Author Topic: 1841 Project Finished (Read 1741 times)

Farmer Dean · « **on:** April 22, 2007, 01:16:18 PM »

Finished my 1841. The pictures are a before and after distressing the carriage. The whole piece weighs in at about 1100 pounds.

Preacher_of_Boom · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2007, 03:10:08 PM »

Wow! That is a beast!

I hope you can put up video of it firing.

intoodeep · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2007, 03:36:04 PM »

Wow! That was quick! Nice job. So, is this the new gate keeper to wine country or, does it oversee the almond fields?

Farmer Dean · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2007, 04:00:46 PM »

Intoodeep, hey now that you mentioned grapes....I don't have any vines, but the neighbors have vineyards and they're always trying to think of ways to scare birds off...let's see 2+2= .... I have just created a giant noise maker for bird control. Now doesn't that sound like a legitimate expense? I can expense off the barrel and all of my powder will, obviously, go under the category of 'farm supplies'. I'm liking this. My neighbors are able to write off their propane powered bird cannons. Thanks for your post, you jogged my brain. I'll also have some very well guarded alfalfa fields. You best not be stealing a bale out of one of my fields! Dean

Farmer Dean · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2007, 05:02:16 PM »

Hey Preacher, it's ugly alright! That's just the way I wanted it. Dean

Double D · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2007, 05:14:04 PM »

I almost missed it...there is a powder can in the picture!!

I don't think Preacher meant ugly I think he mean big beast!

Preacher_of_Boom · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2007, 05:56:53 PM »

Quote from: Double D on April 22, 2007, 05:14:04 PM

I don't think Preacher meant ugly I think he mean big beast!

Yes, I was talking about its humongousness. It might take both hands to put that in your truck!

It is beautiful in a old, well-used, rusty kind of way. You did a great job on it! Besides, I'm worried you might use my house as a backstop. You could probably lob one in with that.

Farmer Dean · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2007, 06:53:13 PM »

OK, OK, let's not split hairs: it's a big, ugly beast! Dean.

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #8 on:** April 23, 2007, 10:30:10 AM »

Farmer Dean,

Very, very nice job. That carriage looks solid! All cannon carriages need to look as if they are capable of sustaining the tube's weight and also the shock of recoil. Yours does. Glad to see you chose the Marsilly carriage. This gives all the newer members a good look at a viable alternative to the four-truck naval carriage.

Congratulations,

Mike and Tracy
Seacoast Artillery Company

Tropico · « **Reply #9 on:** April 23, 2007, 11:34:43 AM »

Outstanding !!!

Quote

Glad to see you chose the Marsilly carriage. This gives all the newer members a good look at a viable alternative to the four-truck naval carriage.

Yea it does..,thats a nice alternative., it looks really great. HEAVY DUTY

Articifer Tom · « **Reply #10 on:** April 23, 2007, 02:36:19 PM »

Looks great ! Dean , I could not see from photo how you decided to finish vent out.
One done and many more to build.
Tom.

Cannonmaker · « **Reply #11 on:** April 24, 2007, 06:56:22 PM »

Some people start out small, some start out big, Dean dose not mess around, he starts out right. right big, that is.

Weatherd nicely. If its a 1841 sitting outside, who would expect it to look new.

Nice work, Rick

Blaster · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2007, 03:19:09 AM »

Dean, very nice job and that baby looks very substantial/massive. Wow, I almost missed seeing the required powder can in the picture. I'm so used to seeing the RED Goex cans that the white one was almost overlooked. Whew, that was close......Thanks for posting those great pictures. Blaster (Bob in So. CO)

entsminger · « **Reply #13 on:** April 25, 2007, 07:08:01 AM »

I there were any previous posts on your progress I missed them. Did you make the barrel as well as the carriage? If so what size and kind of lathe did you use? How long is the barrel?

Scott

Farmer Dean · « **Reply #14 on:** April 25, 2007, 07:43:09 AM »

Scott, the barrel was manufactured by Hern. It's a full size - 65", 850lbs. They start with a 1/2" seamless liner and pour over that. I'm very pleased with the quality of the barrel. They were very easy (and nice) to deal with had me taken care of within 3 or 4 weeks of my order. Dean

Preacher_of_Boom · « **Reply #15 on:** April 25, 2007, 07:52:24 AM »

How much powder does it take, 1/2 a can?

Farmer Dean · « **Reply #16 on:** April 25, 2007, 08:28:21 AM »

Preacher, I've test fired it twice. Both times with blanks and Skirmish Powder (Fg). First time 4 oz., second time 6 oz. Next time I'll try 7 oz.

The 6 oz. load was nearly twice the bang of the 4 oz. I'm guessing over 7 oz. would provide diminishing returns: more $ for not much more bang.

The 4 oz. generated no recoil, the 6 oz. about an inch. I made the charges as described in this forum (powder in plastic baggie, six ply foil). The problem is that makes a pretty thin charge (1 to 1 1/2" thick), so I put about 3 cups of flour on top (within the same foil pack) in order to get a charge length of about 5 inches.

To my surprise, the blast did not eject all of the flour out of the barrel, making cleanup (sponging) a little messier. I might have to change to something else for filler.

Any ideas? I have unlimited downrange exposure, so flying debris is not an issue. Dean

Preacher_of_Boom · « **Reply #17 on:** April 25, 2007, 08:48:10 AM »

Almost half a can! How did the Skirmish powder work, sound, etcetera? I'm thinking of skipping the Goex for it since the price is right.

