Question for cannon experts.

badwrench

I have an old hydraulic ram (approx pool-ball sized bore[}:)]) and I had the idea of making a cannon from it. It's a pretty short ram (2-feet overall, retracted) and pretty heavy duty. The seals are shot and my boss was going to toss it, but the cylinder is in tip-top shape with no cracks or repairs. It is a one-piece cylinder, not the tie-rod type.

I know hydraulics employ really high pressures and I am wondering if the cylinder would handle a moderate charge (maybe an ounce or so volume) of black powder and some wadding. I want big boom! UNGAWA!

I know of a bowling-ball firing cannon made from an oxygen cylinder, so I figure "why not?".

Would I be flirting with disaster here?

benzapped

It sounds dangerous to me.

7.62x39

try it...you would think it would work...

jc_crazyhorse

Remeber, Just about everything seems like a good idea in the first planning stages. Unfortunatly things go south in a big hurry after that first big bang. Be careful, and stand way back.

benzapped

I know black powder does not have the same chamber pressures as smokeless but it might be a good idea to look up some chamber pressures of typical black powder loads and compare with the pressures in your HD ram. I seem to recall black powder is a class A explosive where smokeless powder is a flamable solid. There is a lot of difference.

benzapped

If you suddenly stop posting can we assume something went wrong?
[;)]

Mercury

Badwrench,
What "swamp" are you talking about? Suisun?


Merc

11BravoCrunchie

Just make sure you keep your face (and other important body parts) clear of the * opening at the one end.

Bill DeShivs

If you decide to do this, DO NOT WELD THE BREECH PLUG!
Tap the cylinder and thread the breech plug. Welded breech plugs cause catastrophic failures. The corrosive firing residue is driven into the pores of the weld, where it rusts the breech from the inside out.
Bill

rogue_rob

Badwrench was a good guy, I'll miss hearing from him.......

I'm sure his last words were, "Hey y'all, watch this!!!"


RIP Badwrench.

btw, can I have your harley if you don't make it??[:D][:D]

Chief Shaway

Hey ya'll, watch this!![:D]

tccox

Just make your first charge 3 times what you will normally shoot to "proof" the cannon. This should let you know it will be safe with your loads. Be sure you do this from a safe position, Tom

Da-Tank

Had a welded breech on my cannon. Well after firing about 50 tines I put it away for 6 mos. The very next time I fired it ,It blew the plug almost as far as the ball. About 3'.
Even after proofing do be careful. amature(sp) cannons are dangerous. My next project is a bigger AND better one.[}:)][}:)][}:)]

Don McManus

Do not try this!!

Hydraulic cylinders are typically designed for 3,000 PSI or 10,000 PSI maximum working pressure. The one-piece design is typically an agricultural application, which would probably be under 5,000 PSI. The burst strength is normally 2 - 3 times working pressure. Chamber pressures can reach 50,000 PSI, though black powder should be lower, but it is not worth the risk.

If you really need a cannon, spend the $ 500.00 and get a tube designed and proven for the application.

spanielsells

Turn the swamp to glass.

tapwater

....I'll ditto the threaded breech plug, however, the safest is none at all. My tube started as a solid shaft that I had bored to 2 5/8", leaving about 3" of solid steel at the breech end. I normally shoot beer cans full of cement and 2 oz of black or pyrodex, although, it's been "proofed" with a few cans full of lead and 4oz. That made the whole cannon do back flips!

tapwater

A cannon lock is nice to have. I hate the anticipation as the fuse sizzles and sizzles.

http://tinyurl.com/gtjjq

tsavo303

don't start off with an oz. try 1/8th or 1/4. that'll still send a pool ball flying