Simple type of cannonball mould

[cannonmn]

Pretty self-explanatory, this one is for zinc 6-pounder balls.  It is held together by a large C-clamp across the flat ends while casting.  It is made of 1020 steel.  We use cut-off 23mm cartridge cases as little funnels in the pour-hole.  It works well and I'm going to have some larger moulds made the same way.  A friend loaned me this, he made it about 30 years ago.  He cast a ball out of Woods metal (m.p. 158 deg. F.) to test the fit to the cannon he had.  I know that does not allow for shrinkage of the metal that will actually be used to cast balls, I think the shrinkage of zinc is about 3 percent.

[Cat Whisperer]

Great pix!

Good selection of perspectives - as you said - self explanitory.

[Double D]

Humm, that looks familiar .





This mould is for the 6 PDR mortar I am building.  Yours solves a problem with handling mine has.  It was built by one of our board member, Wes Pilley.

Wouldn't have any spare funnels would you?

[Artilleryman]

I have a couple of molds built about the same way.  I never thought about using a funnel.