Ideas for cannon ball extraction?

[Richard]

Ok, so today's (non-update)

Perhaps a scenario/question first.....

I am rather OCD about trying to be safe on things. I have, do and will take chances, perhaps even push my luck a bit but, because I'm so OCD I (like to think) that I've analyzed all the outcomes (note: I did not see TWO, possibly three balls, so what does that tell you about my thinking process.....sigh.)

Anyway, I'm pretty firm in my belief that if gunpowder gets not wet, but SOAKED, it's not going to ignite. If this is true, then I've never had a worry with this. If this is NOT true, then I've been playing with danger (if in fact, it has gunpowder in it which I can't swear to either way)

Seeing how this is developing, I do NOT see my father dropping a ball in there to show someone how it works. With the advent of two balls, possibly three..... with nine more to go.... well.....yes. I COULD see him scratching his head thinking where the heck do I put all these balls????? Meh...I'll just drop them down the barrel so they're out of sight/mind.

I worked in it for about 6-10 minutes, ball didn't seem to be budging so I got the drill back out and had at it. The bit was buried and I got an idea.

How can I extract it using a threaded rod when what I have buried in it is a hex head with no threads?

I think I'll make a lever! I don't know if I can describe this very well (haven't taken any pictures yet) Grabbed a 24" 2x4. Drilled a hole near the end in the middle of it. Removed right angle drill from extension, slipped this piece of wood over the extension, put drill back on. NOW I've got a backstop that will keep the drill from moving forward. Prior to trying that though, I thought I might be simply able to use the lever against the drill chuck which will then pull the extension which will then (hopefully) pull the ball.

Nope. Simply pulled the bit out of the ball. This bit isn't buried as firmly as the first one. So, put all back together again, let the drill proceed deeper into the ball but, since the head of the drill was butting up against the 2x4, it wouldn't give and with the lead being soft, it DID give and reamed the bit right back out of the ball.

Clouds came in and it started to rain so I shut it all down. The current situation is, the ball hasn't budged nor rotated a bit. I might just drill to the end (presuming another ball) and once a hole is in the middle, start another one offset to one side, then the other side. Just drill the ball(s?) to weakness and either break/bend them into submission.

Looking ahead, (as I'm typing this, I just thought of something) a lever (think crowbar) might be helpful when the time comes to work in there on the balls. I don't have something like that and this might be a great reason to go get one that might be long enough.

Actually, THAT now has another thought in the back of my head.... I'm thinking out loud, but will ask.

Do they make a chisel that is 24-30 inches long to fit an air chisel or, just to beat on with a hammer? That might be a nice way to section the ball once I get the hole complete.

 

[Root Cause]

you need an oversized corkscrew. best of luck

 

[Richard]

That might harken back to...what was it called... a ball worm? Cannon Worm?

 

[Root Cause]

I am not there and you have the expertise now but I did wonder about making a slide hammer/drill bit combo IF the bit bites good enough. You could just add the hammer before drilling? anyway, you have a good grip on it and good luck.

 

[Carl_NH]

Do they make a chisel that is 24-30 inches long to fit an air chisel or, just to beat on with a hammer? That might be a nice way to section the ball once I get the hole complete.

I have a 36" 3/4" Bosch SDS hammer drill bit, and they make a SDS chisel bit 18" BUT, IMO a hammer drill and a 3/4" bit may provide the hammer effect to loosen it up. https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-HC2129...locphy=9002459&hvtargid=pla-523861698414&th=1

 

[ponytug]

Ok, so today's (non-update)

Perhaps a scenario/question first.....

I am rather OCD about trying to be safe on things. I have, do and will take chances, perhaps even push my luck a bit but, because I'm so OCD I (like to think) that I've analyzed all the outcomes (note: I did not see TWO, possibly three balls, so what does that tell you about my thinking process.....sigh.)

