Cheek plate to fail or not to fail.

[Doc Brown.]

So you may remember my last mortar bed was a bit screwed up. Nobody thought it would survive and one guy I think said 100 grains would destroy it. Well heres my second try. This is a youth soft ball cannon. They are the most popular size mortar in the world. NOT
 
A quick question. My all thread elevator is maxed out in the picture. Is this a big deal. Should I fix this so it will go higher somehow or leave it alone?
 

[keith44]

just my personal opinion, and I have zero experience building a mortar, but to my mind it should have enough adjustment to go nearly, but not quite, vertical.  I think something like 30 degrees to 80 degrees would be ideal.


My reasoning is to be able to adjust the range and the arc with both elevation and powder charge variations.

[GGaskill]

Mortars are generally fired at elevations from 45° to 85° or so.  Firing at elevations less than 45° will give a greater horizontal component to the recoil and may cause overturning if the bed "digs in."  At 45° and greater, the recoil is more and more into the ground and the friction prevents rearwards motion of the piece.  I would increase the length of your elevation screw or put a wedge-shaped spacer on top of the surface supporting the current elevation screw so that closer to vertical angles can be achieved.

[Artilleryman]

You might be able to make an adapter sleeve that would fit over the shaft above the handles to increase the elevation.