Introduction: Mini Cannon for Lego

About: I am currently an Industrial design student. i like to create things and experiment with materials as this will also allow me gain a better understanding making things and improving from them.


Make a mini cannon out of a piece of steel bolt.

Step 1: What You Need

Tools

Drill Press/Lathe
File
Sand Papers (Optional)
Center punch
Drill bit
Buffing wheel

Materials

1 Steel Bolt
Polishing Compound

Safety
Safety Glasses
Dusk Mask

I am not responsible for any injuries or damage that are caused directly or indirectly by this instructable proceed at own discretion

Step 2: Preparation

prepare your steel bolt

Cut of the hex head so that your left with a bar stock

you can use a angle cutter or hacksaw to cut the steel bolt

Step 3:

If you don't have a metal lathe like me you could place the steel bolt into the chuck of the drill press 
tighten the chuck firmly 
change the speed of the drill press to a faster rpm ,i went with 2500 rmp cause i felt more comfortable  (safer) working  at that speed

Safety glasses or even better a face shield

once everything is in place you may begin

Step 4: Shaping

Use the metal file to shape out the the cannon profile 
Using the corners of the file to gradually form the grooves of the cannon
try and make the piece have a slightly tapered end so that it looks more like a cannon 

flip the work piece to shape the other end of the cannon

(Recreated photos here, as you would require both hands to control the file carefully)

Step 5: Sanding

Sand down the work piece with sand paper to remove the scratches mad by the file

Be careful at this stage as your hands are quite close to the spinning drill chuck

If you don't fell comfortable doing this you can sand it down by hand without the drill press (though this might take a bit longer)

Sand the piece with various grit levels of sand paper to prepare for polishing

Step 6:

Drill in the the hole 

you now would want to set your drill press to the lowest speed possible to drill in to metal

first mark out the center of the cannon hole with a center punch

clamp your work piece on the drill press vice

(I didn't have a drill press vice so drill a hole in a block of wood to hole the piece.)

Step 7: Polishing (optional)

polish the work piece using some polishing compound and a buffing wheel.

Now its done.

You can use this with lego pieces if you want the scale was chosen to match the lego people size :D

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