The title may seem very immature but it speaks volumes of what to do with a 1/4 or 1/8 scale full working Civil War 6-pounder, some left over black gun powder, and unused tampons.
Step 1: Insert one 12-gauge cartridge filled with the powder without dumping the cartridge into the barrel. (Note: Do not double load the amount give or severe damage may happen to the cannon and people nearby.)
Step 2: Divide a tampon into 4 equal sections using what cutting tool is at your disposal.
Step 3: Stuff the tampon wadding down the barrel to give a secure and airtight seal. (Note: Do not over stuff or you may cause severe damage to the cannon and people nearby.)
Step 4: Obtain a slow burning fuse and cut a appropriate amount. (Note: 5-10 seconds works best.)
Step 5: Lite the fuse and watch.
End Result: A loud bang and flaming wads of tampons.
Best used out of city limits or else you might wake up your neighbors.
This makes for an excellent New Years or 4th of July bang.
I don't think so and here's why: you could improvise all this stuff. Get a Small ammount of pipe for a barrel with an endcap. Metal would probably work better. Instead of black powder, use the phosphorus heads off some matches or use butane gas from a lighter for the charge. You can get tampons anywhere. Before you light the fuse, make sure you have enough health insurance incase things go wrong. Have fun Kiddies! LJ
Excellent secondary version LJ but I think metal piping needs to be of a very high grade of cast iron or steel. I suggest steel post used for reinforced fencing.
Cast iron is brittle and tends to fail by fragmenting. Brass is similar, but not quite as bad. Gun bronze fails by splitting but is malleable so tends not to fragment nearly so much. Copper fragments easily.
The lesson is this: know the strength of your materials and don't exceed it.
Gun bronze was invented for a reason, you know.
