Need help from cannon guys

[maddogg]

I know nothing about cannons that's why I'm asking here.
My neighbor is building a mock pirate ship in his back yard,and he asked me if he could make a cannon that would be used just for the boom. He would like to use black powder. Would it be easy to make a cannon like this? He was thinking of just putting a cardboard wad over the powder.
Doable or not?

[Indygunworks]

Very doable depending on YOUR skills.... there is a sticky that contains all the necessary safety information for construction of a cannon, start there to get an idea, then you can some back here and ask more specific questions.  There is a wealth of info on here, and you defiantly came to the right place for SOUND advice, but you should read up a bit and then ask some more specific questions.
 
may I ask you
 
how long?
how big of a bore?
what are your skills?
what is the "look" you are going for?

[GGaskill]

I would also ask who is going to be in charge of the cannon?  With the ship in the backyard, I can see the kids wanting to fire the cannon while no adult is present, obviously not a desirable activity.  Also, one should consider how the noise will go over with the neighbors.

A one inch bore would be more than loud enough.  Size of cannons should be in proportion to the size of the ship.

[Double D]

Here is guidance we throw on cannon making.  Never build for how you will use the gun, build for how the next guy will use the gun.

In this case the next guy is kids.

[Indygunworks]

wait a minute guys, who says he is building the pirate ship for kids?  Grown ups can have them too!  Zulu's front yard is my case in point.  Who WOULDNT want a pirate ship in their back yard if they had the space to do it?

[Double D]

wait a minute guys, who says he is building the pirate ship for kids?  Grown ups can have them too!  Zulu's front yard is my case in point.  Who WOULDNT want a pirate ship in their back yard if they had the space to do it?

Good point Indy, which means I should have made my post post all in caps and bold!  The  Bigger  kids are the most hazardous!

[docbob5707]

On our Pirate Ship Float (26 ft long - 8ft wide) we use Carbide cannons ( and one air cannon for shooting out t-shirts and/or confetti. The cannons are made from CPVC pipe and have wooden naval carriages - they go off with the bang of a 12 ga. fairly safe (if you don't put your face in front of one (don't ask - LOL).

[KABAR2]

Cardboard is not really needed if the powder charge is wrapped in an aluminum foil cartridge it will make a sufficent bang to be satisfying......

[maddogg]

Cardboard is not really needed if the powder charge is wrapped in an aluminum foil cartridge it will make a sufficent bang to be satisfying......

KABAR2 your saying if we wrap the powder in foil we don't need any wadding in front of it to get a good BOOM?
Thanks to all of your  for your help.
Maddogg

[flagman1776]

Yes, there are instructions in the stickies up top for making a form so the foil cartridge easily slides in the bore.  Best & safest. 
You'll need tools too.  Wet mop, dry mop, worm, rammer, non-sparking vent pick.  Be very safety conscious, even with blanks.  Be forwarned, the blast from the vent is dangerous to eyes!   

[subdjoe]

Cardboard is not really needed if the powder charge is wrapped in an aluminum foil cartridge it will make a sufficent bang to be satisfying......

KABAR2 your saying if we wrap the powder in foil we don't need any wadding in front of it to get a good BOOM?
Thanks to all of your  for your help.
Maddogg

That is exactly what he is saying. Make your cartridges up, seat them firmly - no need to pound the snot out of them, just one or two firm thumps with the rammer and you are good to go. 

If you go to Civil War reenactments you will see and hear cannon loaded with foil cartridges and no wadding.  None of the guns in this use any wadding:

[brass cannon]

Any size firearm can hurt you if you don't know what you are doing.  Get properly trained.  Then Hern Iron works makes inexpensive iron guns.  Their new English swivel gun would work nicely.  Refactor grade powder or 4fa powder in an aluminum foil cartridge would work for noise, but not for live firing.  The powder does not need to be pounded on or even tapped sharply.  It only needs to be at the back of the bore so the charge is under the touch hole in line with the prick.

[KABAR2]

One thing though with using aluminum foil cartridges you MUST search the peice with a worm and remove the foil then Swab the bore there should be someone with a leather thumb stall covering the cannons vent this creats a vacuum to kill any embers that may be in the vent tube...... read up on cannon drill .... I have heard of someone who used aluminum foil cartridges who swabbed but didn't remove the foil.... after a few shots he could not fire the peice because the foil blocked the vent .....

[Doc Brown.]

I know nothing about cannons that's why I'm asking here.
My neighbor is building a mock pirate ship in his back yard,and he asked me if he could make a cannon that would be used just for the boom. He would like to use black powder. Would it be easy to make a cannon like this? He was thinking of just putting a cardboard wad over the powder.
Doable or not?

It would be so easy to make a cannon like that. You should do it.

[GGaskill]

You should do it.

If you have the skills.  However, consider your liability exposure.  If the neighbor does something stupid and kills himself, his heirs will be looking at your assets irrespective of the late neighbor being entirely responsible.  Even if you should prevail in a lawsuit, you will have legal bills.  Not sure this is a good idea.