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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 10:38 am 
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Hello Everybody,
Just joined the forum. Been reading daily and I like it. Here are a few pics of what I like to do.
This is a British carronade from circa 1750. All pine 2 X 12 construction. Barrel 39" long, 10 1/2" diameter at the breech with a 4" bore.
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My house is full of many different kinds of cannons, all made from drawings from the 1700's and 1800's. They do not fire but are really fun to make.
Zulu


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 10:51 am 
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Welcome, Zulu!!!

Now, that cannon looks real :shock: Thanks for including the "in progress" pictures. That's interesting how you were able to use wood to create the cannon.

Now, how large is the lathe you used to turn the barrel and wheels????

Thanks for sharing

Verna

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 10:52 am 
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Hey Zulu,

Let me be the next to say, "Welcome aboard"!

That's a truly amazing replica you've made. If I remember correctly, the employment of wooden cannon was a regular, ruse de guerre of merchant navies. They were called Quakers in reference to the Society of Friends' commitment to non violence.

I would love to see more pictures of your other works.

Tom

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 10:55 am 
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WOW! The cannons are terrific.

And a hearty welcome to the forum. Obviously, you are very accomplished at WW. Judging from the pictures, your sandpaper bill must be very high. :-D

Glad to have you aboard.

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:28 am 
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A very warm welcome from here Zulu.

Thats an awesome piece .Very well made .


Have Fun
Francois

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:50 am 
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Thanks All,
I have a Delta "Top Turn" lathe with a bed extension and an outboard turning attachment. I've had it for about 12 years. At the time it was the biggest lathe that Delta made. All the same, some of the barrels I turn would have been much too heavy if turned in one piece. So I turn them in sections and wood peg the sections together. The above barrel was turned in 7 sections because the design of the barrel allowed it.
Here are a few more pics.

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Boring these large diameter holes is the hardest thing I have to do. To date, the biggest I have done is 5". I am very interested in any opinion as to how to bore large holes into endgrain. Forstner bits don't come big enough and get too hot in end grain.
Here is your challenge for the day. Any Ideas? :confused:


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 12:08 pm 
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Hummm......I wonder how long it would take to make a minature cannon out of 500 or less popsicle sticks (shameless plug for the Contest Central :wink: )

Verna

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 12:18 pm 
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firstly, Welcome!!! And thanks for bringing pics

As for your question, have you considered stacking/gluing rings to get your required inside bore? It's a lot of work but would allow for a very large hole in small chunks. For more info just google "segmented vase" for an idea of what I'm talking about. If you chose to cut the rings out wholepiece from mdf/ply cutting the rings would be a perfect job for a CNC (even a carvewright) and would make the holes very predictable and consistant.

Just a thought-- but you obviously have this figured because that project is just plain AWESOME!!

Thanks again for sharing and we'd love to hear more about you and/or your ww'ing

Welcome again,
Lawrence


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 1:35 pm 
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Welcome. Very cool specialty :-D . Looked around on your site, I see you do have a shooter there also. Don't have any idea how you could bore the wooden ones other than the way you're doing it now. Do you also make the shot balls, ramrods, etc. for them?

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 1:46 pm 
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Lawrence, I currently bore in sections now when the particular barrel allows (because of segments).
First I go in with a (4" in this case) hole saw as deep as it will go (about 1 1/2"). Then follow up with a spade bit inside the defined circle. Then clean up with a hand chisel. Then repeat and repeat. After about 4 1/2" you can't use a hand chisel anymore so I flip the work piece and go at it from the other end till the holes meet.
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 1:49 pm 
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More,
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Zulu


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 1:53 pm 
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Gene,
Yes I make ramrods also. I cast cannonballs out of lead or zinc.
Zulu
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 1:53 pm 
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Welcome Zulu. :-D Glad to have you aboard the site! 8)
I really like your cannon (I'm always good with the unusal stuff) but, to tell you the truth, I believe that I like it un-painted a little better than painted! I think that I might have just given it a coat or two of shellac and left the grain exposed. It would lend even more intrest to looking it over. (But then I'm a hobby wood worker not a cannon buff)
You know, the "Myth Busters" made a cannon out of a log and fired it! :shock: Of course they kept going until they blew it all over the place too. :confused:

Rog

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 3:28 pm 
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Nice work, Welcome to the fourm, Zulu.

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 4:20 pm 
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Welcome Zulu, that's fantastic.

As I was reading your questions on how to bore large diameter holes I started thinking about it and as scrolled down looking at what you do, I have no other recommendations. :D

Incidentally, have you thought of turning the cannon balls on the lathe?

Once you learn the process it’s pretty easy.

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 4:56 pm 
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Hey Zulu,

Instead of struggling with boring the end grain, have you considered coopering the long sections? Gluing up a bundle of beveled staves would give you a starting bore. The other advantage is that the barrel would shrink and swell symmetrically and thus more or less retain its shape during humidity changes.

Tom

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 5:37 pm 
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First off welcome to the forums ZuLu.


I think if you and Ice Pirate got-together we would be in trouble. I'm sure with a little bit of coaxing you two could probably get that thing to fire.

Very well done by the way. It always ceases to amaze me what can be done with a little bit of ingenuity and hard work. We would certainly enjoy seeing any pictures that you have some of your other work.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 5:50 pm 
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Jeff,
I have not tried to turn something spherical yet. It seems like it would be hard to get right.

Tom,
I have thought about it but never tried it. All my guns live inside so there is no great humidity change.

Some of you have asked for more pictures. At the risk of boring you here are a few more.

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These are full scale British Light Six Pounders on 1600's garrison carriages. Barrels are 55" long with a 3" bore.
Zulu


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 6:09 pm 
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We never get tired of pictures.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 6:21 pm 
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You might be tired of cannons before you see the last of me :lol:
Zulu


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