Author Topic: Looking for loud mortar (Read 3182 times)

snakyjake · « **on:** November 05, 2007, 06:29:39 PM »

Hello All,

I'm looking for a well valued mortar that can produce the loudest signal for around $50.

I've only seen 3 places that sells something I'm interested in, but have no idea which design would be loudest.

May I please ask for some help in figuring out which design would be best for the loud sound?

Here's the sites I've been able to find. Please list any others you might recommend.

http://fireworksupply.net/inc/sdetail/2154
http://www.cannonthunder.com/aboutus.html
http://home.att.net/~galahs/CCannonreadymadepage.htm

Thank you,

Jake

Double D · « **Reply #1 on:** November 05, 2007, 06:34:23 PM »

Doesn't sound like you have looked at our Where to find cannons list stuck to the top of this board. Start with our sponsors. Not only do they pay to make this board possible, they make so good guns also.

Mortars by the way aren't normally loud. Mortars have a deep boom that you feel instead of hear.

GGaskill · « **Reply #2 on:** November 05, 2007, 09:13:07 PM »

If all you are looking for is noise, you should investigate thunder mugs.

cannonmn · « **Reply #3 on:** November 05, 2007, 10:17:30 PM »

When people want to make noise safely, I usually recommend they get something designed to fire a 10 gauge blank shotgun shell. It makes plenty of noise for most purposes, and is much noisier than most mortars.

The poster above is correct about thunder mugs, they are essentially mortars designed to optimize noise output. A typical thunder mug made to be heard a long way off, might have a bore of 1.5 to 1.75 inches, have a wall thickness equal to or greater than the bore, and would be about 10 to 12 inches tall.

snakyjake · « **Reply #4 on:** November 06, 2007, 05:14:28 AM »

I think I should probably ask the question of what makes a mortar/cannon loud? I believe its called a signal/salute cannon/mortar.

I looked at some of the sponsored websites, but not interested in replicas or anything too fancy, and didn't find information to lead me to what's loud vs. size vs. price. I need some help down this path. Looking for something loud, not too big, not shooting projectiles, and something not too expensive (~$100).

I also wanted something more powerful than a 10 gauge shotgun (I already have a 12 gauge with 3.5 inch magnums).

The Cannon Thunder website mentions it is a mortar, and designed for maximum sound. But that just might be marketing.

The Thundermug appears to have the basic design I've been looking for. I found 2 at this website (http://www.pyrocreations.com/salute_cannons). I tried looking for others on the sponsoring website, but couldn't find any. If anyone knows of a sponsor, please let me know. I'd be happy to give them my business for sponsoring this site.

Thank you,

Jake

Fluxion · « **Reply #5 on:** November 06, 2007, 05:19:32 AM »

I doubt the candy cannon would be very loud.

The one at Cannon thunder is just a piece of pipe with a pipe cap welded on the end, I wouldn't trust it. BTW this same guy sells some stuff on Ebay and his work may be good but for his other cannons he doesn't follow standard safety guidelines that are encouraged here on this site.

The one from Pyrocreations is not available at this time. I would trust this one over the others.

As a side note, I have my pyro technicians license and have quite a bit of experience with this stuff and I would not recommend using flash powder in any of these noise makers. They just aren't over built enough for me. I have built my own for black powder and for flash.

If you want to buy a concussion mortar that is used by the pro's check out Item No. FX0620 towards the bottom of the page here http://skylighter.com/mall/special_effects.asp

Fluxion · « **Reply #6 on:** November 06, 2007, 05:26:09 AM »

Quote from: snakyjake on November 06, 2007, 05:14:28 AM

I think I should probably ask the question of what makes a mortar/cannon loud? I believe its called a signal/salute cannon/mortar.

I looked at some of the sponsored websites, but not interested in replicas or anything too fancy, and didn't find information to lead me to what's loud vs. size vs. price. I need some help down this path. Looking for something loud, not too big, not shooting projectiles, and something not too expensive (~$100).

