The tool used to
crack open a canister containing
nitrous oxide, commonly known as
laughing gas or "
whip-its."
The simplest
crackers look like a
short fat cigar that unscews at the middle to form two
equally sized, hollow pieces.
One of the pieces is
solid and smooth inside, while the other side has a sharp
protrusion of metal (pointing inward) next to a small hole at the very end.
To use the
cracker, place a
canister of
nitrous inside with the sealed end pointing toward the
protrusion and hole.
Screw the back end on until the seal is
punctured, and you're on your way.
You can buy plastic or
metal crackers, though metal is best as the
extreme cold may cause the plastic to become
brittle. Aluminum crackers are good, although the best are
brass like the
Brass Monkey.
It is also possible to
make your own out of
pvc piping and a little know-how.