Got a cannon

[momatt]

As boys grow up they tend to be better funded and less well supervised. I always wanted a cannon so I had  one turned out of a 400 pound piece of 4140. After they got done at the machine shop it's a 220 pound tube. Bore is 2.25 inches, and it's 7 inches in diameter at the butt. Fired it 10 times on the 4th and all I can say it she did not disappoint.

here is a video with 1300 ounces of fg.  m.youtube.com/watch?v=UmMUfoobH14

[nolongcolt]

That's pretty cool,,but I don't think you had 81 pounds of FG in there.

[momatt]

1300 grains, 3 ounces. Not used to measuring in ounces.

[cherokeetracker]

The little guy looks like he means business. Hope it was fun.

[bulasteve]

I'm thinkin', blades in the teeth, shot across the bow...aye matey ! Or 3 lbs of BB's n a flock of geese...nevermind.

[turbo]

I WANT ONE!!!

[magnumwheelman]

me too... how much did the block of 4140 cost??? ( already got a call into my fabricator buddy )

[mattc]

I had clover machine shop in ohio make it. Not sure what the materials cost was, he will machine a 1/2 scale napoleon including providing the 4140 and machine, thread and weld the trunnions for $1,100 or so. 1018 is cheaper and fine for cannons. I recommend sticking to the old rule of thumb, the breech diameter has to have at least a caliber thickness of steel around it. Cheapest way to get a cannon is to buy a Hern ironworks cast iron one with a steel liner in it.

[magnumwheelman]

stopped by my buddies yesterday... he has 12-15 ft of thick wall 4140 DOM tubing 6" OD 2.75" center hole... thinking that would work for the bore & weld on some outer bands for trunions & such

[awp101]

Jul 5, 2015 17:49:42 GMT -5 momatt said:

As boys grow up they tend to be better funded and less well supervised.

I'd like to officially nominate that line as Line of the Month. I think it could be a strong contender for Line of the Year as well!

[cj3a]

Momatt, are the trunnions and the barrell machine from one piece? If so thats alot of material to remove. Well done.

[harveylogan]

Really neat and nice job, BIG BOOMERS are a bunch of fun and get everybody's attention fast.

I have this Motar, 14"long, 6"round, 2.25"bore. The bronze billet used was from a old military ships bronze propeller drive shaft. The gentleman replaced the shaft and then took this piece and turned the Mortar. I built the bed, Oak/Steel. The gentleman has passed away and I ended up with it after going thru a couple of his friends.

I'm curious as to how you are making the the 3oz signal/report. I actually use 1.5oz BP under a small pineapple juice can that has been filled with cement, set off with 3.5" cannon fuse. I would like to figure out how to make just the signal/report as you use.

FWIW, if I go to 2oz or BP the projectile comes apart to powder, we don't go there anymore. The cement used is the stuff in a box used to cement back into bores, like if you were setting handrails, it's HARD stuff.

[momatt]

Harvey, I like your mortar, very neat looking. I assume it has a reduced powder chamber smaller than the bore? I made those charges by rolling tin foil around the same juice can you use, fold the end up, twist, cut the tail down to 1/2 inch or less and the smash down with can. Slide the foil cup off the can mandrel, fill with powder and then fold twist up the top. The powder is protected in the foil from an potential ember from the previous shot (wet swabbing between shots should be done). Then ram it Dow, prick the charge and insert your friction primer or fuse. Yours looks like it may have a slap hammer for a 22 blank or 209 primer ignition?

[harveylogan]

Thanks for the info. In the box of accessories there was a roll of heavy alum foil, I think now I know why it was there.
Yes there is a smaller chamber with a rounded cup for the powder charge.
That is a slap hammer for a 209 primer, apparently it didn't work so well and they went to cannon fuse. The spring to the hammer is all messed up. I'm going to leave it there , it doesn't get in the way. It' adds to the experience to LIGHT IT UP using fuse.
There is ~ 125lbs of bronze there.
After seeing yours and your reply I have been surfing the Internet for info on the alum powder charge, I noticed some say add some barrel sized wads made from heavy cardboard to leather to add to the decibals. Any experience? Info?