Are Canons A Fab Topic?

[etherhuffer]

2 Canons from huge stainless propeller bolts. My buddy made 2, mine is smaller one in background. 1 golf ball/V8 can full of cement caliber

 

[Gunfixr]

Just a heads up, cannons, to be safe, are generally made with a barrel wall thickness not less than bore diameter, unless it is of a special design, or constructed of a material that will handle the pressure.

 

[cvairwerks]

Look like mortars to me, rather than canons. Any video of firing them?

 

[slowtwitch73]

The cannon I built has walls 1.5x projectile diameter, but seeing as those you made basically have no barrel, you may be ok.

 

[4xdog]

Are we talking about cannons? I was lookin' for a photography thread...

 

[Walkers]

Easiest way to be safe with them is to put progressively larger charges in them until the barrel splits, then make an identical cannon and run it at 25% less charge, ya know, for safety!

 

[budget76]

Easiest way to be safe with them is to put progressively larger charges in them until the barrel splits, then make an identical cannon and run it at 25% less charge, ya know, for safety!

ahh, the ol' bridge design approach

 

[Shiftless]

Here is a link to a cannon thread I started way back when.

Let's see your cannon! :evil:

What a great story Bones, and thanks for sharing it with us. I love the idea that the childhood experience and your Dad's kindness sparked off a lifelong interest to travel and see other cannons around the Country. That focus must have brought you to a lot of fun travel experiences, as they say...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[etherhuffer]

Great responses. These use a very low charge of black powder and have been fired many times. Mortar yes, not a true canon. I don't have video but these send golf balls a couple hundred yards. The V8 cans are easier to see fly. (at dusk on July 4 on a beach far from the police) A bit deeper 'boom' than my .50 cal muzzleloader rifle.

 

[Walkers]

ahh, the ol' bridge design approach

Yep, it works for manifold things!

 

[jfleisher]

Did someone say cannons?

 

[Gunfixr]

Seeing as blackpowder is an explosive, and not a propellant, barrel length isn't going to factor much. All of the pressure is generated at ignition, it does not build up as the projectile travels down the bore.
This is why you don't find modern day powder fired mortars.
If you look at pics of original mortars, their barrel walls are no less thick.

 

[luvtheheat]

2 Canons from huge stainless propeller bolts. My buddy made 2, mine is smaller one in background. 1 golf ball/V8 can full of cement caliber

Call me skeptical. I hope you don't end up maiming/killing yourself in this folly. I knew a couple of brothers in neighborhood I grew up in who came very close to being dead playing with these things.