Author Topic: BIG BORE - 16" Mortar (Read 1889 times)

Cat Whisperer · « **on:** June 13, 2009, 11:53:33 AM »

Well, it might not end up as a mortar since I bought it to be a firebox for burning pallets. BUT the thought did cross my mind.

1Southpaw · « **Reply #1 on:** June 13, 2009, 03:49:08 PM »

Shoot 5 Gallon cans with proper windage ?

lance · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2009, 03:59:48 PM »

Use it in the winter to burn pallets, but summer and fall, shoot watermelons and pumpkins

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #3 on:** June 13, 2009, 04:16:17 PM »

Quote from: 1Southpaw on June 13, 2009, 03:49:08 PM

Shoot 5 Gallon cans with proper windage ?

5 gallon buckets are only about 12" in diameter!

I've MEASURED them - looking for bullets!

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #4 on:** June 13, 2009, 05:43:08 PM »

Tim, In our search for tubes and projectiles before settling on the 11" size, we discovered 15" beach balls at K-mart. We measured a few and found they are 15" diameter only when pumped up to near maximum pressure. If you lessened the pressure until you just began to see wrinkles, you get about 14" or 14.25 dia. which is just right for windage on something this large. Then cover them with old fashioned newsprint paper-mache to make a hard, strong shell, then you could build a small, 20" square inside measure 2" X 6" lumber sand box for the shells which need to have a 6" concrete entry-hole cut in them. Supported by cheap cement mix sand you could pour near perfect spheres inexpensively, without having aluminum or steel molds made.

Looks like a perfect tube, Tim. Go for it!

Mike and Tracy

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #5 on:** June 13, 2009, 06:37:01 PM »

How big around are telephone poles?

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2009, 12:34:44 AM »

WOW!

15" WIFFLE balls!

This puts it right into the "backyard" category !

Quote from: seacoastartillery on June 13, 2009, 05:43:08 PM

Tim, In our search for tubes and projectiles before settling on the 11" size, we discovered 15" beach balls at K-mart. We measured a few and found they are 15" diameter only when pumped up to near maximum pressure. If you lessened the pressure until you just began to see wrinkles, you get about 14" or 14.25 dia. which is just right for windage on something this large. Then cover them with old fashioned newsprint paper-mache to make a hard, strong shell, then you could build a small, 20" square inside measure 2" X 6" lumber sand box for the shells which need to have a 6" concrete entry-hole cut in them. Supported by cheap cement mix sand you could pour near perfect spheres inexpensively, without having aluminum or steel molds made.

Looks like a perfect tube, Tim. Go for it!

Mike and Tracy

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #7 on:** June 14, 2009, 12:36:02 AM »

Quote from: Ex 49'er on June 13, 2009, 06:37:01 PM

How big around are telephone poles?

WAY to small!

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #8 on:** June 14, 2009, 04:19:05 AM »

Hows about Igloo water coolerz.

Probably cost too much.

Cannoneer · « **Reply #9 on:** June 14, 2009, 05:14:53 AM »

Quote from: Cat Whisperer on June 13, 2009, 11:53:33 AM

Well, it might not end up as a mortar since I bought it to be a firebox for burning pallets. BUT the thought did cross my mind.

Cat, what was this steel tubes original use, is it a section of pipeline?

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #10 on:** June 14, 2009, 06:21:05 AM »

Quote from: Ex 49'er on June 14, 2009, 04:19:05 AM

Hows about Igloo water coolerz.
Probably cost too much.

Too small size, too large cost.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #11 on:** June 14, 2009, 06:22:22 AM »

Quote from: Boom J on June 14, 2009, 05:14:53 AM

Quote from: Cat Whisperer on June 13, 2009, 11:53:33 AM
Well, it might not end up as a mortar since I bought it to be a firebox for burning pallets. BUT the thought did cross my mind.

Cat, what was this steel tubes original use, is it a section of pipeline?

I think it was a left-over piece of gas pipe from when they put a gas line through near here a decade ago.

brokenpole · « **Reply #12 on:** June 14, 2009, 10:45:19 AM »

I have said it before but I will say it again. YOU PEOPLE ARE SICK!!! Sick you hear me...just sick.

Is there anything you won't use as a projectile or tube???

You people are sick.

And I LOVE IT!!!!

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #13 on:** June 14, 2009, 10:49:45 AM »

And you're a good judge of character!

BoomLover · « **Reply #14 on:** June 14, 2009, 07:40:33 PM »

While cleaning out a storage shed, I took an old washer and dryer to the local metal junk yard, and I spotted a tank that is about 6 foot long, and looks to be almost a foot in dia. Got to go back and measure it, some kind of welding gas tank, I think, but like Brokenpole said, once "bitten", your always looking for "stuff" that will make either a tube or projectile! Got to get busy on some air tanks I picked up at a garage sale, old used scuba tanks, they will make some great "tubes" for paint can mortars! About quart size, I think! Either that or with the wind around here, some great wind chimes! BoomLover

GGaskill · « **Reply #15 on:** June 14, 2009, 09:18:52 PM »

If those scuba tanks are aluminum (some are), I suggest that you not use them for artillery.

Victor3 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 14, 2009, 11:37:12 PM »

Quote from: BoomLover on June 14, 2009, 07:40:33 PM

Got to get busy on some air tanks I picked up at a garage sale, old used scuba tanks, they will make some great "tubes" for paint can mortars! About quart size, I think! Either that or with the wind around here, some great wind chimes! BoomLover

I have some old steel scuba tanks that have a 6 7/8" OD x 3/16" wall. A little big for quart cans with these ones.

