WWA Info Exchange

A while back, Hern Iron Works acquired a wooden pattern that was made from measurements of an original 4 pounder that fought at the Alamo.
They cast this barrel and have it in their line now.
I am currently in the process of making a split trail carriage for one of these.
The barrel is ordered as are the 42" wheels.



Barrel specs
630 lbs.

Details:

Over All Length: 54-3/4″
Bore: 3″
Trunnion Dia.: 3-1/2″
Trunnion OAL: 15″
Barrel Dia. behind Trunnions: 9″
Trun to Breach: 24″
Trun to Muzzle face: 26″
Breach max Dia.: 10-1/4″
Chase Dia behind Muzzle: 5-3/4″
Muzzle Swell max Dia.: 7″


I started with a drawing from Round Shot and Rammers. After determining my scale, I had it drawn out.

Here is the drawing of the trail cheek.



I cut the cheek template out in four pieces with a CNC wood carving machine.
I then transferred the DXF file of the rear piece to a CNC Plasmacam and cut the exact same patterns out of 1/4" plate steel.

Two pieces of that were welded together with a spread of 2.5".

This is exactly the size of the rear of the trail.

I will bolt this steel form to my outside work bench and heat and bend the 2.5" strapping around it.

This is the same process I used on the big Alamo carriage.











The trail will be made of 2.5" thick oak. For what it cost these days, it might as well be gold plated.





The wood was cut and glued and then final cut.









Glue up of the axle housing.







1.5" axle not cut to final size until I get the wheels.












This is a work in progress. More pictures as I move on with it.

Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Always enjoy your builds Zulu, looking forward to seeing it progress.

_________________
"To all those who work come moments of beauty unseen by the rest of the world." Norman Maclean

Most people when they see the finished product, have no idea of all the time, and steps it takes to make the finished product. You photo's show how much work is involved. Great post, as usual.

The wood work is the easy part. I have started on some of the iron work. That is the hard part!
Pictures coming up soon.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Insetting the trail cheeks to accept the axle housing.










The inset had to be cut in the cheeks at a 2.5 degree angle because the trail is narrower in the front and wider in the rear.
I had to make a front transom longer than it will be with the same 2.5 degree angles on each side. I will cut it to final size when I get the barrel. It is being shipped to my house in about 4 or 5 weeks or so.




Some iron work. The axle straps and axle bands.




Beginning to wrap the cheeks with 2.5" X .25" flat bar. It has to be heated to bend. I used a 2" pipe to bend it around for the corners. I used the same 2" pipe to mark and cut the radius on the front corners.






Started on the rear handles today.
Iron work is dirty work!
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Why do boys want to become blacksmiths? They get to play with fire, they get to hit things, they get to play with fire, they get to make noise, they get to play with fire, they get to get dirty, they get to play with fire,they get to breath smoke, and did I mention, they get to play with fire!

Playing with fire on a hot day is no fun.

Handles.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Looks great Zulu! Is the handle welded onto the mounting plate or screwed from the back?

Thanks, Ron

_________________
"To all those who work come moments of beauty unseen by the rest of the world." Norman Maclean

Ron,
The handles are deeply beveled and welded on the back side of the mounting plate.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Wow thats a cool project

I've been working on iron work.

Bending the flat strap around the form I made.





















I'm pretty much at a stand still until I get the barrel and the wheels. Wheels should ship in about a week but I don't know when the barrel will be coming.

Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

just like the army, hurry up and wait! great work as usual.

I received the wheels last week. They are real nice!
The barrel is another story. It was shipped from Idaho on 9/23. Tracking said it was to be delivered on 9/27. I waited around all day.
Found out it was in Montana then.
Then it disappeared.

Turns out it went to Denver and sat there for a week.

Today I found out it will transfer to another shipper and a guess is that I will have it on 10/11.
That's 19 days in the system. If I get it then.
We will see. I need it to finish the carriage.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

You do such beautiful work, Zulu!

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Uncle Fester WWAMDAUX#3
La Plata, Maryland
Does Anyone Have A Comb?
Home Of A Beautiful DJ 20
I Say.... BUY DELTA!!
10,000 posts--Easter Sunday, 2008--7:43pm

Finally received the barrel. 630 lbs. on a pallet. It took 20 days to get here from Idaho. That speaks volumes about the current state of our trucking industry.



I have been able to proceed with my carriage build now that I have the barrel. Making some good progress.

Fitting and drilling for the transoms.



Installing some of the iron work












The leveling screw







Still a lot to do. More pictures as I progress.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Moving right along.
At this point, all wood work and iron work are finished.
Now, it is disassembled, ready for final sanding and painting the iron work. Stain will follow.

This is how it looks. The capsquares still need some clean up but everything fits.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

I finally got it finished. It turned out real nice!
Here are a few pictures.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com

Off to a new home. It's always hard to see these large, time consuming projects leave.
Zulu

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com