Author Topic: Firecracker Cannon (Read 3854 times)

Powder keg · « **on:** February 05, 2005, 09:39:15 AM »

Hello All,
I missed the pictures hermit posted. Here is one that I built. The bore is 3/8" and the barrel is about 4" long. The trunnions fit into pockets and are soft soldered on. This is a fun little cannon, even has recoil:O) I would be interested in seeing pict's of hermites barrel if anybody has it saved.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2005, 10:12:54 AM »

Powder Keg -

Good pix! I like the design.

These are the 4 pictures that Hermit posted:

jeeper1 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2005, 06:28:47 PM »

Here is a picture of a cast iron firecracker cannon I inherited.

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I have no idea how old it is. Also it has never been used because the rear part still has the original paint on it.

mtnman37879 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2005, 07:29:55 AM »

This is a fircracker Mortar, it shoots pingpong balls!

mtnman37879 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2005, 07:31:41 AM »

Here is a picture of the bottom

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2005, 09:07:10 AM »

Jeeper 1 -- WELCOME to the board. thanks for posting the picture too.

It seems like some of these ought to be on Antiques Roadshow!

Reassuring that our fascination with things that go bang has been around for a long time!

GGaskill · « **Reply #6 on:** February 15, 2005, 09:34:31 PM »

Hermit Firecracker Howitzer?

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2005, 12:56:21 PM »

What is the status? Hmmmmmm. I'm cogitating about how the tube is attached underneith to t the carrriage. not obvious in the pictures.

The issue is to draw up something that both looks good, works well and is easy to manufacture. (There are 3 kinds of people in the world - those that can count & those that can't.)

So I may just have to MAKE one to figure out how he did it.

Ideas?

Powder keg · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2005, 01:49:43 PM »

I think I've got it. It looks like the barrel is a round shaft with a key way milled into the bottom. The door hinges on a brass "key thingy" that extends out the back. The barrel also pivots on this modified key thingy. I found another picture that shows the barrel raised. Here is the link

http://www.ray-vin.com/mus/hermitriver.htm

Powder Keg

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2005, 03:36:51 PM »

Powder Keg - GOOD LINK!

Some pix there that really show the underneith well enough.

What do you think - 1' OD for the tube? Maybe 3/8 ID?

CU_Cannon · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2005, 05:10:20 PM »

I thought that I might make a ping pong ball mortar like above and when I was looking for info on ball size I found this.

http://www.ray-vin.com/mus/ppmortar.htm

Just thought I would share it.

Powder keg · « **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2005, 05:18:41 PM »

I also thought a ping pong mortar would be fun. How much windage does a ping pong ball need?:O)

Powder Keg

Powder keg · « **Reply #12 on:** February 16, 2005, 05:51:32 PM »

CW, Yes 1" would be good. Maybe 4'ish" long. Also a 3/8 key way milled in the bottom for the breech hinge pivot thingy.

Evil Dog · « **Reply #13 on:** February 16, 2005, 05:56:34 PM »

I'm definitely intrigued by the idea of firecrackers and ping pong balls.... could be loads of fun in the back yard. One real concern comes to mind though..... is smuggling firecrackers into California a felony?

jeeper1 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 16, 2005, 06:06:31 PM »

Not a felony, just a misdemeanor.
Firecrackers are an explosive not a propellent so I should think you need an air space between the firecracker and the ball to avoid it being destroyed.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #15 on:** February 17, 2005, 01:17:22 AM »

Quote from: Powder keg

CW, Yes 1" would be good. Maybe 4'ish" long. Also a 3/8 key way milled in the bottom for the breech hinge pivot thingy.

Tonight will be a CAD night. Good places to start.

re: ping pong balls - I remember (in HS) lighting the ping pong ball - it would race through the air across the room - propelled by the air inside being superheated by the flames. Just something to ba aware of.

das · « **Reply #16 on:** February 17, 2005, 02:57:33 AM »

Morning gents! At Loose Cannon we've had a print for a ping pong ball mortar at the shop for about 2 weeks and hope to have it figured out soon. The problem is that we break out the bottom of the ball on each shot,but it sends the ball 30' in the air. So far everyone that's seen it really likes the idea,and it should be fairly easy to market. The other thing we are trying is small styrofoam balls. We will keep you posted. Steele.[/b]

Blaster · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2005, 04:54:10 AM »

jeeper 1, setting off a firecracker mortar/cannon in Kalifornia may only be a misdemeanor but a whole package of those tiny Lady Fingers, in that State, may cost a guy six months of HARD TIME in the slammer. And, Ahnold probably wouldn't even want to offer the Governors clemency to help get the charge reduced. And to fire off an M-80 in Kalifornia would probably earn the offender the lethal injection or force him to go out on a date with Sen. Dianne Feinstein...... offender's choice.

jeeper1 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 17, 2005, 05:01:06 AM »

Glad I moved out of that miserable state last year. At least here in fungus corners I can go a few miles down the road to the local indian reservation and buy fireworks.

