Author Topic: Start of my 2" cannon (Read 1397 times)

LaVere · « **on:** March 24, 2008, 08:44:14 AM »

I started with a 2" steel rod that is 9" long. I had it drilled out to 3/4" diameter 7" deep. A few day later I remembered the tubular sleeve I had bought at the same time. These are parts left over from another non cannon project last year. I slid the tube over and it look rather cool but not necessarily functional. So I took it to my friendly welder " Iron Mike" Showed him what I wanted and he did the rest. While I just picked it up a few hours ago. I debating with myself whether to really smooth the welds or just wire brush them a little and get on with the base.

GGaskill · « **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2008, 03:43:17 PM »

How tight a fit is the sleeve?

Double D · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2008, 04:59:32 PM »

You have a couple of issues to address, one a bit serious and the others not so serious.

Perponderence looks wrong. My guess is if you pick the tube up by the trunnions the muzzle is going to point striaght down.

Fuse hole is pretty big but may be just fine. Since the fuse hole is going through a line you are going to have to build a vent hole liner. No big deal, just a must do when using liners. If not you will get rust and corrosion between barrel and sleeve.

Trunnion attachment. It looks like you trunnions are just welded onto the surface of the sleeve. They have no sheer strength and will break off or bend very easy.

So what to do. All the issues are focused around the sleeve. You need the sleeve but it really should be shrink fit to give strength. You need to shorten it. You could make a banded breech ala Parrot. It shouldn't be longer then about a 1/4 of the barrel length. Put in a vent liner. If you do the sleeve move it far enough forward that you can turn the cascable round. Your bore could be drilled deeper also. Safety standards call for a wall thickness equal to or greater than the bore diameter around the breech so you could drill you bore and 1 1/4 deeper. Is should be reamed and polished. Drilling deeper will move teh breech further to the rear and inder the shortened line. It will move the vent back also.

Do a short taper on the front of the barrel. Start just forward of the center line of the barrel and taper so the muzzle is say 1 7/8 inch in diameter.

Locate the center of balance and drill some pockets centered just forward of that point for your trunnion. I am talking maybe a 1/4 inch forward of the balance point here. You want the tube to be slighly breech heavy or the perponderance on th rear. Press your trunnions into the pockets then weld them in place.

What you should end up with here is a gun that resembles what is refered to as a Pack Pack...it's a mythical beast that some say never existed...but its neat looking anyway.

You do this and you will have a neat little gun.

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2008, 09:50:01 PM »

Is it just my 'puter or do other people only see empty boxes with little red "x's"
instead of pictures?

Titus · « **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2008, 11:55:46 PM »

I get that too. would like to see the pics.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2008, 12:50:14 AM »

The URL was posted - hence the 'red x" - on mine too.

If you put the URL into your browser address line you CAN see each picture, one at a time (until he corrects it by putting the 'code' in place of the URL.

Double D · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2008, 04:12:56 AM »

When I first viewed this post I got the little red x's also, But they were different kind of red x and right clicking didn't do anyththing. I check the format code used to post the pictures and every thing was just fine there. I copied and paste the URL into my address line of my browser and the picture opened up so the URL is just fine. Checked properties and it is the same URL as the one posted. After doing that when I went back to the post and the pictures show for me...go figure.

Might be a bandwidth or public access issue.

LaVere · « **Reply #7 on:** March 25, 2008, 04:38:52 AM »

Are the photos ok now ?

Graybeard · « **Reply #8 on:** March 25, 2008, 04:41:13 AM »

Quote from: LaVere on March 25, 2008, 04:38:52 AM

Are the photos ok now ?

No they are still not there for me. I suggest you use www.myhostedpics.com to host your images and you'll have no more trouble that is our site on the GBO server.

LaVere · « **Reply #9 on:** March 25, 2008, 05:27:38 AM »

Thank you for all of your replies.

Here is the barrel to mount trial.

As far as shape I'm not trying to copy any old style just make a fun safe noise maker.

Gordon

LaVere · « **Reply #10 on:** March 25, 2008, 05:39:24 AM »

Quote from: Cat Whisperer on March 25, 2008, 12:50:14 AM

The URL was posted - hence the 'red x" - on mine too.

If you put the URL into your browser address line you CAN see each picture, one at a time (until he corrects it by putting the 'code' in place of the URL.

What code are you talking about?

