Building beer can mortar

Heinrich · July 8, 2007, 05:47 PM

This is a project I am busy working on.

This is how the barrel was born.

Heinrich · July 8, 2007, 05:49 PM

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.

Heinrich · July 8, 2007, 05:52 PM

This coastal mortar is my model.

marcseatac · July 8, 2007, 06:14 PM

That is really sharp. Don't forget to post some pictures when you get it finished.

Heinrich · July 9, 2007, 01:29 PM

I promise to do so.

armoredman · July 9, 2007, 01:48 PM

Cool!

Heinrich · July 9, 2007, 04:11 PM

Worked on the trunnions today, and milled the back of the barrel for the trunnion to be press fitted.

Heinrich · July 10, 2007, 01:44 PM

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.

ED21 · July 10, 2007, 09:43 PM

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.

Heinrich · July 11, 2007, 01:19 PM

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.

arcticap · July 12, 2007, 01:20 AM

What a beautiful piece...up, up and out of sight!

Heinrich · July 12, 2007, 02:46 AM

Thanks articap, itching to shoot.

Heinrich · July 13, 2007, 02:47 AM

Progress report on the barrel.

**4V50 Gary** · July 13, 2007, 10:08 PM

Heinrich, it's not safe. Send it to me at TFL for disposal.

I promise not to shoot my eye (or hand) out.

Old Dragoon · July 14, 2007, 01:04 AM

Do you have any idea what it would cost to send it to the states?????

Heinrich · July 14, 2007, 03:08 PM

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.

armoredman · July 14, 2007, 04:31 PM

I love watching this, thanks. A sodacan cannon would be the cat's meow out here, with long empty spaces to shoot.

DrLaw · July 14, 2007, 08:52 PM

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.

Heinrich · July 15, 2007, 07:26 AM

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.

armoredman · July 15, 2007, 10:44 AM

Range Pics!

Mr Beta · July 15, 2007, 11:22 AM

Drool!
Excellent work sir.
Be sure to post video if possible.

Heinrich · July 15, 2007, 12:19 PM

Once we make noise and smoke you will know about it.

militantamish · July 15, 2007, 03:15 PM

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

Heinrich · July 15, 2007, 04:10 PM

WOW, that is an awesome, awesome comment and compliment. I appreciate thanks very much sir.

Heinrich · July 18, 2007, 02:35 PM

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.

July 8, 2007, 05:47 PM	#1
Heinrich Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Location: Gauteng South Africa Posts: 86	Building beer can mortar This is a project I am busy working on. This is how the barrel was born. __________________ Those who burn books end by burning men - Heinrich Heine

July 8, 2007, 05:49 PM	#2
Heinrich Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Location: Gauteng South Africa Posts: 86	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. __________________ Those who burn books end by burning men - Heinrich Heine

July 8, 2007, 05:52 PM	#3
Heinrich Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Location: Gauteng South Africa Posts: 86	This coastal mortar is my model. __________________ Those who burn books end by burning men - Heinrich Heine

July 8, 2007, 06:14 PM	#4
marcseatac Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2006 Posts: 225	That is really sharp. Don't forget to post some pictures when you get it finished. Last edited by marcseatac; July 9, 2007 at 12:21 AM.

July 9, 2007, 01:29 PM	#5
Heinrich Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Location: Gauteng South Africa Posts: 86	I promise to do so. __________________ Those who burn books end by burning men - Heinrich Heine

July 9, 2007, 01:48 PM	#6
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,385	Cool!

July 9, 2007, 04:11 PM	#7
Heinrich Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Location: Gauteng South Africa Posts: 86	Worked on the trunnions today, and milled the back of the barrel for the trunnion to be press fitted. __________________ Those who burn books end by burning men - Heinrich Heine

July 10, 2007, 01:44 PM	#8
Heinrich Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Location: Gauteng South Africa Posts: 86	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. __________________ Those who burn books end by burning men - Heinrich Heine

July 10, 2007, 09:43 PM	#9
ED21 Member Join Date: June 5, 2007 Location: NC Posts: 29	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.

July 11, 2007, 01:19 PM	#10
Heinrich Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Location: Gauteng South Africa Posts: 86	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. __________________ Those who burn books end by burning men - Heinrich Heine

July 12, 2007, 01:20 AM	#11
arcticap Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2005 Location: Central Connecticut Posts: 2,961	What a beautiful piece...up, up and out of sight!

July 12, 2007, 02:46 AM	#12
Heinrich Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Location: Gauteng South Africa Posts: 86	Thanks articap, itching to shoot. __________________ Those who burn books end by burning men - Heinrich Heine

July 13, 2007, 02:47 AM	#13
Heinrich Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Location: Gauteng South Africa Posts: 86	Progress report on the barrel. __________________ Those who burn books end by burning men - Heinrich Heine

July 13, 2007, 10:08 PM	#14
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 15,411	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. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

July 14, 2007, 01:04 AM	#15
Old Dragoon Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2005 Location: The Republic of Californi Posts: 580	Do you have any idea what it would cost to send it to the states?????

July 14, 2007, 03:08 PM	#16
Heinrich Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Location: Gauteng South Africa Posts: 86	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. __________________ Those who burn books end by burning men - Heinrich Heine

July 14, 2007, 04:31 PM	#17
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,385	I love watching this, thanks. A sodacan cannon would be the cat's meow out here, with long empty spaces to shoot.

July 14, 2007, 08:52 PM	#18
DrLaw Senior Member Join Date: June 3, 2007 Location: Wild Western Illinois Posts: 559	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. Last edited by DrLaw; July 15, 2007 at 01:58 PM.

July 15, 2007, 07:26 AM	#19
Heinrich Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Location: Gauteng South Africa Posts: 86	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. __________________ Those who burn books end by burning men - Heinrich Heine

July 15, 2007, 10:44 AM	#20
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,385	Range Pics! Last edited by armoredman; July 15, 2007 at 12:36 PM.

July 15, 2007, 11:22 AM	#21
Mr Beta Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2007 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 232	Drool! Excellent work sir. Be sure to post video if possible. __________________ The two loudest sounds in the world are a click when you expect a bang, and a bang when you expect a click.

July 15, 2007, 12:19 PM	#22
Heinrich Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Location: Gauteng South Africa Posts: 86	Once we make noise and smoke you will know about it. __________________ Those who burn books end by burning men - Heinrich Heine

July 15, 2007, 03:15 PM	#23
militantamish Junior Member Join Date: June 9, 2007 Posts: 5	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

July 15, 2007, 04:10 PM	#24
Heinrich Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Location: Gauteng South Africa Posts: 86	WOW, that is an awesome, awesome comment and compliment. I appreciate thanks very much sir. __________________ Those who burn books end by burning men - Heinrich Heine

July 18, 2007, 02:35 PM	#25
Heinrich Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Location: Gauteng South Africa Posts: 86	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. __________________ Those who burn books end by burning men - Heinrich Heine