Aluminum Mortar

[intoodeep]

Hey,

 Anyone up for an aluminum mortar?   :eek:  It's, a keg shapped beer can mortar.....

 It's not mine but, I ran across it on fleabay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mortar-Cannon_W0QQitemZ6634754757QQcategoryZ135QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 It's quite the hunk of aluminum. Now, for the big question. Is this puppy really safe? I'm not an engineer but, isn't 6061 strong for aluminum but also brittle?

 I'd like to hear the input on this one.

 Anyway, I just thought this would be a good one to bring out.

Well, I guess I'm in too deep.....

[intoodeep]

Oh, I forgot to add. So, when this is fired. Does the can go straight up...... and then come straight down? :eek:   :eek:

[GGaskill]

http://i9.ebayimg.com/04/i/07/45/9f/39_12.JPG">

The above picture seems to show a chamber.  Without knowing the wall thickness at the breech, it's hard to assess the safety of this device.  Aluminum essentially will fail from fatigue at some point.  The question is at 5 shots? 500 shots?  50,000 shots?  Most home cannon will not be used for 500 shots in their lifetimes.  But personally, I would not use aluminum for cannon/mortar barrels.

The size of this device is such that it could be bolted through the bottom to some kind of base, which could be constructed with an elevation device..