This last week I was fortunate enough to be traveling to Wisconsin and Minnesota so I got to visit with two great mortar cannon makers, Kieth Frederickson and the Paulson Brothers. It was a eye opening visit. I learned quite a bit about mortar making. The extent of the equipment and knowledge these guys have in mortar cannon making is unbeliavable. Mr. Frederickson owns a vertical lathe with a chuck as big as a round picknick table not to mention many other lathes and equipment. He has made an 8 and a 10 inch 1861 mortar and they are outstanding reproductions. The Paulsons had 2 big 13 inch dictator reproductions made not to mention an 8 and a 10 inch mortar. They were both generous enough to answer tons of my questions on video so when I get the gist of what I've learned I will share it with everyone on this forum.
Scott