Casting Bronze Cannons

John learns the finer points as Bob casts 600 lbs. of bronze. The place is Gilmor foundry in Ohio, run by Bob Gilmor.

We are Springfield Arsenal LLC. Visit our webstore: http://www.springfieldarsenal.net/main.sc




Please visit: http://springfieldarsenal.net/aboutus.sc then...

John learns the finer points as Bob casts 600 lbs. of bronze. The place is Gilmor foundry in Ohio, run by Bob Gilmor.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• bronze
• cannon
• foundry
• casting
• metal
• ordnance
• civil
• war
• artillery
• gilmor

[ballygeale1]

is that springfield ,the factory where the famous rifle was made?

[cannonmn]

Sorry No. We're a business named Springfield Arsenal LLC in Virginia.

[spitgalore]

Thanks for sharing such an informative video. When the molten metal flowed thru the filter, would the high temperature decrease?  Also, why would the molten metal NOT penetrate the sand & cause it to collapse? Thanks.

[cannonmn]

The filter is ceramic and of a low specific heat itself, it may drop the temperature of the bronze a few degrees but not so as to cause any problem with it flowing.

The sand has been mixed with a special epoxy which hardens before anything is cast in it. It is like concrete when the bronze is poured. More traditionally the sand is tamped very thoroughly so it is very rigid, but in this foundry they have chosen the epoxy method. Such sand cannot be reused of course.

[Shannariano]

do they cast them with or without the hole? because from a TV show I've seen they told the hole was drilled or at least re-drilled after the casting in order to be sure it was straight.

[cannonmn]

They are cast solid, then the bore is bored on a lathe. That produces the strongest cannon when you are using bronze.

[shades2]

Cannon, for all your modern home-defense needs. :)

[jalobeaulieu1]

i love all the flammables by the foundry

[BigJ782011]

I remember I did some sand casting in metal shop when I was in high school.

[vem2311]

Wasn´t these canons originally cast in cire perdue, which is a much more complicated technique than sandcasting ?

[gettingahandle]

can they be sure they know what they are doing?

[jnm2008]

that is epically cool. Would love to tour a place like this

[JustWonderingHowToDo]

What chemicals need to be used to degass the molten bronze prior to casting?

[Thetruthishere11]

what is the crucible made of? cost?

[MikeofWyoming]

It doesn't get any cooler than that! I want one so bad!