The Cannon Thunder website mentions it is a mortar, and designed for maximum sound. But that just might be marketing.

The Thundermug appears to have the basic design I've been looking for. I found 2 at this website (http://www.pyrocreations.com/salute_cannons). I tried looking for others on the sponsoring website, but couldn't find any. If anyone knows of a sponsor, please let me know. I'd be happy to give them my business for sponsoring this site.

Thank you,

Jake

The Big daddy two on the pyro creations site look a lot like mine! Pyrocreations is a good site to deal with and there thundermugs are built the right way. The only difference with mine are that I don't have a fuse hole in any of mine, I use ematches for ignition. I can say that with my 2" and a load of 800 grains of FFFG it can be heard for at least 7 miles, at least that's what the Fire Department told us last Fourth of July

Tropico · « **Reply #7 on:** November 06, 2007, 05:51:48 AM »

From the web site youve posted.., the big daddy mortar looks to be the safest one to me. This thundermug looks more like a mortar to me. But these http://fireworksupply.net/inc/sdetail/2154 shouldnt really bare the name mortar., honesty in advertising should be calling these pipes . But that wouldnt sound good.., so they call them mortars. I wouldnt want to be anywhere around this thing.

Tropico · « **Reply #8 on:** November 06, 2007, 07:04:16 AM »

Thanks for the website Fluxion 1 ., they have some neat stuff there ! On the noise maker topic the Concussion Pot (Concussion Mortar) on that website sounds pretty good and pretty true to a thundermug with the handle and the 1" bore. My Thunder mug is actually about the same size., 1" bore and a 7" depth.

I believe the actually usuage for the Thundermug was for the "Alchemist" to use as a testing tool before making a production of a given mix (Black-powder).

cannonmn · « **Reply #9 on:** November 06, 2007, 10:31:30 AM »

Quote

I believe the actually usuage for the Thundermug was for the "Alchemist" to use as a testing tool before making a production of a given mix (Black-powder).

Might have been used for that too but it wasn't the primary purpose.

I wrote a thoroughly-researched article for The Artilleryman in the mid-1980's about the history of thundermugs. They evolved from the removable chambers that were used in the early breechloading cannons, like 15-16th C. They were used for saluting on big holidays like the Queen's birthday. Typically a hundred or more were lined up a few feet apart with a powder train laid across the side with the vent. The train was lit and you had a long succession of evenly-timed booms. They went out of use when chlorate and perchlorate compounds began to be employed to make loud booms with expendable fireworks.

GGaskill · « **Reply #10 on:** November 06, 2007, 12:06:05 PM »

These have had presentation plaques attached to them.

cannonmn · « **Reply #11 on:** November 06, 2007, 12:08:26 PM »

Here's a photo of the only drawing I've ever seen depicting the practice of chain-firing of thunder mugs.

Tropico · « **Reply #12 on:** November 06, 2007, 02:22:22 PM »

Here is a photo of mine

petersen_arms · « **Reply #13 on:** November 06, 2007, 03:24:01 PM »

If you can pick up some steel locally, Say maybe a piece of 4" or bigger round stock X 8" or 9" long should cost less than $50 and find a metal shop near you, You could probably have everything done yourself. I wouldn't think more than $50 for the labor. An 1.5 " hole X 6"deep with an 1/8 fuse hole makes a real nice boom. If you know someone with a small drill press you might want to drill your own fuse hole,depending on the shop some are afraid of liability if you tell them what it is. It's a down and dirty mug but gets the job done. Good luck!

cannonmn · « **Reply #14 on:** November 07, 2007, 12:58:37 AM »

The two outside objects are thunder mugs, both a bit unusual in shape as thundermugs go, but they are real, old, cast iron thundermugs. The one on the left is octagonal.

