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English
Puen Juk Kok (Bamboo Cork Popgun) — a 20 cm Bamboo Barrel with a 1 cm Bore, a Plunger 2 cm Shorter Tied to a Cork with String, and a 5 cm Heat-Bent Grip; Compressed Air Pops the Cork
ปืนจุกก๊อก (puen juk kok) is a bamboo toy. Pull the plunger back and push it forward: the air in the barrel is compressed and drives the cork out of the end with a loud "kok".
This blueprint makes a real puen juk kok to the sizes in the source.
Beginner
About half a day
Instructions
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Real sizes
Real sizes
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Sounding bamboo toys, before it
Sounding bamboo toys, before it
The i bue sounds because its blade strikes the air; the popgun sounds because compressed air drives the cork out.
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Read from the source
Read from the source
"With the other hand, pull the plunger back towards you, then push it forward to compress the air inside the barrel, so it drives the cork at the end of the barrel out with a loud sound." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author not named, CC BY 4.0)
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Barrel
Barrel
Choose bamboo with a bore about 1 cm across, such as a fairly mature pai bong culm, and heat it over a flame to drive out the starch. Cut it about 20 cm long for the barrel.
Materials for this step:
Bamboo Poles1 piece5
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Plunger and cork
Plunger and cork
Choose round bamboo for the plunger, about 2 cm shorter than the barrel. Choose a cork that fits the barrel and tie it to the plunger with string.
Materials for this step:
Corks1 piece
String1 piece6
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Grip and assembly
Grip and assembly
Shave bamboo into a grip about 5 cm long and bend it with heat so it fits the hand. Glue the barrel, with plunger and cork fitted, to the grip, then sand it smooth.
Materials for this step:
Wood Glue1 piece7
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Real photos
Real photos
Photos of a real puen juk kok (the cork hangs on a string at the end of the barrel) (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author not named, CC BY 4.0)
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How to play
How to play
Hold the grip in one hand and pull the plunger back towards you with the other, then push it forward to compress the air in the barrel, so it drives the cork out of the end with a "kok".
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Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting the puen juk kok.
Flow
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History and limits
History and limits
The cork popgun is made from bamboo, a material easy to find locally. Take care with the flame when heating and bending the bamboo.
Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "ปืนจุกก๊อก", author not named (CC BY 4.0 licence).
**Limits** The source gives no string length and no sanding method, and names no tools.
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