Author Topic: WOW! Neat forum! (Read 6141 times)

Calamity Jane · « **on:** June 24, 2003, 07:26:14 AM »

YEEEEHAW! A CONNON FORUM!

Bein stuck up here in the middle of nowhere 'n' havin a hankerin ta build meself a cannon, I'z started on a 1/3 scale of a Civil War 6-pounder.

It's been a real tough slog, tryin ta find information. I'z searched all over the Internet 'n' found a smidge here 'n' nuther bit thar, but thar ain't much in the way of cannon activity online.

Gonna bookmark this page 'n' come back often!

Double D · « **Reply #1 on:** June 24, 2003, 11:18:58 AM »

Welcome Ma'am. Is it politically correct to call Calamity Jane Ma'am.

Cannon building and shooting done here. Tell us how your project is going and be sure an post some pictures.

DD

Calamity Jane · « **Reply #2 on:** June 24, 2003, 02:15:13 PM »

Whal D., I rekkon ya kin call me "Ma'm" if'n ya like - shore been called a lot worse :shock:

I'z jist really started makin chips this week after spending a few month collectin information (thank you Dixie Gunworks!) 'n' figgerin out how I waz gonna do it. (Us "engineering types" kin plan a project ta death!)

The barrel will consist of a 4" O.D. 2" I.D. 660 bronze tube with a press-fit steel liner. I'z jist finished drillin 'n' reaming the bore to 1.010" 'n' will get to honing it tomorrie.

After plugging the steel sleeve and dressing it smooth, I'll ream the I.D. of the bronze tube to the proper diameter and press in the sleeve.

Then I get to do the fun part of the job - turning the barrel. That's when it'll start lookin purdy 'n' lookin like a cannon.

I'z scheduled to spend a week learnin basic blacksmithin in July, so then I kin start turnin out all the little fittings.

When I get a bit more werk done 'n' a few more pictures, I'll post 'em up on me Web page 'n' put a link over here.

Otta be a number of months a'fore'n it's ready ta fire, so I still got time ta learn lots more 'bout cannon shootin! :grin:

Double D · « **Reply #3 on:** June 24, 2003, 03:50:53 PM »

How are you plugging the liner?

Good Tig or even laser weld is the best fewer to no pinholes of a threaded crush fit plug . Microscopic pin holes will have powder fouling blown into the them and will rust out.

Calamity Jane · « **Reply #4 on:** June 25, 2003, 04:19:05 AM »

Howdy DD.

I'm figgerin on a threaded and pinned plug.

I appreciate the comment on pin holes - hadn't given that much thought. I got some real good thread sealing compound with a metal base that we use on HP steam. I'll give 'er a good dollop of that when I put 'er tagether - that'll seal up the ends of the threads real good.

Calamity Jane · « **Reply #5 on:** June 25, 2003, 04:46:33 AM »

See if this pix link werks fer you fellers......

If it does, it's drilling the bore 22" deep into the sleeve

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/winnonad/vwp2?.tok=bclgbxRBfcZP6N8n&.dir=/Calamity%27s+Pix&.dnm=DeepDrill1s.jpg&.src=ph

Double D · « **Reply #6 on:** June 25, 2003, 06:37:34 AM »

Looks like that will do the job. Heck of a setup!

I would test some of that sealant of with black powder first. Little higher temps and pressure than steam.

Have you criused around our board and looked at someof theother guns posted here.

Calamity Jane · « **Reply #7 on:** June 25, 2003, 08:12:13 AM »

I'z been droppin by Greybeards off 'n' on fer some time, mostly fer CAS, but this board has been added since me last visit. (Too many boards 'n' jist not nuff o' me ta go 'round :roll:

I'll test some o' that sealant with Holy Black - always lookin fer a 'xcuse ta smell some BP smoke anyway :shock:

Glad the link werked.

