Homemade Cannon Thread

[MikeJackmin]

I just picked up one of these for my birthday...

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_106_665&products_id=1655

...and now I figure I'm hooked. Before long I'll probably make a few more myself - I already have my heart set on a .177 version.

I really do prefer to keep all my fingers attached, and one of the things that's been holding me back is my inability to locate definitive safety information to guide the design of these devices. I'd like to know - really know - that a given thickness of a given material will provide the correct safety margin for a given bore size.

Since these little cannon are nothing more than BP pistols with unusual stocks, I'm sure this information is out there. Does anyone here have a definitive source that can safely guide the home cannon-builder?

 

[sundance44s]

I don`t know how I missed seeing that one in the Dixie site ..thanks ..looks like a nice deal . let us know how it shoots.
Are you going to paint the carriage and wheels ?

 

[Zouave Rifle]

Air mortar?

I was watching Myth Busters on DSC one night and came up with this idea:

Take the proper size schedule 40 PVC pipe and cut two equal length sections, then put a cap on one end of one of the tubes. Then put a 1/4 turn ball valve in the middle of the two tubes and a air valve on the closed section of tube. The open end can then be loaded. Pump up the rear chamber to about 30 psi and turn the ball valve. THUMP!

I haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to buy some 2" PVC and give it a go. It might end up being used kind of like a Jap knee-mortar.

 

[sundance44s]

Myth Busters do make some nice air cannons ..watermelon,chicken, pumpkin launchers and such ..LOL

 

[scrat]

Wow hey thats a good price too.

 

[MikeJackmin]

> Are you going to paint the carriage and wheels ?

I figured I'd shoot it a little first, make sure it all stays in one piece. After that, a little olive drab and black and it'd be good to go.

If you read the comments at the Dixie site, other customers point out (correctly) that the finish on the barrel is really rough. It's be nice to clean it up, but without a lathe it would be a fairly arduous undertaking. Personally, I like for it to look like what it is - an inexpensive toy cannon, perhaps with a fresh coat of paint on the carrage.

FWIW, I also chose to drill the flash hole smaller than usual - 1mm rather than 2mm (3/32 inch). It just seemed it would scale better. It'd be easy to open up later if I change my mind.

I'm waiting on some 1mm fuse from here:

http://www.skylighter.com/mall/ignition.asp

Once it comes, I'll let you know how it all works out.

 

[JCT]

In the future, you'll be better off getting fuse here: www.cannonfuse.com I've bought for years from him, fast shipping and great prices.

 

[MikeJackmin]

Oops! Made a crazy mistake in my post above. The fuse sizes are not 3/8 and 1/4, they are 3/32 (2mm) and 1mm... will fix.

 

[zxcvbob]

Ever tried making your own quickmatch?

 

[JCT]

Yeah, I make blackmatch and quickmatch with my homemade BP. Simple as running some cotton string through a slurry of wetted BP. The fuse is even better if you first soak it in a solution of boiled KNO3, dry it, then run through the BP.
Paper tape is an easy way to encase the blackmatch to make it into quickmatch. It burns instantaneously when enclosed.