Cannon Kit Question??

Some one gave me this cannon kit the other day.
They did not have any instructions for it. I was told it would fire beer cans filled with cement.
Is there anyone here that might like to help me
with some information about a project like this?

Thanks

:hmm: :hmm: :hmm:

I don't know much about cannons but I have to say this looks like an accident waiting to happen to me. :hmm:

it looks like that it once fired beer cans, and probably was its last time shooting.

i seen a welded cannon before, but it was a lot different construction from this.

the long tall tube--would it by any chance be a rifled tank gun barrel or perhps a piece of seamless tubing.

If so I see a cannon kit, a shootiable cannon kit, A safe shootable cannon kit. Shrink and weld the breech plug in place. Weld the outer decorative pieces together. True up the bore spread epoxy over the liner and slide it in. Ad some cap screws to the muzzle to lock the liner in place.

I seem to see a cannon barrel without it's first reinforcement, a seperate cascable, two weld on trunnions, a sleeve to go inside, a mysterious second tube and a metal disc?

There has to be a cannon in there somewhere but I don't quite see it yet :hmm:

I think I'd start with an accurate drawing on a computer then try to marry it up with a virtual carriage. You have to get the centre of gravity some way behind the trunnions and I think that's going to put them slap bang on top of a barrel ring?

Looks like a fun thing to do though :thumbsup:

im not too sure... but perhaps the op could clarify this as well as more pics if possible

I see a great project. Perhaps clean up the tube and find out its a seemless dom liner. If not get one. Cleane the breach plug and freeze it .,, while heat the DOM ., if the plug is no good get one ., after the heat and freez put the breech plug into the DOM ., then drill it and Pin it ., and then WELD it I think you know the drill ., finish the Dom to be the REAL cannon and then put it into the cast cannon and presto ., If you dont want it ., I'll take it.

Thanks for all the response. Here is a few more photos.

I cleaned the inner and outer barrel up some and did not find any seams in either. I would say the whole thing weighs over three hundred pounds.

So shrink the the breach plug and expand the outer barrel to fit the breach plug. Then pin and then weld. Right?

Do you think maybe a couple of short decorative cross over straps welded across that seam between the breach and the outer barrel for added strength?

Then I suppose use the same tecneic to install the inter tube inside of the outer barrel, but secure it in place with welds at the seam between the two sections of the outer barrel, and a weld at the very end. I don't think that epoxy will work because the tolerances are too close.

Any ideas on where or how to place the trunnions for proper balance?

That just leaves one left over piece. The multi lipped plate. Only thing I can think is an end cap
but the tolerances for that would be very tight.
Could there be some other use for this plate?

The thickness of the barrel wall at the fire box will be almost the same thickness as the projectile. Is that sufficient?

Any other ideas would be appreciated?

Thanks

Very interesting stuff!

Not knowing the origin of these pieces, casts a shadow of doubt!

Safety is paramount with items like this!

My first stop would be to a machine shop, who can perform a Rockwell hardness test on that metal!

You really need to know what it is made of before you do anything with it at all!

Having that barrel in three pieces would not sit to well with me! I am not sure what the intended purpose was, especially having the breech that way, and the barrel in two pieces?? Maybe someone reached the capacity of their lathe.

Unless that breach plug could be threaded, I don't really know how to put it together correctly! As for putting the barrel together, not to sure on that either!

It appears someone had some spare time at a machine shop, but didn't really do his homework!

If anything, that barrel should have been turned out of solid stock!

That beer can pipe, appears to have been put together the same way. Separate breech plug etc...

The more I look at it, I think the pipe with the beer can in it is the sleeve for the barrel components! Now that would make some sense! Try to see if that long pipe fits in the barrel?????

Mule Brain, With the Rockwell hardness test what exactly should I be looking for? Also what do you think about my ideas so far as to the assembly that is laid out in the post above yours.
Thanks.

DD, I for got to mention that the tube does not have any rifling in it.

Doesn't that have some thing to do with the legalities of ownership here in the states?

castnshoot said:

Mule Brain, With the Rockwell hardness test what exactly should I be looking for? Also what do you think about my ideas so far as to the assembly that is laid out in the post above yours.
Thanks.

Click to expand...

The Hardness test, will tell you what type of hardness/tensile strength of the steel.

http://www.gordonengland.co.uk/hardness/rockwell.htm

I would slide the tube with the beer can in it, into the barrel assembly for starters!

Lets see some more pics with it like that!

MB

That liner looks pretty darn stout to me! I would be talking to a machine shop about getting this project together!

That liner is 4", how well does it fit into the barrel components??

Mule Brain,

Thanks for the link. So what hardness value would be needed to use for a barrel?

If you read what I wrote above the pictures I posted you can see that the tolerances of the inner and outer barrel are so close that they can only be assembled with a torch so I really don"t want to put the inner barrel inside of the outer barrel until I am real sure on how I want to set it up.

I would compare whatever hardness is to 1018-1014 cold rolled steel. This is some of the best stock to use when turning out a cannon.

I am not sure what the specs are, but any machine shop with a hardness tester will clarify for ya!

So the tolerances of the sleeve and the barrel are that tight?

Mule Brain

Thanks again,

I think I will take your advice.

What about the ratios for the thickness of the barrel wall that is needed for the diameter of the projectile?

You know of any charts or info on that?

No it has nothing to do with the legality.

Much of it depends on the size of powder charge. I would say, that if that steel liner/barrel combination is the best steel, It would darn near take about anything!

Really need to know composition of the metal, to equate max/safe powder charges!

That liner just might be oil drill pipe, and if it is?? That stuff will take a real beating!

Taking advise from some here from my first post [Cannon Kit Question]. Mostly Harbor Master.

I have gone forward with my project.

I'm now at a point where I need some more advice.

What size touch hole should I put in this cannon?

What kind of finish would you guys suggest?

Should I test fire it before going forward?

What would be the best way to to do that with out the carriage?

What size charge and fuse?

What kind of powder?

Any other info I should know?

Please review this link [below] before trying to answer these questions. Reviewing my first post [Cannon Kit Question] my also be helpful.

I will not hold it against you if I blow myself up. :wink: I don't have a clue about cannons.

Thanks for taking the time!! http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj35/blaineburn/cannon project/