Ideas for cannon ball extraction?

[npalen]

Someone may have already suggested this but how about injecting expanding insulation foam behind the ball?

 

[etpm]

After you clean the bore as well as you can how about raising the canon so the muzzle is pointing down and then directing the water from a pressure washer into the hole? Please make sure that you are not in the way of any back blast. I have a 90 degree tip for my pressure washer and I have seen 45 degree ones too. These would help to keep someone out of the way of any back blast. Anyway, water will have a much harder time leaking past the ball than air and the water from a pressure washer is at a much higher pressure than the typical air compressor so the high pressure water just might do the trick.
Good Luck,
Eric

 

[CalG]

After you clean the bore as well as you can how about raising the canon so the muzzle is pointing down and then directing the water from a pressure washer into the hole? Please make sure that you are not in the way of any back blast. I have a 90 degree tip for my pressure washer and I have seen 45 degree ones too. These would help to keep someone out of the way of any back blast. Anyway, water will have a much harder time leaking past the ball than air and the water from a pressure washer is at a much higher pressure than the typical air compressor so the high pressure water just might do the trick.
Good Luck,
Eric

I wouldn't even use a pressure washer.

Town water is 45-65 psi.
Over the bore area , that's a butt load of force. ;-)

Plus, water would quell concerns over powder, and at garden hose pressure, no one is at risk of spray

Plus, if the ball moves , the "pressure" will drop rapidly, limiting any violent expulsion.
Add to the that the flushing action if the ball is just wedged with grit.
All that is required is an open touch hole and perhaps a rubber hose and stopper of some sort to adapt a garden hose fitting to a touch hole.

You might ask at the local harware store if they have them in stock or to order. Just to see the look on the store clerks face.

 

[airbiscuit]

Start with grease. If it doesn't drop out, end with air. Grease (or 80 weight oil) seals and lubricates.

 

[npalen]

Robot or human?

And then there's this.

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[MossRoad]

I'd try a gallo gun. We use this at my employer to clear clogged condensate drain lines. Simple. Blows a blast of CO2 down the line.

If you have a plumber or air conditioner friend, they should have one.

Worth a try.

Amazon.com

 

[Richard]

I normally don't really worry about outcomes for posters with problems but you REALLY need to report back how you got this out. It is an interesting problem to have.

The difference is, this isn't a problem......it's a challenge!

 

[LouNY]

You can get a needle fitting for your grease gun;

 

[alexpops]

Wire brush the barrel bore above the ball then follow with a cylinder hone on a slow drill and an extension to get the bore smooth. Pick up a cheap AC flush kit from amazon fill with PB or WD or any other lube/solvent of choice to run through the touch hole until you get the ball into the clean barrel area. With the barrel tipped down over a bucket, you should be able to recover the solvent & reuse as necessary. Once you clear the ball, finish brushing/honing the bore where it was blocked, then have it inspected for cracks/structural problems before firing again.

 

[shooterdon]

This thread reminds me of a saying I saw...

"Sometimes you need to ignore the good idea fairy"

Trying to salvage the cannon ball is not important IMO. But if you must...then pumping grease into the breech area is safe. I would drill and tap for a zerk fitting through the flash hole. Once the ball is out, make a suitable plug to thread into the hole made for the zerk fitting. Drill a new flash hole in the fitting before inserting and use Loctite to secure.

The hole for the zerk will be shallower than the thickness of the barrel and not compromise safety too much if you ever fire it.

 

[TheMan419]

I really have no ideas for this but I want to follow the thread as it just is a different challenge than what we usually see here. Good luck! Nice looking cannon.

 

[airbiscuit]

PICTURES of the breech would help !!!