Access to a LARGE hunk of steel.

[Blaster]

I may have access to a LARGE hunk of steel.  This piece is HOT ROLLED Steel.  It is ten inches (10") in diameter and twelve inches (12") in length.  It is currently solid, no hole bored in it yet.  Weight about 102 lbs.  This could possibly make one nice mortar but I wonder what would be a good bore size and the approximate value of a chunk of material like this.  Would a six, seven or eight inch bore still leave enough for the sides to still be perfectly safe?
I'm only considering the purchase of it at the present time.  Perhaps I'd have ole Powder Keg do the boreing, sub-chambering, venting and outer turning if the purchase would materialize.  Any thoughts as to it's value as a virgin chunk of steel also reasonable bore size etc.?? Thanks for any input folks.
Blaster (Bob in So. CO)  :grin:

[Cat Whisperer]

On the top end of the price scale would be what you'd pay a steel supplier for a new piece.  Derating that price is the fact (if it is so) that you don't know the exact type of steel it is and what it's heritage is - you're making some (minior) assumptions.

You might want to work it from the other end, that you get paid for hauling it off - say a modest 25 cents a pound.

It's price will most likely be influenced by what the other person thinks it's value is to him.  If it's been around a long time, that can work to your favor.

[Kuntrykouple]

Blaster have ya weighed the piece,  or is 102 lbs a guess cause if my math is right your piece should weigh 222.9345 lbs, i have 6' in my yard
i was gonna sell just to get it out of the way.

Oh to calculate the wieght of most steel it is .28399 per cubic inch

on solid round stock steel take the radius square x Length x 3.14 that should give ya the cubic inches then just multiply it times the cubic inch weight..... I think :-D

[GGaskill]

Your formula is correct and your density for steel is close (490 lb/cu ft, I use 475 lb/cu ft; precise alloy determines true density) but I calculate about 260 lbs.  In any event, a lot heavier than 102 lbs.  If it actually weighs 102 lbs and is 10" dia and 12" long, there is something fishy going on, or it is aluminum which is not appropriate for artillery.

New 1020 hot rolled mild steel is running from $1/lb to $1.50/lb.  Used (surplus, really) is about $0.40/lb.  $0.40 times 260 = a little over $100.  Shipping is expensive so having it delivered or at least at hand is worth something.  Also, knowing what alloy it is is worth something, too.

Not sure what a piece of 10" dia would be best for.  A full size Coehorn is only 8.65" in diameter and a full scale 8" M1861 siege mortar is 16" in dia, so a large but underscale (62%) siege mortar sounds like the best fit, although 12" is a little short.  Now what is 5" in diameter that could be used as shot?

[Double D]

Bob,

You need 16 inch long piece, minimum  to make a full size Coehorn.

You need to talk KK out of 18 inches of his steel.