Beer can mortar build

Will nz · February 14, 2014, 01:45 PM

Hi there

I'm new to the forum seen but I thought I would share a few photos and if I could get any suggestions for my build although I am just about finished with just the mortar base/ stand to make now. Any comments would be appreciated

[ATTACH][ATTACH]photo 4 (4).JPG[/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

Will nz · February 14, 2014, 01:49 PM

Boring the 63mm hole for beer can

photo 1 (3).JPG

Getting there, rounded the back end off
photo 2 (3).JPG

Hole drilled and rounded off for trunion to be welded on
photo 3 (3).JPG

Doc Hoy · February 14, 2014, 02:06 PM

Here it is.

Cool project.

DoubleDeuce 1 · February 14, 2014, 02:47 PM

Very cool!

Old Stony · February 14, 2014, 03:42 PM

I really admire people that have the expertise to do that kind of machining. I built a mortar, but it is just some really heavy walled pipe welded to a base. Mine only shoots large cans of chicken soup...but that's another story.

maillemaker · February 14, 2014, 03:47 PM

Looks good to me!

Steve

rodwhaincamo · February 14, 2014, 03:49 PM

Just make sure to shoot light beers through it!

rodwhaincamo · February 14, 2014, 03:51 PM

Don't forget to post videos of lobbing beer cans!

Maybe use Coors Light so we can see the Silver Bullet in action!

Shotput79 · February 14, 2014, 03:53 PM

Pretty neat. Now what you going to do fire it?

Pahoo · February 14, 2014, 04:16 PM

Quote:

I really admire people that have the expertise to do that kind of machining.

Absolutely and can tell you are a real craftsman. While in the Navy and in my previous industrial professions, I use to bribe the machine shop into making barrels for me and I would make the carriages. I understand that those radius cuts, are not easy to make. Keep up you good work and looking forward to more pictures. .....

Be Safe !!!

Will nz · February 14, 2014, 07:10 PM

thanks guys

Here are a few more photos

Beer can in mortar

photo 2 (2).JPG

photo 1 (2).JPG

See powder chamber in the bottom

photo 5 (2).JPG

Will nz · February 14, 2014, 07:13 PM

photo 4 (2).JPG

Powder coated matt black, now I just have to build the stand for it

Pahoo · February 14, 2014, 08:43 PM

I take it you've done the fuse hole already. I had a good tip on this and I'm probably to late. Fuse hole with vent? Perhaps on your next one. .....

Be Safe !!!

Will nz · February 14, 2014, 08:51 PM

Quote:

I take it you've done the fuse hole already. I had a good tip on this and I'm probably to late. Fuse hole with vent? Perhaps on your next one. .

Hi there why do you need a vent hole? new to this game

Pahoo · February 14, 2014, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Hi there why do you need a vent hole? new to this game

You don't absolutely need on but they are an improvement. That is a vented or fuse hole with vent. Just like a standard nipple that has a chamber and vent at the bottom. ....

Be Safe !!!

**4V50 Gary** · February 14, 2014, 11:01 PM

Looks like you used a boring bar to enlarge the hole to the right diameter, right?

Slopemeno · February 15, 2014, 04:30 AM

I used to use a machine shop in Redwood City CA for some other work, and he was always making stuff like this. His waiting room had lots pf pics.

Doc Hoy · February 15, 2014, 05:10 AM

Should he use light beer because it has more taste or because it is less filling?

..... ;o)

This is a quite cool project.

A long time ago I was at a re-enactment in Illinois at which a team had a mortar that they were shooting Coke cans. The cans appeared to be filled with something and then waxed over.

I know nothing about this area of BP but I know that thing is cool.

darkgael · February 15, 2014, 08:25 AM

Nice. How much windage did you allow for in the bore? The most common figure is 1/40th larger than the projectile.
Pete

g.willikers · February 15, 2014, 09:11 AM

Very nice work, indeed.
One of my regrets is not having a lathe with all the attachments, and learning how to use it well.
Anyone ever see the versions that use gasoline and a spark plug instead of gunpowder?

Noz · February 15, 2014, 03:51 PM

Doc, I'm sure he was told to shoot light loads only.

