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Old July 8, 2007, 04:47 PM   #1
Heinrich
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Building beer can mortar

This is a project I am busy working on.

This is how the barrel was born.









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Old July 8, 2007, 04:49 PM   #2
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Here is the progress on the carraige, basically the woodwork is done. I now only need to finish the where you can see the burn marks on the wood.

I used wallnut, and it took most of the afternoon to make the joints so that the beams in between the 2 rails penetrate the rails themselves.





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Old July 8, 2007, 04:52 PM   #3
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This coastal mortar is my model.

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Old July 8, 2007, 05:14 PM   #4
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That is really sharp. Don't forget to post some pictures when you get it finished.

Last edited by marcseatac; July 8, 2007 at 11:21 PM.
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Old July 9, 2007, 12:29 PM   #5
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I promise to do so.
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Old July 9, 2007, 12:48 PM   #6
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Cool!
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Old July 9, 2007, 03:11 PM   #7
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Worked on the trunnions today, and milled the back of the barrel for the trunnion to be press fitted.





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Old July 10, 2007, 12:44 PM   #8
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Ok, here be more progress. Trunnions in, and the little cup thingy is welded in place behind the flash hole.





Technically the barrel is finished, ready to be mounted on the weekend.
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Old July 10, 2007, 08:43 PM   #9
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Mortar

Looks like a pretty good project. I always wanted one. However, the one I wanted was like the mortar I saw at the Western National Rendezvious in Utah 20+ years ago. A guy from Nevada had a bowling ball mortar. It used a 12Ga shell full of BP and sent that bowling ball quite a ways up and out in the range. He had an eye screw with a rope attached so it was easier to retreave the ball. I just always thought it was great and wanted one.
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Old July 11, 2007, 12:19 PM   #10
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Only reason why I did not get this mortar in a larger size is near impossibility of getting bowling balls to shoot in South Africa.
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Old July 12, 2007, 12:20 AM   #11
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What a beautiful piece...up, up and out of sight!
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Old July 12, 2007, 01:46 AM   #12
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Thanks articap, itching to shoot.
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Old July 13, 2007, 01:47 AM   #13
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Progress report on the barrel.

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Old July 13, 2007, 09:08 PM   #14
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Terrific work.

Heinrich, it's not safe. Send it to me at TFL for disposal. I promise not to shoot my eye (or hand) out.
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Old July 14, 2007, 12:04 AM   #15
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Do you have any idea what it would cost to send it to the states?????
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Old July 14, 2007, 02:08 PM   #16
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Thanks guys, I'll weld up the flashhole before I send it...

Postage for a project like this will be about ZAR1,200.00 that is equal to about $150.00, depending of the exchange rate on the day.

I finished the bed today. Post pics tomorrow.
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Old July 14, 2007, 03:31 PM   #17
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I love watching this, thanks. A sodacan cannon would be the cat's meow out here, with long empty spaces to shoot.
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Old July 14, 2007, 07:52 PM   #18
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I've always wanted to have a Coehorn Mortar shoot at our local gun club.

Only one problem, got no mortar. You have a shop there! Fantastic. Am I jealous of that!

The prescription for you from the Doc today is to have lots of fun with that.
Looks great!

The Doc is out now.

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Old July 15, 2007, 06:26 AM   #19
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Once the barrel is back from sandblasting, it can be fitted.





Thanks for the compliment guys, I have really enjoyed every step of this project. Kind of a childhood dream come true.
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Old July 15, 2007, 09:44 AM   #20
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Range Pics!

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Old July 15, 2007, 10:22 AM   #21
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Drool!
Excellent work sir.
Be sure to post video if possible.
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Old July 15, 2007, 11:19 AM   #22
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Once we make noise and smoke you will know about it.
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Old July 15, 2007, 02:15 PM   #23
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that is one of the most beautiful pieces of work i have ever seen. i commend you, sir...and am jealous that you have the shop to do it it
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Old July 15, 2007, 03:10 PM   #24
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WOW, that is an awesome, awesome comment and compliment. I appreciate thanks very much sir.
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Old July 18, 2007, 01:35 PM   #25
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Ok, got the barrel back from the sandblasters today. As you can see it is on the bed. Unfortunately there is still some fitting too be done, only a few more millimeters of wood to sand away.







Was not just a matter of dropping in the trunnions. The trunnion caps however did fit perfectly.
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