I cut a tank in half and use the top as a long range target bell for 22's. I made the other 1/2 into a wind chime. It has a deep mellow sound to it.

brokenpole · « **Reply #17 on:** June 15, 2009, 02:11:40 AM »

Quote from: Cat Whisperer on June 14, 2009, 10:49:45 AM

And you're a good judge of character!

Of course I'm a good judge of character. That's why I'm a member of this board.

Double D · « **Reply #18 on:** June 15, 2009, 03:02:20 AM »

Quote from: Victor3 on June 14, 2009, 11:37:12 PM

Quote from: BoomLover on June 14, 2009, 07:40:33 PM
Got to get busy on some air tanks I picked up at a garage sale, old used scuba tanks, they will make some great "tubes" for paint can mortars! About quart size, I think! Either that or with the wind around here, some great wind chimes! BoomLover

I have some old steel scuba tanks that have a 6 7/8" OD x 3/16" wall. A little big for quart cans with these ones.

I cut a tank in half and use the top as a long range target bell for 22's. I made the other 1/2 into a wind chime. It has a deep mellow sound to it.

Southpaw has a set of wind chimes litke this...I always wanted to take a tape measure to them...but didn't have the courage.

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #19 on:** June 15, 2009, 04:06:47 AM »

Go for the windchimes. If you make the airtanks into mortars, you'll just use more blackpowder.

brokenpole · « **Reply #20 on:** June 15, 2009, 09:24:51 AM »

Quote from: Ex 49'er on June 15, 2009, 04:06:47 AM

Go for the windchimes. If you make the airtanks into mortars, you'll just use more blackpowder.

And explain to me what the down side is here?

BoomLover · « **Reply #21 on:** June 15, 2009, 01:29:10 PM »

I did check, and these are steel, and about the size you indicated. I will cut them in half, and make wind chimes with the bottom, and mortars with the top! After measuring, I'll cut the bottom third off for chimes, and the rest a mortar, 'cause they are about 26"s long. I'll see how it works, anyway! (Ex 49'er, I got to try just one for a mortar! That's what we'er here for!) BoomLover

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #22 on:** June 15, 2009, 02:20:18 PM »

Sure I unnerstand. If it wasn't for things that go boom this forum wouldn't exist.
Now how does that saying go: Too much blackpowder; not enough cannons or mortars!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #23 on:** June 15, 2009, 02:26:43 PM »

So many cannons and SO LITTLE TIME!

I measured it - 16" in diameter. If it were an inch bigger it would fire beer kegs!

3/8" thick walls. Burned one pallet and a few boards - roaring fire - took an hour. Temperature 20 minutes was over 520 degrees F.

Might just look for a 15" beach ball for the 4th!

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #24 on:** June 15, 2009, 02:28:45 PM »

My neighbor saw it in the truck - commented to his wife wondering what it was. She answered: a cannon.

Frank46 · « **Reply #25 on:** June 15, 2009, 07:38:53 PM »

if looking for 16" projectiles, try your local power plant. We had ball mills. 16 16" balls rotated in a cage much like on a bearing. Every so often they would measure the balls. When they had worn down to 15" they would stick another 16" ball in there with the 15" balls. And once they had worn down to a certain size they would all be replaced with new 16" balls. And threw the old balls away for scrap. one ball in particular was given a new lease on life. That one had about ten feet of 1" chain welded to it and they had a shakle made up that would go around a guy's leg. When the groom to be showed up some guy snuck up on him and closed and locked the shakle. The key was given to one of the bar maids and only she could unlock it. Supposedly when the party was over she would produce the key and unlock the lock. well after about 5 hours haulin about 170lbs dead weight I got tired. Went out in the parking lot and found the barmaids car. She was told in no uncertain terms that if the key was not forthcoming she would be needing a new winsheild. She told me if I could lift the ball on her hood she would unlock the lock. Grabbed the chain with my right hand and put the ball on the hood. no one thought that I could lift it up that high.After I picked up the ball in both hands and put it on her windsheild she got the message. Key was unlocked amid much screaming and gnashing of teeth. Needless to say I was no longer going to be carrying around about 170lbs of chain and ball. Hey it worked for me. Frank

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #26 on:** June 16, 2009, 12:53:06 AM »

I love the unexpected stories that pop up !!!

I assume the ball mill was used to crush coal to make it finer for air-blowing into the furnace for generating steam?

There are a few plants around, and some good scrap yards around too.

Victor3 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 16, 2009, 01:39:27 AM »

Quote from: Cat Whisperer on June 15, 2009, 02:28:45 PM

My neighbor saw it in the truck - commented to his wife wondering what it was. She answered: a cannon.

Years ago, a company I worked for received daily deliveries from Jorgensen. I occasionally had them drop off my personal material at work since we had a forklift and could load it directly to my truck.

One day the truck pulled up with a ~40' long heavy-walled steel tube that looked to be ~12" diameter. Our forklift guy yelled out, "Hey Vic! Mike's got your new cannon barrel!"

Turned out that my "cannon barrel" was to go to a company that made hydraulic elevator rams. So.... If you want to build a supercannon, look for old 3 story buildings being torn down. Might find a nice big cannon barrel burried in there somewhere!

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #28 on:** June 21, 2009, 12:53:07 PM »

On the 4th I'm likely to turn this back into a mortar, but today I'm burning stumps.

The setup: Tube gets up to over 700 dF.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #29 on:** June 21, 2009, 12:53:52 PM »

the fan