CJ

Jeff B. · « **Reply #8 on:** June 25, 2003, 08:29:23 AM »

Do you speak English? :lol: Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Calamity Jane · « **Reply #9 on:** June 25, 2003, 09:04:03 AM »

Nope; do you? :roll:

Jeff B. · « **Reply #10 on:** June 25, 2003, 09:56:41 AM »

By the way, welcome aboard! :-) Reckon I wuz just kiddin' with 'ya regardin' da prop-pa use of the eeeng-lush lang-wish.

Calamity Jane · « **Reply #11 on:** June 25, 2003, 12:59:35 PM »

:-D I rekkon I knowed that :wink:

Looks like we're goin with a solid plug, press-fit, and pinned.

Musta had a brain f@#t thinkin I waz gonna tap a 1.015 hole 1" NF - DUH!

Double D · « **Reply #12 on:** June 26, 2003, 03:33:58 AM »

Don't have my Machinery Handbook handy and I don't know the demensions of you liner, but when they build Cannons out of seamless the breechplug is acme.

You can welds the liner, but it needs to be a high quality weld. TIg or laser.

DD

Calamity Jane · « **Reply #13 on:** June 26, 2003, 04:28:26 AM »

Quote

breechplug is acme

?

Ain't heard that term - what's "acme"

Bore's 1" diameter; breechplug is 1" long.

I'd have it welded but that'd open a whole new can of worms by desturbing the temper of the sleeve in the area around the weld.

Double D · « **Reply #14 on:** June 26, 2003, 04:59:34 AM »

Acme threads. Look at the lead screws on your lathe those are acmes.

Tig or laser, won't create problems with the heat treat.

Keep us updated on this project...we'll have you building a bowling ball mortar next!

Calamity Jane · « **Reply #15 on:** June 27, 2003, 02:40:29 AM »

Whal, now I'z in a puzzlement!

On another Board, someone commented:
"I hate to be a wet blanket, but I'd rather do that than see someone get hurt or dead-icated! You said you used cold-rolled steel! I haven't checked my metallurgical references, but I DO remember a bunch of amateur (and some claiming to be not-so-amateur) muzzle-loading "gunsmiths" back in the '60's and '70's who had ML rifle barrels made from cold-rolled steel SHATTER on them explosively! And these were NOT from overloads, airspaces, etc.

The problem lies with cold-rolled steel being "notch-sensitive" and suffering from "cold sharpness", which means to say they get brittle at higher temperatures than you'd suspect...even close to room temp! The REAL experts warned to ALWAYS USE HOT-ROLLED STEEL FOR RIFLE BARRELS!

Don't KNOW if this applies to cannon barrels as well, due to the relatively thicker walls, but I suspect it is also TRUE! At least check into it, Pard! Want to keep all our pards safe"

Whal, I took the question to the Mechanical Department (I werk for a major power utility) 'n' asked the Engineers ta discuss it 'n' give it some thunk. After a number of days of kickin it around, the P.Eng.s have declined to venture an opinion! :x Typical!

I'z beginnin ta think maybe I otta weld in the breech plug 'n' anneal the sleeve/plug - take it back to the condition of "mild steel". :?

Any o' you folks got experience with cold-drawn steel tube? Anybody got a engineer to commit to an answer?

:roll:

Calamity (who's usually in a state of puzzlement) Jane

Double D · « **Reply #16 on:** June 27, 2003, 07:24:01 AM »

It has to do with the weldabliity of the steel and the type of weld used. Oxy-acetylene and electric welding stick and MIG transfer a lot of heat to the material and affect the temper of the metal. TIG and laser welds are lower heat and don't have a great affect on the temper.

The problem with the rifle barrels made from cold rolled stress proof went way beyond a simple change in temper problem, it also had to do with the actual chemical composition of a certain brand of steel--La Salle.

You should be just fine threading and pinning the breech plug. If you can find somebody to TIG or laser weld , that would be better,but you can do with out. But do not Arc or oxy-acetylene or MIG the plug. Make sure the breech plug has seat to crush fit at the bore and the out sid of the plug is the same size as the outside of the liner.

Then when you you get the liner shrunk in, don't for get to instal a fuse hole liner. This should be threaded into the bore liner.

Double D · « **Reply #17 on:** November 16, 2019, 01:53:27 PM »