Author Topic: Project in Process  (Read 912 times)

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Offline GLS

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Project in Process
« on: January 13, 2012, 07:03:59 AM »
Here is the progress on a project I have been working on since the weather has been keeping me indoors.  I aquired one of HMR cannon's pop can mortars and after seeing how Dominick had put one on wheels just knew I had to try that.  I won a bid for a pair of 18 inch wheels for $27.00 and designed the rest of the carriage around that.  Cut and glued some scrap plywood together and just need to add the rest of the hardware and paint.  The block holding the mortar at elevation in the photo is temporary.  I made some blocks that easily attach and remove for 0,5,10,15,22.5,30 and 45 degree angles of elevation.  Hope to have this ready by the time warmer weather arrives.  Will post some video then.
Gerald
 
wood cut

 
Wheels and axle ready

 
Progress so far

Offline gunsonwheels

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Re: Project in Process
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2012, 07:53:17 AM »
Been working on installation of a LOPI gas "Franklin Fireplace" - type stove and you are giving me ideas for one of its flank "protectors"  :)   :D   ;D .
 
I received four 15" wheels from customwagons.com before the holidays and haven't posted them so here's one of them... I call them "four foot wheels" because you have to be four feet away from them for them to look acceptable to my standards.  They'll look good for a couple of fireside guns... if we don't invite any GBO board members to give them close inspection.  :-\
 
GOW

Offline Artilleryman

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Re: Project in Process
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2012, 08:43:10 AM »
They look very good in the photos.
Norm Gibson, 1st SC Vol., ACWSA

Offline Double D

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Re: Project in Process
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2012, 09:58:16 AM »
GLS, looks interesting.

GOW whats wrong with the wheels?

Offline dominick

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Re: Project in Process
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2012, 12:29:44 AM »
GLS,  Your mortar looks good.  I just completed another one myself.
 
 
GOW, Is that a gap I see between the tire and the felloes?  Otherwise, the wheels look ok to me.

Offline gunsonwheels

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Re: Project in Process
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2012, 06:13:33 AM »
The felloes weren't steam bent to a tight enough radius so a couple of their ends thin-out out at the butt jount(s) and in order to not thin them too much there is a hump in the OD/tire-shape of one of the wheels.
The hubs appear to have been drilled to accept the nave box after not only the spoke fit-up but also the tire shrinking.  The latter step in the build process appears to have cocked the hub slightly so after the "drilling and pressing" of the nave box, the box is concentric in the hub on one side and very noticeably excentric on the other.  The OD/tires run true when the wheels are rotated but the hub wobbles.
 
My Dad used to say for some stuff you buy, the price includes some $ for the product and some $ for tuition ($ you paid for the learning experience).
 
If these 15" wheels were the first I had purchased from Jay Jones, et al, I would never have purchased their pair of 30" wheels nor their 42"  pair.  In all fairness to them I do not think their processes for smaller wheels are as well defined or controlled... hence the variations.
 
From four feet away they look okay if you don't roll your piece too fast so the hub wobble is apparent.  Again the bore of the nave box is concentric with the tire/wheel OD (except for the hump mentioned at the felloe butt) so the OD isn't going up/down back/forth.
 
I'll post a few close in pics of the anomalies later...
 
GOW   

Offline Double D

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Re: Project in Process
« Reply #6 on: January 14, 2012, 06:37:34 AM »
Have you discussed this with Jones?

Offline gunsonwheels

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Re: Project in Process
« Reply #7 on: January 14, 2012, 12:50:12 PM »
No... getting through the holidays and with caring for the wife and a hip I just had replaced I'm afraid the ordnance projects slid way down the list for awhile.  I'll give him a call and post results along with the pictures...
 
I figured I'd take pictures of the anomalies and e-mail them to Jay before I called to discuss it with him so that is still the plan...
 
GOW

Offline GLS

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Re: Project in Process
« Reply #8 on: April 27, 2012, 02:09:02 AM »
Finished the mortar project and hope the weather will let me test fire this weekend.  Will post video soon.  The block system that holds the elevation at various angle works well.  Shown with the 30 degree block.  I also will be making a standard bed for this mortar and working on some wood wheels for this carriage as I think it would look better.
GLS
 

Offline The Jeff

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Re: Project in Process
« Reply #9 on: April 27, 2012, 02:45:57 PM »
Looks good! How well do you think the axle will stand up to shooting the mortar at higher elevations?

Offline GLS

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Re: Project in Process
« Reply #10 on: April 27, 2012, 04:07:16 PM »
Really don't know.  The axle is a beam constructed of 3/4" plywood formed tightly around a 1" solid steel rod.  The mortar chamber will hold about 390 grains of BP at the most.  How much that would push on the axle is to be seen.  I will hardly ever use a full load as I only have a 200 yd range to shoot at home.