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Brobdingnagian Bertha (Giant Fiberglass cannon)

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 1:49 am
by Zorrowannabe9
This cannon is constructed of appox 8 feet of 6" Fiberglass steam pipe, rated to 280 PSI. I got the stuff from my grandfather when I was visiting him over the winter break. The bushing in the bell towards the bottom is a 6" slip to 4" female PVC bushing, purchased fom mcMaster. because the pipe however is fiberglass, it didnt fit perfectly, it is therefore rammed in as far as i coul get it, and bolted into place. The ammo stop is a piece of 1/2" threaded rod. Much more infor about this project available over at spudtech in <a href="http://forums.spudtech.com/topic.asp?TO ... 5381">This Thread</a>.

<b>Combustion Chamber</b> - 39" x 6"
<b>Barrel</b> - 54" x 6"
*approx ratio is .72:1
<b>Ignition</b> - BBQ ignitor producing a single spark towards the rear of the chamber.
<b>Primary Fuel</b> - Metered propane, there is a 53" piece of 3/8" PVC tubing. It takes 15 shots with this meter to fuel the chamber.
<b>Ammunition?</b> So what fits in a 6" diameter pipe? Plant pots. And old Large Yuben coffee cans...[twisted]

<a href="http://img243.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0606nm2.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/4417 ... nm2.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
<i>how the pipe was after the insulation was stripped off

<a href="http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0607ri8.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/3322 ... ri8.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>

<a href="http://img243.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0618av9.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/5344 ... av9.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
post-priming and bushing installment

<a href="http://img201.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0619nt2.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7893 ... nt2.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
ignition on left, fuel injector top-right

<a href="http://img224.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0635eb9.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7113 ... eb9.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
full cannon shot

<a href="http://img167.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0637hv5.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/2203 ... hv5.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
propane meter

<a href="http://img132.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0636ym3.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1287 ... ym3.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
projectile stopper

<a href="http://img132.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0638ty7.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1880 ... ty7.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
flower pot

<a href="http://img411.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0641ew2.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/990/ ... ew2.th.gif" border="0" alt=""></a>
holy coffee can batman!

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 1:53 am
by MrCrowley
Cool! How many propane canisters have you gone through yet?

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 1:55 am
by Zorrowannabe9
Crowley...thats just creapy...you almsot posted the exact same thing as mark over on spudtech
Neat! How many propane canisters have you gone through yet?
anywho...not one yet, havnt done enough testing.

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:02 am
by MrCrowley
:roll: hmm umm yeah creepy....I dont post on spudtech... :roll:










I saw this cannon on SGTC and when i saw it on here that just poped to my head. :lol:

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:41 pm
by sgehring
have you tried a cantalope. They make a hell of a mess when :lol: they hit

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:43 am
by Zorrowannabe9
theyre too small, and expensive...6" is larger than it may seem at first.

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:08 am
by Torch
Wow, great idea! That would be perfect for winter/cold areas. You could put like 7 rolled up t-shirts in there and launch them into a crowd.


Kudos my friend!

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:11 pm
by akaddis
holy crap THATS HUGE!!! That thing can be used in war!! lol I wouldn't want to mess with THAT!!!

Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:36 pm
by garrettee
You say cantaloupes are too small. What about small pumpkins?

Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:02 pm
by zeigs spud
hella tight man!

Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:36 am
by Zorrowannabe9
pumpkins are expensive too...Though I might have to try one just for the mess..

Thanks for the kudos from ye all 8)

Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:08 am
by medievalman
I think you might be one of the first to make a fiberglass cannon. Great Job!

Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 1:11 am
by Zorrowannabe9
I have intermittent access to that fiberglass pipe for free. My grandfather owns over 2000' of the stuff. All I have to do is go cut it and drive it back though its a 400mi drive).

Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 4:25 pm
by LGM
Would it be possible to make fiberglass pipe by putting fiberglass coating over PVC pipe?

Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 8:38 pm
by Zorrowannabe9
I suppose, not sure how strong it would be. Be sure though that it would be a messy and expensive process.