Author Topic: Making a sponge ? (Read 1166 times)

Calamity Jane · « **on:** August 24, 2003, 04:03:22 PM »

Whal, I finally got nuther job out of the shop 'n' had a chance ta get back at cannon stuff.

I made a worm for me 1" bore from brazing rod (with the flux removed), bent it up like a two-pronged spring, 'n' mounted it on a shaft - came out real nice. Made a rammer to, from a piece of 1" dowel.

Then I got to tryin ta make a mop (sponge). No problem with the woodwork, but how in blazes does ya attach the fabric to the wood???

I thought I'd make a recess along the larger part of the sponge head, wrap it with a piece of towel, 'n' staple in into the recess, but that didn't have much "give" to it.

I tried wrapping the end of the shank with towel 'n' that seemed to make a nice sponge but I ain't sure how to secure it - tack the inside end to the shaft, wrap the required number of turns, but then do what with the free end???

How doez ya make a sponge?

(Also made a frame to hold the barrel during proofing. If I can lay me hands on some FG powder, we jist might have a christening in September!)

Calamity (spongeless) Jane

Double D · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2003, 01:18:20 AM »

Sheeps wool rubber cemented on

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2003, 03:05:09 PM »

Here's one (for the longer tube - beer-can caliber) behind the golf-ball calbier mortar: http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/82347/gb01.jpg .

I think he tacked the rags onto the wooden shaft, wrapped around several times and tacked again.

For 155mm howitzers we had a 12x12x6" sponge attached at the end of a three foot long 2" diameter aluminum tube.

DD's suggestion is for the cadilac version.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #3 on:** August 27, 2003, 03:04:11 PM »

Another idea (check out their whole site too):

http://www.brasswithclass.com/images/specialcannons/specialcannons-013.jpg

http://www.brasswithclass.com/images/ramrod/ramrod-001.jpg

http://www.brasswithclass.com/images/ramrod/ramrod-005.jpg

Fred · « **Reply #4 on:** September 11, 2003, 05:05:39 AM »

Take cotton or cotton/blend socks turn them inside out and put them over the sponge head you made for the sponge until it fits the bore snugly and tie a cord around the shaft and sock ends and trim off the excess sock ends.

You can also take a car wash mittk tack with brass screws (non-sparking) to the sponge head for balk and then put on a sock or two as above.

The sock method makes it easy to clean a dirty sponge head.

Do it to them, Before they do it to you

FRED.....................