Somebody, I read, uses grass clippings in their cannon for a wad with good results.

Rickk · « **Reply #18 on:** April 25, 2007, 08:49:16 AM »

I once put some "flying fish fuse" on top of a blank load, just for added effect around the 4th of July. I too was surprised when the charge went off but the fuse stayed in the barrel and fizzed (yes, it was on top of the charge, not the bottom). I tried it twice... same thing happened both times.

I have concluded that if an object does not cover the powder well, the blast works it's way around it.

I know what you mean about short charges... if it is short compared to bore diameter it rolls and does not seat well, leading to ignition issues. I build up the charge so that it is longer than bore diameter with disks of 1/8 inch corrogated cardboard. The end with the cardboard gets marked with spraypaint paint for identification when loading. I soak the cardboard in baking soda / water solution and let them dry before loading, to make the disks fireproof... I don't want to burn down the woods behind my house. They only go about 20-30 feet in my mortar.

The disks are fairly esy to cut with a holesaw minus the pilot drill on a drill press. I modified the hole saw blade with a grinder so that the cutting edge is a sharp knife edge rather than a wide band of metal and it seems to crt the cardboard better (less ripping, more cutting). I back the cut up with a scrap of plywood.

Evil Dog · « **Reply #19 on:** April 25, 2007, 09:59:35 AM »

Dean... when bulking up your foil powder cartridges, instead of using flour try some of that "blow in" insulation for houses. A huge bag of it for practically nothing at the local hardware store. I've found that it works quite well and is fire retardant. Just make sure to mark which end of the cartridge the powder baggie is at.

Farmer Dean · « **Reply #20 on:** April 25, 2007, 10:42:26 AM »

Good ideas on filler. Having not used anything but Skirmish powder I don't have anything to compare it to, but it was cheaper. It made a good bang with smoke and lots of fire. Rickk was the one that brought the option to my attention. As you pointed out Preacher, at about a half a can per... I've got to watch myself - this could get expensive! Too late now. It's starting to sink in now the meaning of some of the monikers (e.g. "Intoodeep")

Here's a frame from a video of the 6 oz. firing. The barrel is 65", so you make the estimate on flame length. Sorry about the picture quality. Note the exhaust from the vent. Dean

Preacher_of_Boom · « **Reply #21 on:** April 25, 2007, 11:01:48 AM »

In that case, why not just throw the whole can down the tube? Make a quill from a $100 bill, and let her rip!

By the way, that is a beast of a flame!

I'm glad to know more about the Skirmish powder. It looks like it works well.

intoodeep · « **Reply #22 on:** April 25, 2007, 03:50:47 PM »

Quote from: Farmer Dean on April 25, 2007, 10:42:26 AM

It's starting to sink in now the meaning of some of the monikers (e.g. "Intoodeep")

Well, Farmer Dean. I think that will scare the birds away from the crops.

I think your deduction will be granted.....

Preacher_of_Boom · « **Reply #23 on:** April 25, 2007, 04:59:49 PM »

How did you give the appearance of age to your carriage?

Don Krag · « **Reply #24 on:** April 25, 2007, 05:08:11 PM »

That rocks!!! I'm jealous!

Cannonmaker · « **Reply #25 on:** April 25, 2007, 05:16:51 PM »

Quote from: Preacher_of_Boom on April 25, 2007, 08:48:10 AM

Somebody, I read, uses grass clippings in their cannon for a wad with good results.

I use fresh grass clippings, They work real good. with Farmer Dean's cannon they may go uo to 100 yds. The grass wad dos not make a mess and the fresh grass packs real well.

As with any obstical in the bore, allways conseder it as a projectial, reguaridless of range.

The vent hole lets off lots of fire and smoke in itself.

Rick

Farmer Dean · « **Reply #26 on:** April 25, 2007, 06:33:55 PM »

To distress the carriage I took a hand grinder to all of the edges and corners of the timbers, purposely applying uneven, unsymmetrical pressure. I also took a 3/8" length of chain with grab hook on the end and worked it over a bit and then hit a few spots with a welding torch. But the most effective technique was metal filings: I swept up the floor around my grinder and chop saw and came up with a bit of powdered iron. I sprayed the carriage with water (so the filings would stick) and threw the powder in a random pattern, then fogged it with a light spray of water taking care not to wash off the filings. The change was dramatic: within 4 or 5 hours the wood was stained. I will let some rust take root and leave some liniar streeks and then I will water seal the wood. Also in between the timbers (where ever I had wood to wood contact) I painted both surfaces with that green wood preservative. As it soaked into the timbers it bled a little. That part turned out looking better than I thought as (although the picture doesn't show) it makes the timber joints look as if there is a slight bit of moss growing. Dean

moose53 · « **Reply #27 on:** April 26, 2007, 10:56:29 AM »

Now that you have done the fire and smoke thing , I am curious what you think of the blast wave and recoil ? The fun factor goes up with the size if you can afford to feed it . Looks like a very solid system you have put together , should bring you years of enjoyment .

Farmer Dean · « **Reply #28 on:** April 26, 2007, 11:17:46 AM »

Hey Moose, I specifically went with the Marsilly style carriage to help control/limit my recoil and that seems to be effective. I have not been in front (and to the side!) of this piece when fired yet, but there is no shock wave behind it or to the side of it. It's loud but not enough to require ear protection. I think it will be a different story out in front. My next firing I'm hoping to be about 1000 feet out and to the side a bit to see what it sounds like. Dean