Author Topic: Sold one, had to make another one (Read 1115 times)

Zulu · « **on:** March 21, 2013, 04:48:49 PM »

1/3 scale British 32 pounder. 36" long barrel.
Made out of cedar
Zulu

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2013, 06:26:46 PM »

Thank you so much for posting this series of excellent photos of your craft, Michael. What is your answer when people ask you this type of question: "Aren't you giving away the family farm by revealing your methods in such fine detail?"

Your work is so inspiring, I just can't express my admiration for it and this, your latest series of photos, moves me to reveal one of our most successful secret methods of control over wood's natural inclination to crack, warp, cup, bow and twist. As you well know, when you are dealing with timbers that, even in miniature, are 34" long and 3 X 3 inches across and which MUST stay straight and not twist at all, special measures must be employed, even after very careful kiln drying. Maybe this Sunday we will round up a series of photos to show this method.

When I see one of your finished tubes, I think, boy that looks heavy, just like cast iron! Just like the photos of a finely finished (by turning) cast iron tube made by South Bend Replicas.

My hat's off to you, Sir. You are a true craftsman in a land of plastic, throw-aways.

Tracy

rivercat · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2013, 11:20:53 PM »

Hi Zulu,
I must say I am very impressed with what you have achieved, I would like to know where you got your plans from that I saw on the wall of your workshop as I would not mind getting a copy to show at the Fort I work at?
Steve

MKlein · « **Reply #3 on:** March 22, 2013, 01:37:20 AM »

I'm sure you will be making a lot more of those!
Very, very nice work!

Zulu · « **Reply #4 on:** March 22, 2013, 02:31:23 AM »

Tracy,
A compliment from the masters is greatly appreciated. It is the love of what I do that drives my need to spend more time than is reasonable to get the "look" I want.

I am very interested in measures you take to keep wood from doing what wood always wants to do. Warp, split, crack. etc. Sometimes, way after the project is complete. I really have to watch for problems when I move a piece from outside in the shop to inside the house. $:-\$

I don't worry about my "secrets". This stuff is for sale. And it is expensive. Like your work, the person that buys it is willing to pay for the "look" (and in your case, "function") that comes from the many hours you put into one of your projects.
My pictures can help someone who is going to try this on their own. They won't be buying from me anyway.
The hardest thing I face is getting rid of one of my art pieces. Like any artist, I want to keep it, but the overwhelming need to eat takes precedence.

Rivercat,
The drawing you see came from "Round Shot and Rammers". I blew it up to the actual size I wanted. That book is one of my best sources of information.

Zulu

irishman · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2013, 04:11:47 AM »

Zulu,

A Great 'walk thru' of your varied talents. The love of your craft shines through!

Michael
Home of the Golden Gun

rivercat · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2013, 04:33:40 AM »

Quote from: Zulu on March 22, 2013, 02:31:23 AM

Tracy,
A compliment from the masters is greatly appreciated. It is the love of what I do that drives my need to spend more time than is reasonable to get the "look" I want.

I am very interested in measures you take to keep wood from doing what wood always wants to do. Warp, split, crack. etc. Sometimes, way after the project is complete. I really have to watch for problems when I move a piece from outside in the shop to inside the house. $:-\$

I don't worry about my "secrets". This stuff is for sale. And it is expensive. Like your work, the person that buys it is willing to pay for the "look" (and in your case, "function") that comes from the many hours you put into one of your projects.
My pictures can help someone who is going to try this on their own. They won't be buying from me anyway.
The hardest thing I face is getting rid of one of my art pieces. Like any artist, I want to keep it, but the overwhelming need to eat takes precedence.

Rivercat,
The drawing you see came from "Round Shot and Rammers". I blew it up to the actual size I wanted. That book is one of my best sources of information.

Zulu

Thanks for letting me know, Is this book still available to buy and where would you suggest I can get it from?

Zulu · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2013, 05:03:58 AM »

rivercat,
Just Google the title and it will show up at a large variety of prices.
I used drawings in the book to create these examples of historical artillery.
All of which can be seen on mt website at www.jmelledge.com
Zulu

Double D · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2013, 07:05:29 AM »

Quote from: rivercat on March 22, 2013, 04:33:40 AM

Quote from: Zulu on March 22, 2013, 02:31:23 AM
Tracy,
A compliment from the masters is greatly appreciated. It is the love of what I do that drives my need to spend more time than is reasonable to get the "look" I want.

