How to Build a Beer Can Mortar Bed

It did not take long to make a basic beer can mortar bed from some 2×4 lumber and screws.

This base is very basic. I have some ideas for improvement.

However, I want to start from a known system.

This bed is built using the plans that came with my mortar tube from blackpowder-cannons.com.

The video is pretty self-explanatory.

How to Build a Mortar Bed

First, start by cutting 2 pieces of 2×4 15 inches long, a piece 13 inches long, and a support 3 inches long.
Next, mark the center of the 15 inch boards. Mark that line 1/2 inch from the top.
Then, drill a pilot hole through the mark you made, and then follow up with a 1 inch hole saw.
Cut the top out of the cut on the board so the cannon trunions can slide down into the hole you cut.
Next center the 13 inch board at the base of the two longer boards and screw them to the shorter board forming a channel for the mortar to sit in.
Knock the 3 inch board into this channel and set the cannon into the trunion holes.
Move the 3 inch board forward and back until then cannon is resting at a 45 degree angle when sitting in the trunion mounts and resting on the top of the board.
Finally, screw the support board in and your bed is finished.

I went ahead and fabricated some strap to hold the cannon in place, and I painted mine, now to make some rounds and find some places to test fire it.