[zxcvbob]

Unless I threw it away last year, I have an old medical oxygen tank -- an old one that's made out of steel rather than aluminum. It's about 3 inches in diameter and 3 feet tall. If I cut the bottom out of it, would it make an OK barrel for about a 4-Pdr mortar or howitzer? If so, would a threaded steel plug where the valve goes be strong enough for the breech plug? Or does it also need to be welded?

I'm not sure if the touch hole should be drilled through the neck of the tank, or up the center of the breech plug.

I've read about people using large O2 tanks as mortar barrels to shoot bowling balls. :what:

This would mostly just be for firing salutes on the 4th of July and on my birthday. Mostly.

[scrat]

Shieeet id be using that tank for welding

[jlbraun]

Bookmarked for either future explosive awesomeness or eventual obituary. :D

[zxcvbob]

I've got a 122 cubic foot O2 welding tank already. This little tank would need a new valve and a paint job, plus it hasn't been hydrostatic tested since 1941. Even then, it would only hold about 10 cubic feet.

[scrat]

OK Cannon. Im game. keep me posted. you got my attention.

[icebones]

dude have you been reading my post about bowling ball cannons?

got for it, but just dont blow yourself up ok...

[scrat]

bowling balls. ummm. i think softballs would be the thing to do.

[Pancho]

Check out Icebones post. The bowling ball cannon I first saw was made out of schedule 80 seamless pipe but subsequent research found a lot of guys using 0/2 tanks which are about schedule 40 and seamless too.
It depends on how fast and far you can run after lighting the fuse.