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Offline dominick

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Mortar Bed Color?
« on: May 23, 2013, 06:31:19 AM »
I finished a soda can Coehorn mortar for myself and have a question.  Did the Confederate block style mortar beds have a specific color?  Dom
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Offline Tod0987

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Re: Mortar Bed Color?
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2013, 11:28:36 AM »
Hi Dom,
I did some looking when you made my mortar. I can't remember for sure. I believe the squared off beds were left natural or treated with oil. Also I believe the beds were made from solid pieces of wood vs bolted slabs. Not 100%.  The few actual photos I could find were from the Richmond Arsenal with one in the foreground.
Tod
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Offline seacoastartillery

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Re: Mortar Bed Color?
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2013, 01:30:33 PM »
     Dom,   Mike and I agree with Tod.  Those pics from the Richmond Arsenal are famous for showing all four styles of wood on the 24 Pdr. Coehorn mortars.  You have the square like the Rebel mortar shown, the simple round over, the simple 45 deg. bevel edge and the fancier Union rebated round over style.  As far as finish goes, the Union was std. OD green and the Cofederate States Army seems to have used a simple rectangular shoe box style bed sans paint.  Just splash a little boiled linseed oil with Japan drier on it and thar you go!

Tracy


The Rebel Coehorn from the Broadway Landing Richmond Arsenal pic in 1865.



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Offline Double D

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Re: Mortar Bed Color?
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2013, 01:59:27 PM »
The confederate yellow pine bases were linseed oiled...
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Offline dominick

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Re: Mortar Bed Color?
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2013, 02:25:53 PM »
Ok, thanks.
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Offline dominick

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Re: Mortar Bed Color?
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2013, 03:29:50 AM »
I finished it.  It's not exactly Confederate looking with the different style handles.  I made it from the new type pressure treated 4 x 4.  The new coating is not that gummy green stuff and I left it side inside for a few months before staining and it turned out good.  I made the handles from 5/16" round.   Total cost of the bed was under 15 dollars.




I also made a ladder style Confederate bed for the second barrel.  This one is from a 2 x 4.


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Offline little seacoast

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Re: Mortar Bed Color?
« Reply #6 on: June 26, 2013, 03:19:48 AM »
Nice can mortar Dominick. The shoe box base looks totally appropriate for this tube and won't show scuffs and dings near as much as the painted variety.
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Offline dominick

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Re: Mortar Bed Color?
« Reply #7 on: June 30, 2013, 11:37:11 AM »
Quote from: little seacoast on June 26, 2013, 03:19:48 AM
Nice can mortar Dominick. The shoe box base looks totally appropriate for this tube and won't show scuffs and dings near as much as the painted variety.

little seacoast,  Thanks for the compliment.  I plan to lay something fireproof on the bed behind the barrel when I shoot it to keep the vent debris from landing on the paint.  Dom
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Offline Div Arty

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Re: Mortar Bed Color?
« Reply #8 on: July 01, 2013, 03:10:54 PM »
Hi Dom.   Aluminum foil works for me.  It forms well and when finished just chuck it.    Ron
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