
Illustrated
Original Language
English
Intended Audience
Adults, Young Adults
Weight
1 lbs
IsTextBook
No
ISBN
9781613740644
Book Title
Backyard Ballistics : Build Potato Cannons, Paper Match Rockets, Cincinnati Fire Kites, Tennis Ball Mortars, and More Dynamite Devices
Publisher
Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Item Length
10 in
Edition
2
Publication Year
2012
Format
Trade Paperback
Language
English
Item Height
0.6 in
Author
William Gurstelle
Genre
Technology & Engineering, Science
Topic
Engineering (General), Experiments & Projects, Physics / General
Item Weight
17.3 Oz
Item Width
7 in
Number of Pages
240 Pages
Category

About this product

Product Identifiers

Publisher
Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
ISBN-10
1613740646
ISBN-13
9781613740644
eBay Product ID (ePID)
114204106

Product Key Features

Edition
2
Book Title
Backyard Ballistics : Build Potato Cannons, Paper Match Rockets, Cincinnati Fire Kites, Tennis Ball Mortars, and More Dynamite Devices
Number of Pages
240 Pages
Language
English
Topic
Engineering (General), Experiments & Projects, Physics / General
Publication Year
2012
Genre
Technology & Engineering, Science
Author
William Gurstelle
Format
Trade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height
0.6 in
Item Weight
17.3 Oz
Item Length
10 in
Item Width
7 in