The thing in the middle is still not positively identified. We think it is a firework mortar based on the drawing a couple of posts back which has very similar objects as the limbs of the "firemaster," the old name for an expert who put on fireworks displays. There's no vent in the tall object, if it is a fireworks mortar it would be fired by quickmatch just as modern firework mortars are fired (or electric squib, but they didn't exist back then.) The size reference is a measuring tape standing 1 foot off the floor, I didn't know about the powder can scale practice at the time I took the picture.

Blaster · « **Reply #15 on:** November 08, 2007, 03:24:35 AM »

cannonmn, I personally think that tape measure (with it's easily read numbers) was a darn good substitute for a powder can. Just my opinion though.

Now if it just gets by old DD.

Double D · « **Reply #16 on:** November 08, 2007, 03:58:36 AM »

Blaster is the Master of the Powder Can rule...If he accepts tape measure then wo be it for Tim or I to question him!!!

Santa Dave · « **Reply #17 on:** November 08, 2007, 09:16:01 AM »

After my July 5 experience i'm not too convinced that size is the only variable in noise production! Tropico's 1" swivel guns were the loudest thing there (burning Black powder and GRASS wads!)
Santa Dave (Maybe NOT this year)

Tropico · « **Reply #18 on:** November 08, 2007, 12:08:20 PM »

Quote

Tropico's 1" swivel guns were the loudest thing there.

Thank You Sir

My secret is., 180 grains 2f in a foil wrap formed using the tompion from the given cannon.
A 1/4 slice of whole wheat bread to nestle the ball into ..., And then a 1/4 slice of bread after the ball to keep it from rolling out of the barrel.

I was using a Do-It 3oz. fishing sinker mold for a .960 ball in a 1" BORE..., It was pretty accurate for being a little loose but the bread worked very well to improve accuracy . I have siince gotten a 1" ball mold altho I have not tried it yet..., I am hopeful it'll be close enough I can use only a little bread to keep the ball from rolling out.

A 1" bore can do very well

I too am so convinced Santa that I will have another very soon.

Rickk · « **Reply #19 on:** November 08, 2007, 01:44:00 PM »

Loaded properly, the Brooks 1" Dictator is louder than a 12 g shotgun. It is pretty as well :-)

http://brooks-usa.com/_wsn/page7.html

irishman · « **Reply #20 on:** November 08, 2007, 04:34:27 PM »

Rickk,

Quote from: Rickk on November 08, 2007, 01:44:00 PM

Loaded properly, the Brooks 1" Dictator is louder than a 12 g shotgun. It is pretty as well :-)

http://brooks-usa.com/_wsn/page7.html

Thank you rickk! How does the Dictator (VM Special) compare to the much longer (13 inches) 24 pounder with 1" bore. I only built 3 of those, so I have not had the opportunity to fire one next to the other with the same charge for comparison.

Michael

Rickk · « **Reply #21 on:** November 09, 2007, 12:24:16 PM »

For the same load, the 24 pounder is WAY louder than the shorter Dictator

Tropico · « **Reply #22 on:** November 09, 2007, 03:30:56 PM »

YES ! ., Actually the Brooks 24 pounder is A L O T of bang for the buck. It will cost more than 50 bux..., almost anything will. Its a great choice for a noise maker that is built right. You wont get much for "Fifty". If you are interested in an economical 1" bore that can really make a statement and look beautiful too....,This is your gun. A little more gets you more in the cannon world., and a little more gets even more. Try for a little more...,you wont regret it. ...., less and you have regrets.

You gotta think about this like cars., you wouldn't wanna take out your best girl in a fifty dollar beater would you ?
You wouldn't wanna hand down to your kid a beater ..., would you ? The faster you wanna go .., the more it cost....,The Brooks 24 pounder is a small 1" bore sure..., but you could think of it as a Desktop GTO ..., I do. Its really loud and will pack a 1" lead dumb -dumb down range at mach-speeds . I've done it.