My GB mortar update

[jeeper1]

The old thread http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,93894.0.html was getting kind of long and had several pictures in it and probably was slow loading for those on dial up. So I started this one to make it faster.

Here is a picture of the tube just setting on the base for a progress report. The base has 3 coats of polyurethane on it and the tube was repainted gloss black and baked in the oven at 140 fahrenheit for 70 minutes.



I haven't painted the hold down bars yet so they're not shown. Sorry about the lack of Goex can, I forgot (senior moment).  Next time for sure.
That bottle brush shown in the cart is a perfect fit in the bore.

[Santa Dave]

LOOKIN' GOOD!
(Worth all that effort!)
by the way , I'm not sure about the facts but I saw a set of Chop cups (Magic paraphenalia) that had A golf ball and two "mini tennis balls"(all the same size) Apparently for small breed dogs. might be interesting to play with should be VERY light! Gotta check a pet shop!
Dave

[Cat Whisperer]

LOOKIN' GOOD!
(Worth all that effort!)
by the way , I'm not sure about the facts but I saw a set of Chop cups (Magic paraphenalia) that had A golf ball and two "mini tennis balls"(all the same size) Apparently for small breed dogs. might be interesting to play with should be VERY light! Gotta check a pet shop!
Dave

It is looking good!

Whiffle ball mortar ammo eh?

[jeeper1]

I painted the clamp bars to and assembled it to photograph and test-fire.
I still need to decide what kind of handles if any to add. I would because of the weight distribution prefer handles on the ends rather than the sides as is typical. Any thoughts?
Then I can do the final trimming of the threaded rod through the base.
I'm thinking that the bolts for the clamp bars need knurled knobs rather than nuts for ease of dis-assembly for cleaning. Who could make me a set of 4 at a reasonable price?

[Rickk]

how the handles carry the weight is a function of how heavy it is and how strong your wife is

Mine weighs about 210#... I don't think there is any place within 50 feet of the mortar that balances well for her ;-)

[GGaskill]

My freelance "Coehorn" of beercan bore but 6" OD is best carried by two men on the barrel and and a third on the breech end.  The handles temporarily screw on the ends of the through bolts.

[jeeper1]

In my original thread about building the base I said that I thought aluminum was easier to work with so I thought I'd post a picture of the end grain. The camera was about 12 inches from the wood, then used the 3x  zoom to get closer. Each board is about 3/4's of an inch thick. As you can see the wood has a very tight grain making it dense and a sob to work with.
I spent 2x the cost of the tube in sanders (5) and supplies. Kinda makes the $33 for the wood the cheapest part of the whole thing.   



Yes I could have done a better job, but it was my first wood working project and I got tired of working on it.
Did I say I don't like working with wood.

[Double D]

Red base, huh? Of course it's a naval mortar! Naval gun carriages were red.

So now you have the equipment, the skill and knowledge what's your next project.

And as they say down here n South Africa, well done!

[Tropico]

It is an attractive Mortar thats for sure jeeper1 .

[jeeper1]

Idiot that I am, I still have a 4 foot piece of that wood and my little bronze howitzer still needs a proper carriage. I guess the manufacture of a naval style carriage for it is next.