Greetings and questions for the wise folks (mortar assistance)

[Federov-Fox]

Hello!

I've been around the firearms fields from as long as I can remember.  Being one that found the history of firearms before actually possessing one, I've always had a soft spot for the muzzle loading, black powder days.   I have gone through the phases of building firearms (Kalashnikoves, AR's, Mac's... all within legal parameters), but I just can't keep myself away from black powder.

I have experience from my college days with metalsmithing (primarily investment casting), and my all time love affair of wood working.

Anyway!  The question for the guru's on here is what would be a good "beer can" mortar, something small, but just needing the barrel as I want to craft up a nice base, with forged iron bits.  Not golf-ball size, though those look very fun.

I've seen quite a bite of barrels, and while I'm not too picky for my first one, historical wise, I want to hear everyone's opinion on what their favorite is.

[GGaskill]

At least in US and CSA practice, you are pretty much stuck with the Coehorn if you want a wood base.  The bigger siege and coastal mortars all had cast iron or wrought iron mounts, at least in the later ones.



This one is about 46% scale made from 4" 1018 CRS.  The handles were fabricated from three pieces and welded, although the originals must have been forged.  There are six long bolts that go through the width and square nuts.  You can view a thread about this mortar which talks about the details of its construction.  If you decide to go this way, you should get the complete plan folio (No. 22) from Antique Ordnance Publishers.

Now if you're into cast iron, the 1841 series of coastal mortars will give you a real project.

[dan610324]

well as you have some experiance from investment casting ,
why not produce something beautiful   

this drawings are all 17th and 18th century original drawings ,
but there are plenty more of them at    www.arkeliet.net

as an source for the wax you could ask your local church if you could have the candle stumps .

[dan610324]

some more

[dan610324]

and a few more

[Double D]

Why not contact our sponsor listed in the stickies pinned to the top of the forum ad see what they can come up with for you?

[Federov-Fox]

Thanks for the feedback folks!

I have been wanting to give casting a shot, even if it's something that won't be shot except maybe for blanks, I don't trust my casting abilities quite yet!

I did discover a certain foam that can be carved and will vaporize quite readily when molten metal hits it, accurate enough to have threads in the foam.

If anyone's interested, this is a good website that gives some home built smelting:   http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/

I'll certainly let everyone know here what sort of things I come up with, or at least the drawings and doodles I have in case someone else wants to give it a shot.

[Double D]

Just a word of caution, if you don't trust your casting a enough to shoot it, then it isn't safe enough for blanks. Besides you never know what the next owner might do with it.

[dan610324]

if you are serious to cast your own mortar you need an pyrometer that you know the exact temperature .
and never use scrap bronze , as you dont know the exact alloy content .
scrap copper is ok as long its electrolyt and not pipes or similar stuff , electrolyt ( pure copper that have been used for electricity ) is an good source to use and only virgin tin .
there is metals that only need 0,5% in the alloy to do your casting so brittle that it will explode with an blank load .

BE SURE YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE MELTING .

[Federov-Fox]

That's all very good advice.  Seeing pictures of blown apart Parrot rifles and other cannons, built in industrial settings makes me make sure I have all my stuff together.  I'm usually a stickler for finding out as much as I can about something before attempting anything.

I'm also a big proponent of steel liners in everything and over engineering, but still take every precaution I can.

I do think I'll take your guy's advice and contact a sponsor and see what they can start me out with.  The rest is learning, which is half the fun!

[dan610324]

you will find a lot of beautiful and good priced products from the sponsors

[Cat Whisperer]

...
 The rest is learning, which is half the fun!

FF - you're off to a great start!  (and WELCOME to the board)

Many of us know the rules of safety well - some of us because we've had close calls and were fortunate enough to learn from the events.

Take pictures along the way, we'd love to see them!