Mini cannon.

jjohnwm said:
Thanks, AWOL. The timing is funny...right after I posted, I started to think about whether black powder was water soluble, since I knew the fouling was. I mixed up some of the slurry, then soaked some sewing thread in it and spread it out on a paper towel in the kitchen. My wife casually asked what I was up to...when I answered that I was experimenting with making cannon fuses, I though she was going to have a stroke. When she saw the actual cannon, she started laughing, and hasn't stopped yet.

Then I found your helpful post above. I now have some tissue fuses drying as well. I have only FFg powder on hand, but I'm going to give it a try tomorrow. With any luck...BOOM!!! :)
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Just make sure you test the fuse first
 
I won't be going into the fuse-manufacturing business any time soon...AWOL's recipe worked, but my first attempts at using it resulted in much too slow a burn rate. I could light a 1-inch piece and practically go inside for a coffee waiting for it to burn down. Untwisting it to speed it up resulted in too thick a fuse for the mini cannon, which needs a 1.8mm fuse. Sewing thread burned very inconsistently...slow, then suddenly fast, then slow. With a bit of experimentation, this could obviously work...but I didn't want to #### around with DIY fuses...I wanted to make noise and smoke!

No big deal, though. I found some correctly-sized fuse at the Dugald gun show. I've been merrily burning powder for a few days now. I had only FFg black, which works fine even though the manufacturer recommends FFFg. Cool little toy. If you have a spot to shoot out over calm water, it would be a hoot if you could see the impact splash. Over a semi-flooded, semi-snowbound field, you have no idea where your shot is landing, and the 5/16-inch ball is too small and fast to see.

I wonder if a golf ball cannon would allow you to watch the shot? :)
 
Anyone have any idea as to where one might find 1.8mm fuse in Canada?
At present the only option seems to be to buy fireworks and 'liberate' the fuses.
Unfortunately that would end up costing many $$$ for a few shots.
If only you could still find 'Ladyfingers'
 
jjohnwm said:
I won't be going into the fuse-manufacturing business any time soon...AWOL's recipe worked, but my first attempts at using it resulted in much too slow a burn rate. I could light a 1-inch piece and practically go inside for a coffee waiting for it to burn down.
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Need slightly more paste on it. Just don't twist too tight so you leave enough of the slurry in the fuse. It will work just the way you want it. I'm tempted to make a video...
 
1-Go to Budget Shooter Supply's web site
2-order cannon fuse
3-presto!

AWOL said:
1) Go to gun shop
2) Buy some FFFFG black powder (or other grade as long as it's black powder)
3) Disolve black powder in water to a wet paste consistancy
4) Cut up some 2" X 1" strips of thin tissue from a shoe box
5) Soak tissue in black powder/water slurry
6) Twist wet black tissue into tight thin strings
7) Dry them on some old rags

= Fuse

Test a few to confirm consistant burn rate. If it's too fast, twist them tighter when wet. If it burns too slow, untwist just a bit. Only make as much of the mud as you need as it will go bad if left out too long. You will see the KNO3 crystalize and rise to the top.
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I got some fuse from Budget and the touch-hole needs to be at least 1/8 inch diameter, might be a problem with some small cannons.
 
are you serious this is the coolest thing ive seen in my life lol. I just ordered a few cant wait for them to get here
 
mildcustom2 said:
Suggest buying model rocket igniters and using two lengths of wire and a 9V battery. Instant boom from a distance.
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I would do that only if I were trying to build a serious anti-zombie cannon. For casual shooting, watching the fuse burn down and waiting for it is half the fun of cannoneering!

That's my expert opinion based on a couple of days worth of shooting this thing. :) Now I need more black powder!
 
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