Coehorn mortar from DGW

[sixgun_symphony]

 What kind of work needs to be done to the piece to make it ready for use?

[GGaskill]

Generally speaking, the DGW artillery pieces are made by Hern Iron Works.  Check them before buying from Dixie.

[navygunner]

Most of Hern Ironworks tubes will require the vent being drilled and some minor machining to clean up the tube esp around the trunions. Dixie Gun sometimes offers tubes with the vent drilled but most of their tubes state polishing needed to finish tube.

NG

[DoktorD]

Speaking from experience with a DGW barrel, I would seriously consider spending your money on something that comes from another source. The barrels are very rough, my trunnions weren't even round. You could spend the same amount (probably less) on a higher quality piece from one of the sponsers at the top of the board like Dominick Carpenter or one of the others. There are also plenty of pictures of their work on their websites and on this board.

Take my two cents for whatever its worth 

And most importantly have fun with whatever you do decide on!

Mat

[Rickk]

The barrel from Dixie is a Hern Barrel. Dixie drills the fuse hole for you, and doubles the price to do it. I don't know if they drill the hole straight in or at an angle, but you want it at an angle. I discussed this in a thread a few years ago when I built mine and can find the thread if you want the info.

The hardware kit, also made by Hern, will save you a lot of fabrication effort.

Besides the barrel and the hardware you will need wood... mine was made from White Oak, laminated from 3 inches thick pieces. Besides the through bolts and lots of glue, there are a half dozen wooden dowel pins in each laminated layer.

Large clamps, the kind that use 3/4 inch black iron pipe as a backbone, will come in handy if you laminate. I posted the entire build way back. I think I used maybe 8 clamps to hold things together while the glue dried.

Making the hole that the barrel sits into is probably the most time consuming part. I drilled alot of it out in a drill press, and then started whittling away with a mallet and a chisel. I took a while... 10 hours maybe, I'm not sure anymore, to get the barrel to fit in the wood.

     Rick

[Double D]

putting the mortar base together

[Div Arty]

Here are a few construction photos of the base and hardware.

[sixgun_symphony]

Thanks for the information. I am thinking that will just look for one that is already finished and ready for use.

[Double D]

Check with our sponsors and see what they can provide you.

[Cat Whisperer]

DivArty -

Can I assume that was a router bit in a drill press and at high speed?

[Div Arty]

CW  No, that was a 1" Forstner bitt.  Could have used a spade bit but the former is a little more rigid.  Then squared it up with a chisel.

[Cat Whisperer]

Forstner makes a lot of sense.  It looked similar to a router bit I have for hollowing out door hinges using a template.