Anybody here ever build a hovercraft?
 

Saw the Junkyard wars where they built hovercraft, and it didn't look too hard. Anybody here ever do this?

Built one with my son for a JR High science project. It was only about 4 feet in diameter but it worked great. powered with either an electric motor form a Shop-Vac or a gas powered leaf blower. I will try to find a link to the plans...

Plywood cut into 48" diameter circle.
Metal gallon paint can lid.
Plastic shower curtain liner.
1/4 " bolt about 2 inches long, 2 flat washers.
and of course... Duct Tape....

1.Drill 1/4" hole in exact center of plywood disc.

2.Drill hole big enough for the nozzle of the particular air source you are goung to use. I drilled a 3 inch diamter hole to fit the nozzle of my gas leaf blower. This hole should be exactly half way between the edge of the disc and the center hole you have already drilled.

3. Cut out shower curtain liner so that it is about 2 inches bigger than the plywood all the way around.

4. Center the platic sheet on the plywood where the 1/4" hole was drilled. Poke a carriage bolt through the plywood center hole then through the plastic sheet. Make a hole just big enough for the bolt in the exact enter of the paint can lid, then attach it to the bolt (you should have plywood - then platic sheet - then paitn can lid). Also, the head of the bolt should be nearest the paint can lid with any excess bolt lenght sticking up through the plywood.

5. Cut 5 half-dollar size holes in the shower curtain about 4 inches away from the paint can lid. These should be evenly spaced around the perimeter of the lid. (Reinfoce around the hole with duct tape to keep the hole from tearing later.)

6. Fold the outer edge of the shower curtain sheet over the edge of the plywood and staple it about 1/2 inch from the edge of the plywood disc. I also went around the edge of the plywood with duct tape to reinforce after stapling on the top.

If you insert the air source into the hole you drilled earlier and turn it on, you should fill up the shower curtian sheet into a shape like the bottom half of a donut laying flat on it's side. The air will esape from the shower curtail liner through the 5 spaced holes in the curtain liner. Since the air is then trapped inside the donut the only way it can escape is by lifting the entire platform and going out under the donut. This creates a very thin cushion of air around the bottom side of the donut that allows the platform to float on air.

By using a Sears gas powered leaf blower engine, we were able to place a standard size refrigerator on the platform and push it around the floor with one finger while the blower was on. Some moving companies actaully use a similar commercial device for moving heavy items across smooth floors. I was impressed with the results to be a garage project. I'm sure the basic design could be expanded to make some fun toys given the time and patience.