Anyway, I'm pretty firm in my belief that if gunpowder gets not wet, but SOAKED, it's not going to ignite. If this is true, then I've never had a worry with this. If this is NOT true, then I've been playing with danger (if in fact, it has gunpowder in it which I can't swear to either way)

Seeing how this is developing, I do NOT see my father dropping a ball in there to show someone how it works. With the advent of two balls, possibly three..... with nine more to go.... well.....yes. I COULD see him scratching his head thinking where the heck do I put all these balls????? Meh...I'll just drop them down the barrel so they're out of sight/mind.

I worked in it for about 6-10 minutes, ball didn't seem to be budging so I got the drill back out and had at it. The bit was buried and I got an idea.

How can I extract it using a threaded rod when what I have buried in it is a hex head with no threads?

I think I'll make a lever! I don't know if I can describe this very well (haven't taken any pictures yet) Grabbed a 24" 2x4. Drilled a hole near the end in the middle of it. Removed right angle drill from extension, slipped this piece of wood over the extension, put drill back on. NOW I've got a backstop that will keep the drill from moving forward. Prior to trying that though, I thought I might be simply able to use the lever against the drill chuck which will then pull the extension which will then (hopefully) pull the ball.

Nope. Simply pulled the bit out of the ball. This bit isn't buried as firmly as the first one. So, put all back together again, let the drill proceed deeper into the ball but, since the head of the drill was butting up against the 2x4, it wouldn't give and with the lead being soft, it DID give and reamed the bit right back out of the ball.

Clouds came in and it started to rain so I shut it all down. The current situation is, the ball hasn't budged nor rotated a bit. I might just drill to the end (presuming another ball) and once a hole is in the middle, start another one offset to one side, then the other side. Just drill the ball(s?) to weakness and either break/bend them into submission.

Looking ahead, (as I'm typing this, I just thought of something) a lever (think crowbar) might be helpful when the time comes to work in there on the balls. I don't have something like that and this might be a great reason to go get one that might be long enough.

Actually, THAT now has another thought in the back of my head.... I'm thinking out loud, but will ask.

Do they make a chisel that is 24-30 inches long to fit an air chisel or, just to beat on with a hammer? That might be a nice way to section the ball once I get the hole complete.

Fascinating thread.

I keep having flashes of what could happen if there is residual powder in there, so if it were me, I wouldn't want to be generating heat or friction without the breech flooded with water. Black powder that gets wet and dries is more powerful than powder that hasn't been through the process. ("Corning")

You could always drill a hole in the ball, thread it, and use threaded rod through a plate at the muzzle end as a home made gear puller. I wonder though if getting the barrel ground/honed bored might not pay dividends once the ball is loosened, as the ball would promptly transition to a low friction area of the barrel once it was partially dislodged. However, I would grind/hone/bore with the muzzle significantly lower than the breech to have any grit or debris wash out during the process.

And, yes, I think your cop/machinist/armorer is a very good guy to get to know, especially if he is super keen on black powder.

All the best,

Peter

 

[groundcover]

A tractor site and no one, not one person has suggested hooking it up to the PTO and swinging it around by its tail like a dead cat to let centrifugal force work it's magic ! May need to back up to a loading dock to get proper clearance, and don't forget to use a counter weight or it could be dangerous!

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Just checked: there are 341,539 members now. I wonder how many of those members have a problem with a stuck cannonball, or have a cannon but don't yet know if there is a ball inside.

I've learned that if I find that I have a cannon, there may be a ball or two inside.

Maybe this thread will be brought back every years or two by someone with a stuck cannonball.

Good entertainment!



Bruce

Imagine how much fun a pallet can be.

 

[bcp]

A tractor site and no one, not one person has suggested hooking it up to the PTO and swinging it around by its tail like a dead cat to let centrifugal force work it's magic ! May need to back up to a loading dock to get proper clearance, and don't forget to use a counter weight or it could be dangerous!

Drill and tap the flash hole for a small pipe, screw on a fitting, then divert one of your hydraulic lines to it.

It is now a single action hydraulic cylinder with a free piston.



Bruce

 

[airbiscuit]

That might harken back to...what was it called... a ball worm? Cannon Worm?