Author Topic: Worm Hunting? (Read 2841 times)

Santa Dave · « **on:** November 21, 2006, 08:55:33 AM »

I know there are at least two of us out there looking for worms to match our cannon. WITHOUT success!
And an order for one silly litle worm is not the kind of thing to make a machine shop stand up and cheer(Or even take notice) Are there more people looking?
If there are more "worm hunters" Let me know your quantity, and bore, (and mount size) and we'll see if we can get some made up.
It sounds siilly but compared to getting the worm, getting the cannon was easy!
Santa Dave
34 days 'til Christmas!

GGaskill · « **Reply #1 on:** November 21, 2006, 10:05:12 AM »

What's your bore diameter and length? What do you want to use as a handle?

Santa Dave · « **Reply #2 on:** November 21, 2006, 12:09:24 PM »

GG,
my bore is Snug Golfball ( 1.687 Very little windage) and 15.5 inches deep. I have a few (and access to more) 5\8 oak dowels which when the grain is filled feel nice.
Santa Dave

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2006, 02:18:23 PM »

My barrel is a tight 1" and 17 3/4" deep. 3/4" dowell would work for me.

Rickk · « **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2006, 04:01:10 PM »

Here is a picture of a simple original design. It looks like it would be pretty easy to replicate in function with nothing put a bent 1/8 inch brass or steel rod, conceiveably JB welded into a slot in the end of a dowel.

A cleaner attachement could be made by welding a steel rod corkscrew to a short section of steel tubing and gluing or nailing that over the end of a dowel.

http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/revwar/image_gal/vafoimg/vafo929.html

My worm, like most, has two corkscrews.

Has anyone ever tried a single screw?

Double D · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2006, 04:21:42 PM »

Have you contacted all of our sponsors?

I believe at leat one of them makes worms, but just don't remember which one.

Michael Az · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2006, 01:19:16 AM »

I have and run a machine shop and normally would be offering help with this but have been very busy and fighting pneumonia also. What do these usually sell for and would anybody have a print to follow to make one? Would I have to be a sponser to offer help?
Michael

Rickk · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2006, 05:48:41 AM »

Hi Michael,

Here is a link to the one that Dixie Gun Works sells - perfect for a 2.25 inch bore.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=1644

From what I gather friend a blacksmith friend of mine who is trying to make some is that the hardest part (at least for him) is getting the "screw" portion and the ferrule portion to be properly lined up on the same axis prior to welding them together. It seems like a jig is needed... possibly a separate jig for each worm size.

Double D · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2006, 04:23:39 PM »

Quote from: Michael Az on November 22, 2006, 01:19:16 AM

I have and run a machine shop and normally would be offering help with this but have been very busy and fighting pneumonia also. What do these usually sell for and would anybody have a print to follow to make one? Would I have to be a sponser to offer help?
Michael

Yes, Michael you would have to be a sponsor to publically offer to help.

Michael Az · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2006, 04:59:36 PM »

Double D, thanks for the advise.
Rickk, yes tell your friend that what he needs is to build a fixture. Then they would be a piece of cake to make. Does he have a lathe? That $17 price sounds like a bargain but they probably have them made in China or India or some other place.
Michael

Rickk · « **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2006, 04:22:13 AM »

I've got a Dixie worm... works great.

Changing subjects... I woke up last night and for some reason thought about worms... I got an idea... I'll show pictures if it works out... won't get a chance to try it till somorrow.

Rickk · « **Reply #11 on:** November 24, 2006, 06:52:47 AM »

Santa Dave,

please PM me a mailing address so I can send you a Chrismas present.

Don't look at the picture below or it will give away the surprise

Rick

moose53 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 24, 2006, 12:05:38 PM »

Good idea. Should be very easy to make with out a lot of tooling.

Rickk · « **Reply #13 on:** November 24, 2006, 03:34:33 PM »

tooling... let's see...
Nope, didn't need any

Rickk · « **Reply #14 on:** November 25, 2006, 09:32:36 AM »

It's on it's way Dave.... should be there by Wednesday.

There is a hole in the side to help attach it to a dowel.

If it were me I would wittle the end of an appropriate dowel for a snug fit, rough up the inside of the worm with 80 grit sandpaper, smear JB Weld on both the worm and the end of the dowel, slide them together and let the JB harden. Then drill thru the hole in the worm into the dowel with a small drill to make a starter hole for a sheet metal screw, put some more JB into the hole in the wood, and put in a stainless sheet metal screw (#8x3/8 or 5/16 should be about the right size).

