Gunsmithing: Building a black powder Cannon

[IndyGunworks]

What an amazing amount of detailed work. It was nice to see your spouse involved in the project as well.

She has been involved every step of the way. This is as much her cannon as it is mine.

 

[warthog]

you got had then... because even in IL this is legal.

I had it in my driveway and was in a community with a housing agreement. I wasn't had and I have known the laws for as long as I have been shooting. That would be since I was 8 and I am 51 now. The cannon was legal but having it in the drive wasn't. I choose my battlrs and it wasn't worth it to fight then.

 

[IndyGunworks]

Let me start by saying that I chose the wrong paint. I went with Sherwin Williams oil based enamel because a few people said that would be the most durable product I could find that wasn't an epoxy. There were to may small things to do and epoxy paint would have set up requiring LOTS of small batch's and I didn't want that headache. I sanded, degreased with acetone, primed, and applied 2 coats of whatever color I was using. I waited 2 weeks for the paint to cure before reassembling and this paint is SOFT. it scuffs easy and mars with even the slightest touch from something that should be "non marring" I took a part to Sherwin Williams and they agreed that it wasn't as hard as it should be for an enamel. They gave me my 75 dollars back, but that doesn't change the fact that I have a less than durable product that took 30 hours to apply. I am beyond the point of stripping it down and going with something else so I will have to live with it for now, but it REALLY bugs me. Not sure what else I could have done as I thought I was making the correct decision. Anyways, here she is reassembled, but I still have several hours of touch ups that have to be done because of the soft paint.

 

[red46239]

That sucks about the paint, but it looks AWESOME! Great work!

 

[calcot7]

I dunno? Looks kinda like a goose gun to me.

 

[Leadeye]

Looks pretty good to me.

 

[IndyGunworks]

24 oz concrete projectiles ready to be fired... Ready for the 5th.

 

[Pete]

Been gone a while but catching up. It looks great. Sorry to hear about the paint problems.

 

[IndyGunworks]

thanks... tomorrow is the big day. Hopefully the carriage holds together.

 

[Leadeye]

Good luck with it and post up some pics, curious to see what those cans do to something on the receiving end. Have you considered making some canister?

 

[IndyGunworks]

my first shot tomorrow will be a half filled can of concrete with the other half containing 50 158 grain lead semi wad cutters. pretty close to canister if you ask me.

 

[IndyGunworks]

I didnt take any photo's or videos myself, so i will share them on here as i get them. lovemywoods' wife took ALOT of really great photo's and he can either post them here if he would like, or make his own thread. Here are two videos that have been sent to me so far.


This first video is 5 oz of powder and TWO 24 oz cans of concrete.



This video was a 6 oz pool ball and just under 2 oz of powder.

 

[1911ly]

Awesome!!!

 

[lovemywoods]

Mrs. LMW and I have been busy working on the pictures from Saturday's event. Sorry it's taking a bit. Many pictures to process. (Plus a new barrel arrived today and I'm itching to put the upper together. )

Here's just one...

 

[top hat 45]

GREAT picture from mrs.LMW. its very obvious this is a before it was shot.

 

[lovemywoods]

The pictures are up!
I posted the AAR in the Events sub-forum. The thread can be seen here:

https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...ng-great-way-celebrate-fourt.html#post5148325

 

[j706]

Your cannon sounds like my buddy's rifle reloads.....spooky!! Subject for another day. Nice job on that beast. It is more than apparent that someone put alot of time and thought into it.

 

[Pete]

It looks like a great time was had by all. Great project & nicely done.

 

[IndyGunworks]

Here a video.... Click the picture

 

[IndyGunworks]

anybody know of a place to buy pool balls dirt cheap? Not having much lucks with bars or anything.