Ideas for cannon ball extraction?

[dmccarty]

After cleaning and oiling the bore, how about using an glob of epoxy adhesive, aka, JB Weld, on the end of a dowel pushed onto the cannon ball. Let it cure and see if it will move the ball. Might help to have the cannon sorta pointing at the ground if possible so the "glob" does not fall off the dowel. Block the dowel so it does not move at the muzzle while the epoxy cures. Put some paper, rags or some such up against the ball to capture any epoxy that falls off the dowel or ball. The paper, rags, or some such can help hold up the dowel while the epoxy cures.

Interesting problem that is for sure.

My father in law found a cannon in the Cape Fear river when he was a kid. It had been dredged up from the channel at some point. He got it to shore and eventually it was displayed at a museum in central NC even though he still owns the cannon. We wonder if we can find the cannon and claim it back....

Later,
Dan

 

[/pine]

I didn't read this whole thread...but I would wager a well equipped body shop has the right extensions etc. for a porta power set up or a cheapo one can be had at HF for a couple hundred bucks...!

https://www.google.com/search?q=porta+power+kit&ie=utf

 

[jmc]

To add to those suggestions to let gravity work along with dropping the barrel on its nose or shaking it, etc. Rent or borrow a concrete vibrator and strap it to the barrel and hopefully the shake, rattle, and over time ,,,, will cause a roll.

3/4 HP Concrete Vibrator

Amazing deals on this 3/4 Hp Concrete Vibrator at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Youtube of a guy casting his own concrete creations using a reciprocating sawzall (w/o blade) to vibrate air pockets out of the wet concrete. Not 3/4 HP but easy to try first.

 

[Richard]

Bit of an update.

No hone yet, but I have the bore "cleaner" which is very much like a 2 1/2" "Q-Tip". It's an oak ram with a bolt on the end. The bolt holds on 30-50 circular fabric circles. You put this in there to (I presume) clean the bore between shots.

Well... I put water in the bore. Got the ball moving outward but, not 'out'. Tamped it back in. Used this bore cleaner. Spent maybe an hour doing this and got a LOT of dirt out of the bore. The water at least, now comes out clean verses black.

I'm convinced there was no powder in there for those concerned about that. Even now if there was, it's totally water-logged so I'm not worried at all about any kind of discharge.

Every time I got the ball to move one way or another, I'd see stuff in there, I'll just call it junk or chaff. Not huge amounts but enough to make things stick.

Thinking about someone's comment about using some Coke in there to dissolve things, not knowing if that would work or not, I moved cannon under the overhang, dumped a can of Coke in there and will look at it tomorrow. I have the ball able (with force applied) to move maybe 10 inches back/forth. Mind you, I have to take the ram to push it back and then pressurized water to push it towards the muzzle. The ball does not roll around at all on its own.

Measured the bore and it appears to be 2.20 inches.

 

[Root Cause]

I am guessing that the bore is no longer the issue but rather the ball itself.
How round was it originally and how much gunk has coated it?

I might concentrate on filling the bore so whatever chemical you choose covers the entire ball and eats at the entire surface not just the current contact point at the moment.

Keep us informed and glad it isn't active.

 

[newbury]

Like suggested - keep cleaning, hot day, tamping on wood

I have the ball able (with force applied) to move maybe 10 inches back/forth.

What's the total bore length? 30"?
Your almost there!
Remember to lubricate after cleaning!

 

[Richard]

I might concentrate on filling the bore so whatever chemical you choose covers the entire ball and eats at the entire surface not just the current contact point at the moment.

Totally agree. When I was using water, I filled it to the tip....let it seep past the ball and kept filling, then I used the bore cleaner. I had water squirting out the ignition hole, much like a drinking fountain however, I could get it to go maybe 10' in the air. So much of any loose stuff that was behind the ball might also be rinsed out. It washed the sides but I don't think it removed any rough material.

The ball seems to seal at (let's jut say) 15" inside the bore. When the ball gets pushed back to (let's say) 25" down the bore, you can easily see a gap at the top.... so the idea of the ball being deformed has been on my mind the entire time. Either that or the bore is very uneven. Looking down with flashlight, I don't see any obvious deformations of the bore however, that is a very casual comment as I've nothing to really compare it with. Still, going by the seat of the pants, I'm leaning to the ball being deformed.

Looking at the ball down the bore, It has me thinking these are maybe painted. I see some discoloration spots on it but instead of looking discolored, they look shiny like the paint has flaked off.

 

[npalen]

I don't recall anyone suggesting a small amount of black powder along with an ignition source to dislodge the ball. I'm not suggesting that scenario, however, just pointing out the fact that no one has, at least to my knowledge.

 

[Egon]

Use vinegar, coke or anther fluid containing phosphoric acid and completely fill the barrel and let and let sit for a few days. Then drain and scrub out the bore with wire brush or Sandpaper or whatever. Then proceed as you have been Using water pressure.

 

[Root Cause]

Totally agree. When I was using water, I filled it to the tip....let it seep past the ball and kept filling, then I used the bore cleaner. I had water squirting out the ignition hole, much like a drinking fountain however, I could get it to go maybe 10' in the air. So much of any loose stuff that was behind the ball might also be rinsed out. It washed the sides but I don't think it removed any rough material.

The ball seems to seal at (let's jut say) 15" inside the bore. When the ball gets pushed back to (let's say) 25" down the bore, you can easily see a gap at the top.... so the idea of the ball being deformed has been on my mind the entire time. Either that or the bore is very uneven. Looking down with flashlight, I don't see any obvious deformations of the bore however, that is a very casual comment as I've nothing to really compare it with. Still, going by the seat of the pants, I'm leaning to the ball being deformed.

Looking at the ball down the bore, It has me thinking these are maybe painted. I see some discoloration spots on it but instead of looking discolored, they look shiny like the paint has flaked off.

Very interesting, indeed.

I am guessing that drilling a round hole (bore) would have been much easier to machine than making a sphere perfectly round which allowed me to keep just a few steps behind you.

Sounds like what you are doing is working and will have it soon enough.