Lemme know how it works out !

CaptTHighbiter · « **Reply #15 on:** November 27, 2006, 11:58:58 PM »

yes I have been looking but I am not willing to shell out over 100 bucks for each of 4 different bore sizes I need

7/8"

1-1/4"

1-1/2"

1-5/8"

ANy one want to take a stab at these, you will have my eternal gratitude

jeeper1 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 28, 2006, 03:51:44 AM »

Has anyone though about maybe using garage door springs? They come in a number of different sizes. Heat with a oxy/acetylene torch to remove the springyness and stretch the coils. Then weld to a center section that is drilled to accept a handle.

Santa Dave · « **Reply #17 on:** November 28, 2006, 07:27:19 AM »

Rickk,
It arrived MONDAY!
It's Neat!
And it looks like it's made just the way Jeeper1 described.
Prolly be AC (after Christmas) Before I get time to mount it. (I wonder why?)
Thanks again!
Santa Dave

Rickk · « **Reply #18 on:** November 28, 2006, 11:48:14 AM »

Actually, those are not made from springs... that was a straight piece of 1/4 inch steel rod a few hours earlier.

I am not sure, but I think that trying to rebend a spring might be harder than starting from scratch. The pitch would have to be messed with to stay uniform, and when the spring is stretched the ID gets smaller by some about that I wouldn't know how to predict. I have never tried it however, so I don't know.

Anyway, as I said, I woke up in the middle of the night and all the simplistic details came to me. That happens alot. I don't sleep much... it is a wierd tradoff. :-)

Doublecheck, but I think you will need a 1 inch dowl and have to wittle it down where it fits the handle.

---
CaptTHighbiter... I left you a PM

Cpt Ed · « **Reply #19 on:** November 29, 2006, 08:50:21 AM »

Sometime in the past this question of a source for Worms was asked.

Here is a copy of my previous reply.

Schneider Cannons,
listed on "Sticky: Where to find Blackpowder Cannons and shooting supplies",

Mr. Schneider made for me an excellent Steel Worm mounted on a wood shaft and a special size ball mold out of steel, for my 1.5" bore Half scale Parrott.

I can recommend his fine quality, and at a reasonable price.

Rickk · « **Reply #20 on:** December 07, 2006, 12:40:19 PM »

btt

CaptTHighbiter... I left you a PM

Rickk · « **Reply #21 on:** December 30, 2006, 01:21:35 PM »

Hi Santa Dave... it is "AC"... try it out yet?

Rick

Will Bison · « **Reply #22 on:** December 30, 2006, 03:00:49 PM »

Just a thought.

Over the years I sought out worms of the proper diameter. Night Crawlers I got, best damn fishing worms in the world.

But you guys want the other type of worm. A trip to the Cannon store, AKA Home Depot, turned up some coil springs. Two of these compressions springs when intertwined make a great worm.

Bill

Santa Dave · « **Reply #23 on:** December 30, 2006, 08:13:06 PM »

Rick, the handle is shaped and about to fitted & sanded
Dave

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #24 on:** January 05, 2007, 09:02:02 PM »

The worm for my 1" bore cannon arrived yesterday. I ordered it from Schneider Enterprises. It came already mounted on a hardwood dowel and was very reasonable priced. Quality is top notch. Burnett Schneider does very nice work.

dominick · « **Reply #25 on:** January 06, 2007, 12:13:05 PM »

Here's how I build a worm or safety rammer head. I can build any size although the smaller sizes I use an annealed coil spring welded to a tube. Alll of the tubing I use are sized for a dowel rod to fit snugly. Shown are golf ball size worm and rammer head. If anyone is interested in either one, let me know: dwc414@hotmail.com

GAWI · « **Reply #26 on:** January 14, 2007, 12:09:04 PM »

Will the 2" worm from dixie do fine with 2 1/4" bore? Thanks, Gary

Rickk · « **Reply #27 on:** January 14, 2007, 12:57:40 PM »

Gary...Yup... i use one in mine... price can't be beat

Double D · « **Reply #28 on:** January 14, 2007, 04:41:23 PM »

Dom,

I need a worm. 1 inch, how much?

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #29 on:** February 10, 2007, 10:30:33 AM »

Just got my 1" worm from Dominick. It has a nice beefy look to it. Can't wait to go up to the range and try it out. It's nicely mounted to a wooden shaft and the price can't be beat. Many thanks to you, Dominick.