I am very interested in measures you take to keep wood from doing what wood always wants to do. Warp, split, crack. etc. Sometimes, way after the project is complete. I really have to watch for problems when I move a piece from outside in the shop to inside the house. $:-\$

I don't worry about my "secrets". This stuff is for sale. And it is expensive. Like your work, the person that buys it is willing to pay for the "look" (and in your case, "function") that comes from the many hours you put into one of your projects.
My pictures can help someone who is going to try this on their own. They won't be buying from me anyway.
The hardest thing I face is getting rid of one of my art pieces. Like any artist, I want to keep it, but the overwhelming need to eat takes precedence.

Rivercat,
The drawing you see came from "Round Shot and Rammers". I blew it up to the actual size I wanted. That book is one of my best sources of information.

Zulu

Thanks for letting me know, Is this book still available to buy and where would you suggest I can get it from?

Round shot and rammers-here are 34 different copies for sale http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=peterson&sts=t&tn=round+shot+and+rammers

I saw at least one UK Seller.

Cannon Cocker · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2013, 07:06:39 AM »

Zulu,

You probably have, but have you ever considered selling to or teaming up with founders who would use wooden masters for their casting of cast iron and bronze.

Rivercat,

The best line drawings with precise measurements I have seen for 18th century barrels exist in the book "The Art of Gunfounding" by Carel de Beer (a book which has been mentioned lately in other recent posts). I have successfully blown up these drawings before.

Zulu, This is a good source for you of line drawings too. It contains the following guns in great detail and dimension: 1 Pounder Amusette; Light 3 Pounder; 4 pounder; Medium 6 Pounder; Medium 12 Pounder; Royal Mortar; Cohorn Mortar; Light 5.5" Howitzer; 13" Mortar. I own the book now, but at the time I found one to use through the inter-library search services (which anyone can use to find rare books).

Double D · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2013, 07:32:55 AM »

Quote from: Cannon Cocker on March 22, 2013, 07:06:39 AM

The best line drawings with precise measurements I have seen for 18th century barrels exist in the book "The Art of Gunfounding" by Carel de Beer (a book which has been mentioned lately in other recent posts). I have successfully blown up these drawings before.
).

$350 a copy and up.

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&tn=The+Art+of+Gunfounding

GGaskill · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2013, 12:24:33 PM »

Round Shot and Rammers may still be available from South Bend Replicas.

The Jeff · « **Reply #12 on:** March 22, 2013, 12:51:51 PM »

Nice work!

Double D · « **Reply #13 on:** March 22, 2013, 02:16:32 PM »

Ho hum, just another Zulu masterpiece. Nothing special or different about that for the Z man. Very common ordinary Zulu. Not even worthy of a kewpie...now if if anyone else turn out this sort of thing they might even get a double Kewpie.

Zulu's work is like one of those video games with all those levels. Zulu is level 28 and the rest of use are stuck on level 2 or 3. To wow me he has to go to level 29....and he will.

Zulu · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2013, 11:51:21 AM »

Cannon Cocker,
I have thought about making wooden blanks for a founder to use but never took it any further than that. I don't even know of any foundrys in the Houston area but I have never looked.

Double D,
Your flattery is more precious to me than any kewpie.

Zulu Big Head

rivercat · « **Reply #15 on:** March 25, 2013, 02:30:39 AM »

I have just ordered the book Round shot and Rammers so thanks lads as I had never heard of this book.

shred · « **Reply #16 on:** March 25, 2013, 04:16:21 AM »

If you want to go foundry, I know of one in San Antonio that a local model engine guy has parts made at. Probably there's one closer, but not one I know of.

Zulu · « **Reply #17 on:** March 25, 2013, 04:43:11 AM »

Quote from: shred on March 25, 2013, 04:16:21 AM

If you want to go foundry, I know of one in San Antonio that a local model engine guy has parts made at. Probably there's one closer, but not one I know of.

While this is a very interesting idea, I am not inclined to get into the cast barrel making business.

Zulu