Small Cannon

[slapdick]

Made this small black powder cannon, 12 gauge shell for scale. I had a section of high pressure tubing and welded a plug on the end, bored a hole on top, and welded studs to the side.

The "carriage" is just something crude I put together for now, I plan on making something nicer for it in the future.

This also doubles as a picket pounder for fence posts.

I'm wondering if I should make a pirate "swivel gun" style mount for it or something else.

 

[RidgeRunner]

I'm wondering 3 things
What type of projectile fits in it..IE: softball, hardball, beer cans?
How much powder will it take to shoot it?
Will peices of those pine 2x4's be easy to pick out of your torso?

 

[slapdick]

I'm wondering 3 things
What type of projectile fits in it..IE: softball, hardball, beer cans?
How much powder will it take to shoot it?
Will peices of those pine 2x4's be easy to pick out of your torso?

1. I think a red bull can would fit. Definitely nuts, bolts, marbles, etc.
2. As much as it takes
3. Not a concern, I don't plan on standing that close to it.

 

[fl57caveman]

joe biden said we can't own cannons....

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Needs a brace on it!!

 

[slapdick]

Needs a brace on it!!

Legally I could put a stock on it, since its just BP

 

[fl57caveman]

needs a black pistol grip to be scary

 

[Southalabama]

joe biden said we can't own cannons....

He can come and take it

 

[MarkJ]

He can come and take it

He wouldn't be able to walk up to the door without falling down...

 

[oldwing]

It may be safer to use as a post driver. It could end up as a pipe bomb. Before shooting this you might check out the minimum standards set for construction of bp cannon. BP cannons and mortars are great to shoot but be safe. Hereis a link to standards. https://www.go2gbo.com/threads/safe-loads-construction-new-cannon-builders-design-standards.69739/

 

[slapdick]

It may be safer to use as a post driver. It could end up as a pipe bomb. Before shooting this you might check out the minimum standards set for construction of bp cannon. BP cannons and mortars are great to shoot but be safe. Hereis a link to standards. https://www.go2gbo.com/threads/safe-loads-construction-new-cannon-builders-design-standards.69739/

It would 100% be safer to use as a post driver.

I used E-70s to weld it which is good for 70,000 PSI tensile strength, the tube itself has 95000 psi tensile strength, and with a 4 oz of powder + the size of the bore, shouldn't ever reach higher than 6000 psi with this.

I'll see if I can upload the video of it being test fired.

 

[ammodave]

Many yrs ago when I was at La Tech the engineering dept made a half size civil war cannon to fire at football games when we scored a TD. It blew up (split open) on the 2nd shot.

 

[Recondo 101]

I went on the Smithsonian web site and found a first pattern U.S. Navy gun with Naval carrage plan with measurements then scaled it to 1/8" scale. Then built the carriage out of 1" sections of oak stacked and bolted together, used copper pipe as the steel clamp bearings for the trunion arms. Wedges for the elevation blocks and rope soaked in coffee for the keepers as the early guns used. The barrel I got at the Tulsa show, has a 1.29" bore. A battery covered with aluminum foil, then with a 100 grains of FF powder sealed, makes a powder load cartridge for a pick and fuse..Thought I have pictures, but can not find the pictures on here, must be on the PC. I found some steel ball bearings on line that fit the bore, but have never fired it. Do not want to clean it....;-)
It is in the shop, can always take another picture.

 

[Bamaboy19]

I'm the pinnacle of DIY, frugal, but wise enough to know my limits. As much as I'd love to own a cannon (dad was an artillery sergeant in the Army!) I think I'd pony up and buy one, I'm pretty proud that I've made it this far with all 10 fingers and both eyes!
I'm I were to roll my own; I'd bore out a hydraulic shaft

 

[pete repete]

when i was a Marine EOD tech we had some civil war reinactors come to the base. i oversaw safety. they shot steel wool wrapped in muslin from their cannons at night. it was beautiful.

 

[Bamaboy19]

Of course I can't find video, somewhere there are pictures; in 1976 in Honolulu, my dad did a 21 gun salute with 7 Howitzers, they were in dress khakis with polished chrome helmets. I was a boy scout and carried a flag in the parade! One of my most spectacular memories.

Can't find any video even close to the salute they put on that day.

 

[DickDunkin]

It would 100% be safer to use as a post driver.

I used E-70s to weld it which is good for 70,000 PSI tensile strength, the tube itself has 95000 psi tensile strength, and with a 4 oz of powder + the size of the bore, shouldn't ever reach higher than 6000 psi with this.

I'll see if I can upload the video of it being test fired.

I don't need to hear math they made this shit work hundreds of years ago without a welder I'm sure yours will last 100 years! Just takes 2 extra balls besides the cannon balls to try it lol. I'd make an Isis style pick up truck bed mount lmfao that would look epic rolling through town.

 

[slapdick]

I don't need to hear math they made this shit work hundreds of years ago without a welder I'm sure yours will last 100 years! Just takes 2 extra balls besides the cannon balls to try it lol. I'd make an Isis style pick up truck bed mount lmfao that would look epic rolling through town.

I've shot it a couple times in the past year, still hasn't blown up on me and I recently used it to pound about 50 T-posts for a fence I built, so I would say the design is good to go.