Smoothbore · « **Reply #19 on:** February 17, 2005, 06:54:14 AM »

Easy choice.....lethal injection!!

Soot Sucker · « **Reply #20 on:** February 17, 2005, 07:38:43 AM »

Everything in Kalifornia is a felony.

Move to Pennsylvania... it is still one of the least restrictive states in the N.E/Mid atlantic states. You got to love a state where the opening day of deer season is a state holiday :grin:

Regards,
S.S.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #21 on:** March 30, 2005, 03:43:22 PM »

Ya gets what you ask for.

Mentioned last week to one of the guys at work about making firecracker cannons and that I needed some firecrackers. Well! Today another fellow walks into my office and mentiones that he had a delivery from Tennessee. The arrangement was quickly consumated in the parking lot.

Need some brass yet for these models, but I'll have something built that will mix fire crackers and golf balls soon.

Earlier this week I was at a local machine shop looking for some 8" and/or 9" iron to make cannons - didn't have any of the type I needed, but the fellow who runs the place very kindly gave me three small pieces of yellow brass which will become the pads for a LARGE steady-rest for making cannon barrels.

Life is good.

GGaskill · « **Reply #22 on:** March 30, 2005, 09:26:12 PM »

8 or 9" diameter (?) iron? Those will be some honking cannon.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #23 on:** March 31, 2005, 12:55:28 AM »

Quote from: GGaskill

8 or 9" diameter (?) iron? Those will be some honking cannon.

Yea! Big bore is OK! Mountain howitzer.

Old Tanker · « **Reply #24 on:** May 09, 2005, 03:12:05 PM »

Wow! These cannons look great. I think a firecracker cannon will be my next project. These pictures have kicked me into gear to finish my first cannon project before I start on another.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #25 on:** May 09, 2005, 03:33:45 PM »

Old Tanker -

WELCOME to the board!

Get in gear, we want to see the pictures!

Old Tanker · « **Reply #26 on:** May 09, 2005, 05:54:05 PM »

Thanks! I have been a silent reader of this board for about nine months and enjoy it very mutch. I decided to log on after seeing the pictures of the Parrott rifle and the 100pdr. yesterday. After seeing those pictures I might be swayed to build a scale parrott rifle. But right now my Carronade is creating a stir in my house, as the kids love it and the wife, well she dose not no what to think. I will try to figure out the Pictures soon. It is just not as good unless you see pictures. I will have to enlist some help as I do not have the patience for computers.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #27 on:** May 22, 2005, 03:33:37 PM »

OK, it's time to get back to firecracker cannon deisgns.

Here is my first attempt to build any cannon. (Other than the galvanized water pipe and pipe cap junk I messed with as a teenager.)

Not much yet - just a short piect of 7/8's inch diameter 1144sp.

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Bore is less than .30 cal. Fits 1-1/2" firecrackers well.

I'll probably do 4 or 5 more to see what proportions I like and then start in on a base.

dominick · « **Reply #28 on:** May 25, 2005, 12:19:22 PM »

Those firecracker cannons are really neat! cheap fun! Kennesaw Cannon Co. sells 2 versions, a field cannon and a deck gun. From the pictures I've seen it doesn't appear that they have a removable breech. I'm wondering if the fuse protrudes thru the rear of the barrel. Has anyone seen these cannons?

rays89 · « **Reply #29 on:** May 28, 2005, 05:12:37 AM »

I have the 2 Tapco cannons and they are muzzleloaders, They are nice cannon But The barrel on the field cannon it seems impossible to load a firecracker due to the length. Dominick If your willing to wait a short while Brooks-usa is going to have a Breech loader firecracker cannon coming out very shortly. ecnlosed is a picture of a prototype(without the wheels), The carraige is stained on this one. But the first run the majority of them will have black carriages which should contrast real nice to the Brass barrel. Since Im the one with the big mouth. Ill keep updating on the progress.