Thread: My cannon props....

Tweet

I made a couple of static naval cannons for my POTC display this year. I did a lot of internet research for pics before I built them. I used a combination of 2x6 scrap lumber and 4" black PVC pipe. I used lawn mower wheels with threaded rod axles and added black hardware and chains to finish them off.

I started with the 2x6 frames. I mitered the ends and screwed them together:





I then cut and glued up the PVC cannon sections. I used a power miter saw to cut the PVC to length. I found some wooden deck post finials for the rounded ends:











I then spray painted the frames brown and added small pieces of wood to the sides of each carriage to mount the lawn mower wheels on the threaded rod:



Finally, I spray painted some metal straps and rings black and added the chain to the carriages. I also wrapped the ends of both cannons with some rope:



I set the cannons up on each corner of my deck with a 2x6 board for a crosspiece to rest the rear wheels on and tied them in place with rope:



Of course after I built them, I found this forum and saw all the plans to make them shoot air & smoke.........so that is on my list of prop conversions for next year!

"One Eyed" Mick

That skellie in the last picture looks like he is having a great time. The cannons are terrific!

Thats gotta be one of the coolest home made pirate cannons I ever seen. good stuff. Cant wait to see the new upgarde on those cannons for next year.

Originally Posted by Terra

That skellie in the last picture looks like he is having a great time. The cannons are terrific!

That is a half torso skeleton and he fit perfectly on the back of the cannon!

Originally Posted by Jswift

Thats gotta be one of the coolest home made pirate cannons I ever seen. good stuff. Cant wait to see the new upgarde on those cannons for next year.

Thanks! I got the most comments on my cannons from all the visitors that came by. Many wanted to know if they were real or not, so I thought that was a pretty good compliment. The cannons were a lot of fun to make and took me about a week to complete them both. I am working on plans to add an air tank and a smoke chamber to them so they will shoot out a large blast of compressed air and smoke. I will let you know how that goes......

Mick

I've wanted to add cannons to our display for a while now. Thanks for the inspirational post!

I like those cannons, they do look real good and should be easy to add compressed air and some fog.

I actually made my small ones from a 8" x 48" tall concrete sonotube.
Cannon Picture - 1

Cannon Picture - 2

I might actually make 1 or 2 larger ones for next year.

Thanks for sharing mic214 .... nice job!

Great improvisation for a cannon prop! I made mine last year out of sonotube like aSmarterU did and got a nice result. However I will be refinishing it this year to look rougher, like his. I will also be adding wheels so it looks more authentic. The skeleton pirate was a great touch, I like!

Any new pics on the upgrades?

Originally Posted by One eyed Mick

That is a half torso skeleton and he fit perfectly on the back of the cannon!



Thanks! I got the most comments on my cannons from all the visitors that came by. Many wanted to know if they were real or not, so I thought that was a pretty good compliment. The cannons were a lot of fun to make and took me about a week to complete them both. I am working on plans to add an air tank and a smoke chamber to them so they will shoot out a large blast of compressed air and smoke. I will let you know how that goes......

Mick

Avast there One-Eyed Mick!

Just wanted to thank you for posting this design. We just made a couple of our own for a school play: http://gallery.me.com/anthony.shortland#100135 ... worked brilliantly well!

You'll see we used 1x6 to keep the weight down, and found locking castor wheels to make them mobile on-stage. The total cost was $244 ... but we one-stop-shopped at Home Depot so could probably do better on the costs.

Anthony Shortland,
Mountain View, CA.

How much do they weigh?

I am sure storing them might take up some room. I've wanted to do a pirate theme for a while now and I am thinking maybe next year I can do a few pirate props.

The cannons look great!