WWA Info Exchange

For Woodworkers By Woodworkers
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 4:18 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 1:36 pm 
Offline
Veteran

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 2:48 pm
Posts: 1146
Location: Cypress, TX
A thundermug is a big beer mug looking thing with a bore like a cannon. You fill it with black powder and light it off with a fuse.
It's made just to make noise and it does that really well! :shock:

A friend made one for me as a gift. It is 10 1/2" tall with a 7" diameter base. It has a 1 1/2" diameter bore.

It weighs a whopping 55 lbs. :D

He painted it the bronze color just to keep it from rusting.
It is my intention to paint it black.

He crated it up and shipped it to me from California.

He took pictures of the machining process and I thought I would post them here because they are cool!

The bad thing is that I have nowhere to try it out. If I shot it in the street, I'm afraid I would break windows. I will have to just wait for some opportunity.

Enjoy the pictures.
Zulu


Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 4:38 pm 
Offline
Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2002 1:01 am
Posts: 1305
Location: Kerrville, Texas USA
Shows you what I know.
I always thought that a "thunder mug" was a device used at
night to avoid walking outside in the snow to use the
bathroom.

Be a real problem if filled with black powder.

Duan

_________________
Duan Packard
Kerrville, Texas

dum vivimus, vivamus


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 10:15 pm 
Offline
Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 12:01 am
Posts: 4950
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Hey Duan,

I'm with you. My aunt use to crochet lace "silencers" for thunder mug lids. :-D

Cheers,
Tom

Hey Zulu,

Instead of painting it, why not blacken it with a gun blackening kit?

_________________
"There is no path to peace, peace is the path."
Mohandas K. Ghandi
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 10:07 am 
Offline
Veteran

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 2:48 pm
Posts: 1146
Location: Cypress, TX
Tom,
I've never done any gun blackening. Would something like that prevent rust?

When firing this thing there will be finish damage at the muzzle and at the vent.
Paint would touch up nicely.
I don't know about blackening.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 11:26 am 
Offline
Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:44 am
Posts: 3951
Location: Skagit Co WA
Just curious, Zulu - how did you machine the beads? Freehand? Pretty darn nice if so.

_________________
Nullum Gratuitum Prandium

Cheers - Dennis


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 11:43 am 
Offline
Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 12:01 am
Posts: 4950
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Hey Zulu,

Blackening will only slightly inhibit rust, and is more fragile than paint, but slightly more robust than bluing (think of a gun finish). It does show off the machine detail better though, precisely because it is so thin.

Another finish to consider is browning, which is used frequently on period black powder rifles. Since it is essentially a controlled rust, if minor surface rust occurs, it is not as objectionable. A pitted brown finish used to be created by burying the piece in a sand box with horse urine mixed in. It produces a rustic patina that is easily maintained.

Cheers,
Tom

_________________
"There is no path to peace, peace is the path."
Mohandas K. Ghandi
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 11:56 am 
Offline
Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 12:01 am
Posts: 4950
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Zulu wrote:
The bad thing is that I have nowhere to try it out. If I shot it in the street, I'm afraid I would break windows. I will have to just wait for some opportunity.


Just the thing for a home field touchdown celebration. :-D

Cheers,
Tom

_________________
"There is no path to peace, peace is the path."
Mohandas K. Ghandi
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 2:24 pm 
Offline
Veteran

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 2:48 pm
Posts: 1146
Location: Cypress, TX
DennisS wrote:
Just curious, Zulu - how did you machine the beads? Freehand? Pretty darn nice if so.



Dennis,
I didn't make it. A friend made it for me.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Apr 04, 2017 9:45 am 
Offline
Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 29, 2003 12:01 am
Posts: 3483
Location: Sacramento, CA
Late to the party, but ...

Thundermugs were used by ships to signal the harbor authorities to come and inspect the ship for disease before off-loading.

I think they are very cool.
And can be quite loud.

If that is steel, could you parkerize it for protection?

_________________
~Dan.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 9:02 am 
Offline
Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:35 pm
Posts: 3620
Location: Hutchinson Ks
I saw a short bit on thunder mugs on an episode of "Pawn Stars" awhile back. They took it to the gun range to fire it. They all used ear protection or put their fingers in their ears but still commented on how loud it was.

_________________
Dont badmouth no strangers, they just friends you aint met yet.

An ounce of responsibility is worth a pound of State and Federal laws.

I spent most of my money on woodworking
tools and beer, the rest I just wasted.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 5:13 pm 
Offline
AdminDude
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 04, 2000 12:01 am
Posts: 15387
Location: Maui,Hawaii
Goes to show you can never stop learning on this site

_________________
Mango
The land some where in the middle
20 47 00N -156 26 00W
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 31 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group