I have a cast bronze tennis ball mortar that I would like to make a base for. I have some oak lying on the front lawn from 2 trees I took down and I’m planning on roughing out a couple of blanks with the chainsaw to season. Making the hardware is no problem but I need dimensions for the base which will likely be one piece. I have been unable to come up with any photos, diagrams or dimensions for either a Colonial or British grenade mortar bed and I would like to make it reasonably authentic. My barrel dimensions: Bore 2.5”, OD 3.25”, OAL 6”, Trunion 5” but will probably loose some as I need to square up the ends.
DD had posted (http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/268768/post/1139972/hl/mortar+base/fromsearch/1/) the following regarding proportions: “Shorten your barrel and move your trunnion to center of your base. Make the base twice as long as the barrel and the same height as the OD of the barrel. Width should be two time bore diameter.” Using this information I come up with a base of the following dimensions: Length 12”, Width 5”, Height 3.25”. This seems a little small to me. SC45-70 posted a photo of his mortar and the base looks to be larger relative to the barrel.
DD had posted (http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/268768/post/1139972/hl/mortar+base/fromsearch/1/) the following regarding proportions: “Shorten your barrel and move your trunnion to center of your base. Make the base twice as long as the barrel and the same height as the OD of the barrel. Width should be two time bore diameter.” Using this information I come up with a base of the following dimensions: Length 12”, Width 5”, Height 3.25”. This seems a little small to me. SC45-70 posted a photo of his mortar and the base looks to be larger relative to the barrel.