Additional Product Features

Intended Audience
Trade
Dewey Edition
21
Reviews
"How is it possible not to love a book with chapter titles like 'Back Porch Rocketry' and 'Greek Fire and the Catapult?' I devoured this prodigious account of all things explosive." --Homer Hickam, author of Rocket Boys, "If you want to make a potato soufflé, pick up a book by Julia Child. If you want to decorate your holiday cards with hand-cut potato stamps, look to a Martha Stewart manual. If, however, you'd like to launch a potato in a blazing fireball of combusting hairspray from a PVC pipe, your best source is Backyard Ballistics , by William Gurstelle." - Time Out New York, "If you want to make a potato soufflé, pick up a book by Julia Child. If you want to decorate your holiday cards with hand-cut potato stamps, look to a Martha Stewart manual. If, however, you'd like to launch a potato in a blazing fireball of combusting hairspray from a PVC pipe, your best source is Backyard Ballistics , by William Gurstelle."  - Time Out New York, "How is it possible not to love a book with chapter titles like 'Back Porch Rocketry' and 'Greek Fire and the Catapult?' I devoured this prodigious account of all things explosive." -Homer Hickam, author of Rocket Boys, "If you want to make a potato soufflé, pick up a book by Julia Child. If you want to decorate your holiday cards with hand-cut potato stamps, look to a Martha Stewart manual. If, however, you'd like to launch a potato in a blazing fireball of combusting hairspray from a PVC pipe, your best source is Backyard Ballistics , by William Gurstelle." -- Time Out New York, "A great primer for the would-be engineer, and a wonderful chance for bonding among like-minded parents and children…Great fun!" - Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY), "Your inner boy will get a bang out of these 13 devices to build and shoot in your own back yard, some of them noisy enough to legally perk up a 4th of July." -- Dallas Morning News, "Would-be rocketeers, take note: Engineer William Gurstelle has written a book for you." -- Chicago Tribune, "How is it possible not to love a book with chapter titles like 'Back Porch Rocketry' and 'Greek Fire and the Catapult?' I devoured this prodigious account of all things explosive."  --Homer Hickam, author of Rocket Boys, "Would-be rocketeers, take note: Engineer William Gurstelle has written a book for you."  - Chicago Tribune, "Your inner boy will get a bang out of these 13 devices to build and shoot in your own back yard, some of them noisy enough to legally perk up a 4th of July."  - Dallas Morning News, "Fun and potentially dangerous, this is sure to be a hit at most public libraries. Recommended. Bring your own safety goggles." -- Library Journal, "Fun and potentially dangerous, this is sure to be a hit at most public libraries. Recommended. Bring your own safety goggles."  -- Library Journal, "Fun and potentially dangerous, this is sure to be a hit at most public libraries. Recommended. Bring your own safety goggles."  - Library Journal, "If you want to make a potato souffl, pick up a book by Julia Child. If you want to decorate your holiday cards with hand-cut potato stamps, look to a Martha Stewart manual. If, however, you'd like to launch a potato in a blazing fireball of combusting hairspray from a PVC pipe, your best source is Backyard Ballistics , by William Gurstelle." -- Time Out New York, "A great primer for the would-be engineer, and a wonderful chance for bonding among like-minded parents and children . . . Great fun!"  -- Courier-Journal, "If you want to make a potato souffl, pick up a book by Julia Child. If you want to decorate your holiday cards with hand-cut potato stamps, look to a Martha Stewart manual. If, however, you'd like to launch a potato in a blazing fireball of combusting hairspray from a PVC pipe, your best source is Backyard Ballistics , by William Gurstelle."  - Time Out New York, "Would-be rocketeers, take note: Engineer William Gurstelle has written a book for you."  -- Chicago Tribune, "A great primer for the would-be engineer, and a wonderful chance for bonding among like-minded parents and children . . . Great fun!" -- Courier-Journal, "How is it possible not to love a book with chapter titles like 'Back Porch Rocketry' and 'Greek Fire and the Catapult?' I devoured this prodigious account of all things explosive."  -Homer Hickam, author of Rocket Boys, "If you want to make a potato souffl, pick up a book by Julia Child. If you want to decorate your holiday cards with hand-cut potato stamps, look to a Martha Stewart manual. If, however, you'd like to launch a potato in a blazing fireball of combusting hairspray from a PVC pipe, your best source is Backyard Ballistics , by William Gurstelle."  -- Time Out New York, "Your inner boy will get a bang out of these 13 devices to build and shoot in your own back yard, some of them noisy enough to legally perk up a 4th of July."  -- Dallas Morning News, "Would-be rocketeers, take note: Engineer William Gurstelle has written a book for you." - Chicago Tribune, "A great primer for the would-be engineer, and a wonderful chance for bonding among like-minded parents and children...Great fun!" -- Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY), "A great primer for the would-be engineer, and a wonderful chance for bonding among like-minded parents and children . . . Great fun!"  - Courier-Journal, "Fun and potentially dangerous, this is sure to be a hit at most public libraries. Recommended. Bring your own safety goggles." - Library Journal
Dewey Decimal
531/.55/078
Synopsis
This bestselling DIY handbook now features new and expanded projects, enabling ordinary folks to construct 16 awesome ballistic devices in their garage or basement workshops using inexpensive household or hardware store materials and this step-by-step guide. Clear instructions, diagrams, and photographs show how to build projects ranging from the simple match-powered rocket to the more complex tabletop catapult and the offbeat Cincinnati fire kite. The classic potato cannon has a new evil twin--the piezo-electric spud gun and the electromagnetic pipe gun has joined the company of such favorites as the tennis ball mortar. With a strong emphasis on safety, the book also gives tips on troubleshooting, explains the physics behind the projects, and profiles scientists and extraordinary experimenters such as Alfred Nobel, Robert Goddard, and Isaac Newton. This book will be indispensable for the legions of backyard toy-rocket launchers and fireworks fanatics who wish every day was the fourth of July., This bestselling DIY handbook now features new and expanded projects, enabling ordinary folks to construct 16 awesome ballistic devices using inexpensive household or hardware store materials., This bestselling DIY handbook now features new and expanded projects, enabling ordinary folks to construct 16 awesome ballistic devices in their garage or basement workshops using inexpensive household or hardware store materials and this step-by-step guide. Clear instructions, diagrams, and photographs show how to build projects ranging from the simple match-powered rocket to the more complex tabletop catapult and the offbeat Cincinnati fire kite. The classic potato cannon has a new evil twin--the piezo-electric spud gun--and the electromagnetic pipe gun has joined the company of such favorites as the tennis ball mortar. With a strong emphasis on safety, the book also gives tips on troubleshooting, explains the physics behind the projects, and profiles scientists and extraordinary experimenters such as Alfred Nobel, Robert Goddard, and Isaac Newton. This book will be indispensable for the legions of backyard toy-rocket launchers and fireworks fanatics who wish every day was the fourth of July., This bestselling DIY handbook now features new and expanded projects, enabling ordinary folks to construct 16 awesome ballistic devices in their garage or basement workshops using inexpensive household or hardware store materials and this step-by-step guide.
LC Classification Number
Q164.G88 2012

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ewhjacobs

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4.7
6 product ratings
  • 4 users rated this 5 out of 5 stars
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See all 5 reviews
  • by purplemthr
    May 10, 2024

    A few items inside were interesting. For the price - eh, why not.

    A few items inside were interesting. For the price - eh, why not.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: ictbooks

  • by re-robla-zud8zdbcv1
    Nov 08, 2017

    awesome with supervision!

    great book. my grandson is 18 so he can handle it on his own. I would not recommend it for anyone under 16 unless an adult works on the projects with them. very neat!

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: phoenixfriends

  • by kj2yg1
    Apr 14, 2025

    Good book. Lots of ways to make things. ...

    Good book. Lots of ways to make things. 

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: seattlegoodwillbooks

  • by wildwoodacres
    Aug 09, 2025

    Interesting book full of interesting ide...

    Interesting book full of interesting ideas.

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: thrift.books

  • by allenh2565
    Feb 10, 2022

    It's just fun

    fun to read

    Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: fortwaynegoodwill

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