Test photo using TypePad.com

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2008, 06:06:33 AM »

The second batch of pictures is still empty boxes and red x's.

jeeper1 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 25, 2008, 06:43:42 AM »

I don't even see the empty boxes and red x's.

Double D · « **Reply #13 on:** March 25, 2008, 07:48:35 AM »

For those who can see the pictures, do you see the same unsafe features I do?

LaVere · « **Reply #14 on:** March 25, 2008, 08:39:23 AM »

Here is my photo site.

http://www.pbase.com/lavere/2inchcannon

Don Krag · « **Reply #15 on:** March 25, 2008, 08:53:50 AM »

I can see all the pics no problem.

With the mass of the whole piece and the apparent thickness of the welds on the trunnions, I don't think a 3/4" cal is going to cause any shearing issues.

I do cringe any time I see a ring of welding around a barrel near the high pressure points, though. I would have shrunk-fit the sleeve and welded at the rear only. With that wall thickness, it's probably a non-issue in this case.

You'll need your elevation device at the front of the trunnions since it's weighted forward.

I think it looks kind of cool overall.

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #16 on:** March 25, 2008, 09:29:53 AM »

I see pictures now and can see what DD says about unsafe areas. Yeah, the fuzehole is a little large and the trunnions could be a problem. Thank you for getting the pics fixed.

GGaskill · « **Reply #17 on:** March 25, 2008, 09:39:20 AM »

Looking at the pictures of the muzzle, there is plenty of wall thickness even without the sleeve. The large vent diameter is really not a problem as it should be drilled and tapped for a liner. The trunnion location will give the wrong preponderance but that just means the elevation control will need to be in front of the trunnions instead of behind as the shot will not be heavy enough to change the balace point. Since it's a freelance design, it's OK in my opinion.

Max Caliber · « **Reply #18 on:** March 25, 2008, 10:30:56 AM »

I agree with Gaskill, Looks safe to me, go for it, We all have to start somewhere. My first cannon was a piece of water pipe with a chunk of wood for a breech block and it fired black walnuts propelled by real cherry bombs. That was a long time ago, in a place far, far away.

Max

LaVere · « **Reply #19 on:** March 25, 2008, 12:30:06 PM »

Quote from: GGaskill on March 25, 2008, 09:39:20 AM

Looking at the pictures of the muzzle, there is plenty of wall thickness even without the sleeve. The large vent diameter is really not a problem as it should be drilled and tapped for a liner. The trunnion location will give the wrong preponderance but that just means the elevation control will need to be in front of the trunnions instead of behind as the shot will not be heavy enough to change the balace point. Since it's a freelance design, it's OK in my opinion.

Than you all again for the pleasant reply. Tomorrow I'll take it back to the welder and fill the hole then drill all of the way through and I'll test fire it also. Pictures to follow

I have not design the elevation control. I may just set at a fixed elevation.

Terry C. · « **Reply #20 on:** March 25, 2008, 01:02:02 PM »

If you fill in the hole with weld (getting good penetration into the tube beneath), and the resulting plug is larger than the diameter of the drilled vent, that should alleviate the need for a vent liner. Make the hole in the sleeve bigger before welding if necessary.

No gap between sleeve and tube, nowhere for fouling to accumulate.

Just make sure your bit can cut through the weld deposit. Try it on a piece of scrap first.

dominick · « **Reply #21 on:** March 25, 2008, 02:25:39 PM »

If your trunions are centered, I would plug weld the hole and flip the barrel over and vent the other side. If you carriage is built close to the barrel, the trunions would be plenty strong. Dom

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #22 on:** March 25, 2008, 03:34:12 PM »

For a first cannon, using what is at hand, and resources available, for use as a noise maker it's GREAT!

My first mortar, in the old somewhat larger beer-can caliber looked so good when I finished the lathe work (using a 3/4" bit to drill it and bore it) I took it to the plating factory and had it bright chrome plated. Not histerically accurate, but we've launched many a can and celebrated many occasions - starting with the first round I fired from it on JULY 4th, 1975 (200th anniversary of the First Shot Heard 'round the World - about 12 miles down the road from that famous bridge between Lexignton and Concord.

My only question for the FIRST one is "Is it safe?"

I think the safety issue (for a sound maker) has been addressed.

Build it up, keep safe, have FUN.

THEN build more ....

LaVere · « **Reply #23 on:** March 26, 2008, 05:35:11 AM »

I decided to weld the outer pipe hole to the barrel then fill hole with weld. That has been done and drilled and test fired. BOOM