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Mini mini cannon


KinneticEnergy

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I came up with plans for a small mini cannon. Not exactly a scale version of anything, but hey, it's simple.

 

I started off with a thick piece of aluminum barrel, and cut it to a acceptable length, Then took a machine screw, and cut it to fit into the back of the barrel, then used some good ol' JB Weld, and secured the piece in place(after it dried, I drilled a fuse hole). Then I cut a rectangle of scrap wood, and drilled a hole the size of the outer diameter halfway through the center of the wood. Then I drilled holes on two of the corners, and inserted BBQ skewer pieces(with a bit of tape) to fit in the holes, then inserted the barrel in the wood, and sprayed a anti static black spray paint on the finished product,

 

Here's some pics:

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p88/Bigelbach/Pyro003.jpg

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p88/Bigelbach/Pyro002.jpg

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p88/Bigelbach/Pyro001.jpg

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Comments/constructive criticism is welcome ^_^
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It looks like a neat little toy.

 

One comment only, safety-related of course. ;)

 

I hope you're using the SMALLEST pinch of BP that you can effectively light inside that barrel. A few GRAINS at best, let alone GRAMS.

 

If an explosion occurs, based on your design description I'd bet the breech plug would blow out before the barrel ruptures, but that's a bet with no winning side.

 

Looks like it would make a right fair bang. But stay safe!

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I hope you're using the SMALLEST pinch of BP that you can effectively light inside that barrel. A few GRAINS at best, let alone GRAMS.

 

If an explosion occurs, based on your design description I'd bet the breech plug would blow out before the barrel ruptures, but that's a bet with no winning side.

 

Looks like it would make a right fair bang. But stay safe!

Grams? Are you kidding? I Don't know if I would ever even think of trying anything over maybe .6g... My BP is fairly slow atm, so fuse powder is more suitable.

EDIT: I measured the amount of fuse powder, and the normal load I use is between .2g and .35g

 

As for the safety matter, when fired, If the pressure were to exceed the barrels limits, the breech plug IS designed to detach from the tube, leaving the rest of the cannon intact. Also, to prepare the cannon, the cannon is secured into the ground using the two skewers, the cannon is tilted upwards slightly, and the skewers are pushed into the ground. That way, if the plug ejects, it will be shot into the ground.

 

Thanks for the comments regarding my safety. It's always better to be safe than sorry isn't it?

 

Best regards, Kinnetic

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Looks nice, about how long is the barrel on that cannon? I've thought of doing something like this but im not sure where i should start. ^_^
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Looks nice, about how long is the barrel on that cannon? I've thought of doing something like this, but I'm not sure where I should start.  ^_^

The barrel length is around 2-1/2". You might be safer investing in a cannon like the one here: http://www.pyrocreations.com/inc/sdetail/13075

 

I've spent quite some time testing the barrel strength, designing the overload breech plug, and other such safety issues. It's easy to just throw a mini cannon together, but making it safe is a much bigger issue.

 

Either way, just try to be safe. I would never be able to live it down if you got hurt because of me.:unsure:

 

 

Best regards, Kinnetic

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  • 3 months later...
  • 3 weeks later...
Thats pretty sweet let us know how it goes. You definatly have inspired me to build another cannon. Cannons are definatly fun things. You seem to have most of the bases covered for safety. Just be sure to wear eye protection when you shoot it. What do you plan on firing from it?
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  • 1 year later...

I've built a few cannons (also have a bangsite big bang field cannon) Most of mine are "scrap" cannons, somthing that takes a few hours to build, and lasts untill i get tierd of it. In my most recent one (not unlike the one posted here, exept its 2.5in long barrel, 1 inch after that is taken up by the plug(so 3.5 overall) , 1.25in ID, and wall thicness of 2cm,) I made it so it can use timefuse, or a Ematch, it shoots marshmallos, it uses .5g BP per load. Its not sucured to anything exept a small plank with a backing, fitted with a hoseclamp.

 

Only used it once, made the barrel kinda short.

 

I like your idea better, seems slightly easyer ( i had such hassles with my end plug)

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  • 4 years later...

i once made a cannon from a 1 inch steel pipe stuck a end cap on the back drilled a 2 mil hole just big enough for a fuse put a little bp in then stuff paper towel

stick the cannon in potatoe and fire


it works awesome shot 220 feet one time

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  • 4 weeks later...

Well, I guess if you think about it, if there was a problem with a pipe cannon, it would suddenly be less a cannon and more a.... b0mb.

 

See, bullets are heartfelt gifts, but shrapnel is secret santa. ie, technically the same but much worse somehow.

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  • 9 months later...
I made a cannon around this size, but out of THICK brass. I've been experimenting with it lately using my homemade black powder. Fun stuff!
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A wet paper towel will bust the hell out of a barrel, i have seen pictures of that.

http://www.nps.gov/fomc/parknews/cannon-breech-failure.htm

 

i once made a cannon from a 1 inch steel pipe stuck a end cap on the back drilled a 2 mil hole just big enough for a fuse put a little bp in then stuff paper towel

stick the cannon in potatoe and fire


it works awesome shot 220 feet one time

Edited by dynomike1
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