(I have posted this on the AA forum. I wanted to put it here too so that anyone can see it)
I started by gluing and doweling some Kauri together with paper in between it (This helps for easy parting later). It was bulked down to a rough size with my little wood lathe.
The cannon is 500mm (Approx 19.5”) over all by 80mm dia. (Approx 3”) at the widest point.
I added some “Safety Straps” to the blank because it was starting to Part Company, long before I wanted it to.
Starting to get the basic shape.
The details where marked using a profile pattern. As you can see I maxed out the lathe.
Close up of one of the details.
After all of the detailing and sanding, I crossed drilled the hole for the trunnions and the core print. The trunnion and core print where made in the same manner as the barrel (two bits glued together).The trunnions are 20mm (0.78”) and the core print is 16mm (Approx 5/8”).
The pattern was then split and the paper cleaned off to get it ready for painting.
The finished pattern ready for painting.
After a quick coat of paint.
It’s off to the sand box for a proof of concept pour in Aluminium.
Rammed up. I plan on pouring this one vertical. I have marked out where the runner will be.
I poured the Aluminium concept cannon with boards on the side of the flask to keep the sand in place once it had the pressure of the metal on it.
After the pour, with the boards removed.
The core for this cannon is a baked sand core, I used an Aluminium tube as a form and re enforced the core with a thin tube with holes drilled along its length. (I forgot to take a Pic. of the core)
The shake out.
I got a bit of flash but it was quite thin and easy to break off.
That was a success!
Now it is time to try it in Bronze
, I myself hope to make a cannon one day and use my son-inlaws property as a firing range