Will nz · February 15, 2014, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Looks like you used a boring bar to enlarge the hole to the right diameter, right?

Hi Gary, yeah I used a boring bar to get it to the right diameter. First I used a 1'' drill bit to drill down to the depth (the bottom of the powder chamber) and then I used the boring bar to do the rest.

Powder chamber measures 1'' x 1.125'' so should give me plenty of room to experiment with different loads.

thanks

**4V50 Gary** · February 16, 2014, 09:58 AM

Willie, how would you do a 6 pdr or 12 pdr? Bigger drill? Longer boring bar? I'd be worried that the length of the bore would cause flexing in the boring bar.

February 14, 2014, 01:49 PM	#2
Will nz Junior Member Join Date: February 13, 2014 Posts: 6	More photos Boring the 63mm hole for beer can photo 1 (3).JPG Getting there, rounded the back end off photo 2 (3).JPG Hole drilled and rounded off for trunion to be welded on photo 3 (3).JPG

February 14, 2014, 02:06 PM	#3
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	My comment won't do you any good, but.... Here it is. Cool project. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

February 14, 2014, 07:10 PM	#11
Will nz Junior Member Join Date: February 13, 2014 Posts: 6	More photos thanks guys Here are a few more photos Beer can in mortar photo 2 (2).JPG photo 1 (2).JPG See powder chamber in the bottom photo 5 (2).JPG

February 14, 2014, 07:13 PM	#12
Will nz Junior Member Join Date: February 13, 2014 Posts: 6	Getting close to being finished photo 4 (2).JPG Powder coated matt black, now I just have to build the stand for it

February 14, 2014, 08:43 PM	#13
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Very nice work !! I take it you've done the fuse hole already. I had a good tip on this and I'm probably to late. Fuse hole with vent? Perhaps on your next one. ..... Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

February 14, 2014, 02:47 PM	#4
DoubleDeuce 1 Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2013 Posts: 101	Very cool!

February 14, 2014, 03:42 PM	#5
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	I really admire people that have the expertise to do that kind of machining. I built a mortar, but it is just some really heavy walled pipe welded to a base. Mine only shoots large cans of chicken soup...but that's another story.

February 14, 2014, 03:47 PM	#6
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	Looks good to me! Steve

February 14, 2014, 03:49 PM	#7
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	Just make sure to shoot light beers through it!

February 14, 2014, 03:51 PM	#8
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	Don't forget to post videos of lobbing beer cans! Maybe use Coors Light so we can see the Silver Bullet in action!

February 14, 2014, 03:53 PM	#9
Shotput79 Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: NC Posts: 186	Pretty neat. Now what you going to do fire it?

February 14, 2014, 11:01 PM	#16
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,848	Looks like you used a boring bar to enlarge the hole to the right diameter, right? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 15, 2014, 04:30 AM	#17
Slopemeno Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2007 Posts: 2,663	I used to use a machine shop in Redwood City CA for some other work, and he was always making stuff like this. His waiting room had lots pf pics.

February 15, 2014, 05:10 AM	#18
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	To Rod Should he use light beer because it has more taste or because it is less filling? ..... ;o) This is a quite cool project. A long time ago I was at a re-enactment in Illinois at which a team had a mortar that they were shooting Coke cans. The cans appeared to be filled with something and then waxed over. I know nothing about this area of BP but I know that thing is cool. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

February 15, 2014, 08:25 AM	#19
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	windage Nice. How much windage did you allow for in the bore? The most common figure is 1/40th larger than the projectile. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member Last edited by darkgael; February 15, 2014 at 08:31 AM.

February 15, 2014, 09:11 AM	#20
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Very nice work, indeed. One of my regrets is not having a lathe with all the attachments, and learning how to use it well. Anyone ever see the versions that use gasoline and a spark plug instead of gunpowder? __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

February 15, 2014, 03:51 PM	#21
Noz Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2009 Posts: 643	Doc, I'm sure he was told to shoot light loads only.

February 16, 2014, 09:58 AM	#23
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,848	Willie, how would you do a 6 pdr or 12 pdr? Bigger drill? Longer boring bar? I'd be worried that the length of the bore would cause flexing in the boring bar. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*