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Author Topic: Mini-ball Molds  (Read 556 times)

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Offline gunsonwheels

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Mini-ball Molds
« on: July 21, 2011, 03:42:46 PM »
Maybe I should post this on another board but I'm looking at a 20mm surplus ordnance barrel I picked up years ago and wondered if anyone might know of some place I might buy a mini-ball style mold in that caliber (.787" nominal)? 
 
After turning, plugging, banding and trunnioning, the tube will be a 1/4 scale 1861 Parrott Rifle with non-original rifling.  Some of us do not have rifling beds, original guns or can afford to have someone like Seacoast make a 100% original bore and just have to make do with what's available to us.  Is it greater treason or heresy to the GBO forum to not have orignal rifling or to just make it smoothbore?  ;)
 
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Offline Double D

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Re: Mini-ball Molds
« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2011, 03:51:54 PM »
Quote from: gunsonwheels on July 21, 2011, 03:42:46 PM
Maybe I should post this on another board but I'm looking at a 20mm surplus ordnance barrel I picked up years ago and wondered if anyone might know of some place I might buy a mini-ball style mold in that caliber (.787" nominal)? 
 
After turning, plugging, banding and trunnioning, the tube will be a 1/4 scale 1861 Parrott Rifle with non-original rifling.  Some of us do not have rifling beds, original guns or can afford to have someone like Seacoast make a 100% original bore and just have to make do with what's available to us.  Is it greater treason or heresy to the GBO forum to not have orignal rifling or to just make it smoothbore?  ;)

Nothing wrong with building with what you have. If you have the ability to make a cannon barrel...why don't you try making you own mould.

Treason and heresy would be posting your as you go build pictures on another  forum instead of here.

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Offline gunsonwheels

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Re: Mini-ball Molds
« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2011, 04:12:59 PM »
dd:
 
Quote

Treason and heresy would be posting your as you go build pictures on another  forum instead of here.


Couldn't agree more with that statement.  As to the "building my own" it's just finding the time among all the other time demands (I even have Circle carbide boring bars down to .188" dia.).   HMR Cannons (Ed Hart) is getting me up and shooting for the grandson's arrival and part of me really likes letting someone else do at least some of the work on the ordnance activities.
 
 :-[   :-[   :-[
Speaking of "build  pictures"... started a pool ball mortar and got to a major lapse in the "check dimensions twice" before cutting so decided to scrap it and start it over.
 
Is anyone interested in the photo's up to the foul-up for now??
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Offline Double D

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Re: Mini-ball Molds
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2011, 04:56:19 PM »
Sure post the pictures.
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Offline gunsonwheels

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Re: Mini-ball Molds
« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2011, 05:26:36 PM »
Okay... not used to advertising so freely my screw-ups:
 
Machine is a 13x54 South Bend and the stock is 4":
 
 
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Offline Double D

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Re: Mini-ball Molds
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2011, 06:03:54 PM »
There is no mistake, adapted it into some thing
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Offline subdjoe

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Re: Mini-ball Molds
« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2011, 06:05:46 PM »
Screw up?  You jest!  Surely you meant to say that the barrel is a modern interpretation in the style of (type) didn't you?
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Your ob't & etc,
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Offline gunsonwheels

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Re: Mini-ball Molds
« Reply #7 on: July 21, 2011, 06:14:54 PM »
I went out and set the caliper at 3" (the chamber is 1") and measured down the taper and I do still have the 3:1 ratio at the bottom of the chamber... so maybe yeah... because it isn't a Coehorn and I still have about 18 more inches of 4" stock I just figured I'd start over... besides in the process I realized I can use the reduced diameter section between the muzzle reinforce and lower reinforce band for the steady rest journal so I can get by with 1.25" less length... just have to turn that much of the OD before the boring work.  I will let the grandsons weigh in on wheter to finish it up.  For me I get just as much enjoyment from making chips as I do from shooting the finished article.  :D
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Offline Double D

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Re: Mini-ball Molds
« Reply #8 on: July 21, 2011, 06:39:50 PM »
Ball end it, add trunnion and fillet and go shoot.!
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Offline GGaskill

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Re: Mini-ball Molds
« Reply #9 on: July 21, 2011, 07:11:28 PM »
Finish off the hemispherical end and cut the trunnion groove for practice if nothing else.  Then finish it.  You can always use it for trade material or a spur of the moment gift to an interested newbie.
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Offline gunsonwheels

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Re: Mini-ball Molds
« Reply #10 on: July 21, 2011, 08:31:16 PM »
I was planning on removing the workpiece, mounting it on the mill and drilling and boring for the trunnion... then inserting a stub trunnion which I would lock into the hole with a couple of dog-end set screws... remount and center in the lathe...  center drill the stub trunnion and then cut the hemi end between the 4-jaw and the live center... that way I will not have to deal with any interrupted cuts... after balling the mortar's end, remove the setscrews and stub trunnion and replace with the full length trunnion... as it is locked in all axes except one, I was planning on just using a little JB weld to keep it from sliding out... or maybe the set screws into the same detents in the trunnion channel..??
 
All right... I'll guess I'll have to finish it up and with the photo's.  Right now the machine shop has been converted into a bunk room for the five grandsons coming from NZ.  As they are going to get a rental for the year they're here, I'll probably have to wait 'til they move out in a few weeks.  I know one or two of them will want to come help 'Papa finish it.  :)
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Offline GGaskill

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Re: Mini-ball Molds
« Reply #11 on: July 21, 2011, 09:59:57 PM »
I know one or two of them will want to come help 'Papa finish it.  :)

Sounds good to me.
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