I may, and hope that I am, be way off base here but, is lead in danger? EPA? I thoroughly enjoy casting and now I've got this cannon thing I can't get out of my system. My store gets a lot of worn out electric motors and I've been toying with how to cast out of the windings. I like to try cannon balls. These are quite recoverable and would be easy to sell should the need arise. .45, .40, 9mm and .357 are my most favorite pistol castings and here also I would like to see about casting copper. Here I am total ignorant and love to here some thoughts. Thanks all!
copper cannon balls?
- Thread starter CANNONMAN
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Copper melts at 1981 F.
It would take industrial equipment to cast copper into bullets or balls.
The copper bullets on the market are lathe turned from rod.
The one time I have seen live fire of a cannon, they were shooting zinc projectiles.
It would take industrial equipment to cast copper into bullets or balls.
The copper bullets on the market are lathe turned from rod.
The one time I have seen live fire of a cannon, they were shooting zinc projectiles.
jmorris
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That would be some expensive cannon balls. I would go for iron, aluminum, or something less valuable.
I don't own a "real" cannon but bowling balls hold up in BP mortars and such for many shots.
Last almost forever in my pneumatic launcher.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9sPuZkwiJY
I don't own a "real" cannon but bowling balls hold up in BP mortars and such for many shots.
Last almost forever in my pneumatic launcher.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9sPuZkwiJY
Are you suggesting casting cartridge cases out of electric motor windings?
Or suggesting casting copper cannon balls out of old cartridge cases??
In either case, (no pun intended) it cannot work.
Cartridge cases are not made of copper.
They are made of cartridge brass.
Then draw formed to shape and to work harden them to withstand the pressure.
Then annealed on the front 1/3 or so to make the soft enough they won't crack.
Casting either?
Copper melts at near 2,000 degrees F.
Brass about 1,700 - 1,800 degrees F.
rc
Swampman
Old Fart
It might be possible to cast cannonballs from copper, but why? As rc pointed out, you have to get it very hot to melt it and typical casting pots and molds aren't likely to work well.
Besides copper will always be a more costly metal than lead, there's no way the EPA or anyone else is going to make all lead just disappear. Save up your copper, sell it, and use the money to buy lead.
Or you could go another route, more along the lines of what jmorris alluded to.
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
If enviromental regulations give you zinc wheelweights, make cannon balls out of 'em!
It's hard to cast decent bullets out of zinc (at least that's been my experience), but something large like a cannonball shouldn't present any major problems. I've cast quite a bit of zinc into ingots and the molded surfaces are as smooth as lead ones are, the ingots are just lighter.
Besides copper will always be a more costly metal than lead, there's no way the EPA or anyone else is going to make all lead just disappear. Save up your copper, sell it, and use the money to buy lead.
Or you could go another route, more along the lines of what jmorris alluded to.
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
If enviromental regulations give you zinc wheelweights, make cannon balls out of 'em!
It's hard to cast decent bullets out of zinc (at least that's been my experience), but something large like a cannonball shouldn't present any major problems. I've cast quite a bit of zinc into ingots and the molded surfaces are as smooth as lead ones are, the ingots are just lighter.
cm,
There is a gentleman on www.castboolits.gunloads.com who will swap you his lead for your zinc which he then casts into cannon balls. If you're really interested in casting some cannonballs then do a search on the castboolits website. Good luck.
best wishes- oldandslow
There is a gentleman on www.castboolits.gunloads.com who will swap you his lead for your zinc which he then casts into cannon balls. If you're really interested in casting some cannonballs then do a search on the castboolits website. Good luck.
best wishes- oldandslow
WestKentucky
Member
Oh my goodness...the simple thought of a lead cannonball makes me cringe a bit. Even small artillery piece projectiles would be heavy, but getting into the big bores which I envision makes me wonder how long it would take to herniate ones self.
Well, if you had a 12 pounder based on an iron ball, a lead ball to suit would weigh about 16 pounds.
My Lyle gun shoots a 2 1/2" lead ball that weighs 3lbs. A Coors beer can filled with mortar mix is my standard projectile cause it fits and it less hassle to make. Part of the fun of shooting cannons is finding a source of cheap and readily available ammo
Jesse Heywood
Member
Before getting in too deep, talk with the scrapper. Find out how to get the most bang for your buck out of the wire. If you can work out something, salvage the windings and trade for zinc. I would think the easiest way to remove the wire would be to use a cutoff wheel. But will that be an acceptable form for the scrapper? And I don't know how big of motors you're looking at.
Catpop
Member
Guys around here used to cast concrete cannon balls back in the 50s . They said they worked ok and were backwoods cheap! They used to shoot at 55 gal barrels anchored and floating in the river.
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