Getting ready for tomorrow and making charges for the 1841 Cairo gun. I had to make up some gear for rolling cartridges. Using the guidelines from the Artilleryman article, here's what I came up with. The measurements here are for a 1 inch bore.
First I cut a length 3/4 copper pipe. I deburred the pipe inside and out. Then I weighed out a charge and put it in the sandwich bag pushed it down the pipe. I measured the depth of charge in the pipe and marked that on the outside of the pipe. Then I added a mark the diameter of the pipe to the first mark and figured the total length including the fold over on the end. For this charge that measurement was 3 inches.
With my cutting board and cutting wheel I cut a 3 inch wide strip. I already knew from past experience, I would get three wraps.
I rolled the foil around the copper pipe former using the long mark as a guide and folding the end over as I went.
When the entire cartridge was rolled around the former, I used a dowel to compress the folds.
Next with the powder in the corner of the sandwich bag I inserted it in the pipe.
After powder “bulb” was in the pipe I twisted the bag and cut off the excess.
Then with the dowel, I pushed the powder bag down into the foil cartridge, pushing the now loaded cartridge off the pipe former.
I twisted the top of the foil cartridge closed and trimmed the foil tail with scissors.
Next step, smoke and fire!!!!