Anyone have experience with XRay imaging of metal?

We have a small Cannon (about 3 feet long, 2" bore, about 80 lbs) that we were told was made of wrought iron. Former owner had it X rayed long ago and that's how he knew it was wrought and not cast. But he lost the image of the XRay. Now of course I must have an X-ray image, just because I'm curious. I have a call in to a biz nearby that does this and they'll call me when they get back next week.

Meanwhile, anyone have experience with industrial radiography to give me some tips? I don't care what kind of radiation is used (XRay, gamma, etc.) as long as it can image through a few inches of wrought iron and show how the Cannon was welded internally.

 

Not personally but you could ask the VA State Conservator. I've volunteered in the lab at DHR in Richmond and I'm pretty sure she could give you some tips if no one else can help.

 

That's weird. There were a couple of other posts that went poof

 

Thanks, will do that next wk.

















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The last owner thinks this is a fur-trader Cannon, but I'm wondering if anyone has seen another one just like it? I'm thinking it could be an inventor's trial piece, or something that had limited military issue? Owner says:

"This cannon is exactly like the one illustrated in: Carl P. Russell: Firearms, Traps and Tools of the Mountain Men.

The bore measures 2"; this swivel gun is 31-1/4" long, 4-1/2" in diameter at the breech and 3" in diameter at the muzzle.

The bracket for the aiming arm measures 1-3/16" front to back, and protrudes 1" from the cannon's breech.

The trunnions are 1-1/2" in diameter; the right one is its original length--1-1/2". The left one has been shortened to 1", but it is plenty long enough to fit in a
yoke and work fine. See the photos. This swivel gun weighs 80 pounds.

This original one-pounder swivel gun was found with a spiked touch hole. I wanted to locate the spike (it had been rusted over--this cannon appears to have been spiked for a long time, and the rust was even over it.)

So I had it X-rayed by an industrial X-ray outfit. They told me: "Don't shoot the cannon! See these points on the X-ray--they are flaws in the casting!"

I had asked Robert Watts to find and remove the spike--I told him when the X-ray guys warned me about the cannon's strength. (Watts was a Georgia Tech engineer, former Vice-President of the National Muzzle-Loading Rifle Assn., winner of over 300 shooting trophies and a scholar of the fur trade era.)

Robert looked at the X-rays, laughed, and said: "What you're looking at is an X-ray of a barrel that has not been cast--it has been wrapped and welded!"

He went on: "I reckon they have never seen a wrapped and welded barrel-- and that is what this one is."

So this swivel gun was made the old way--wrapped and welded--which would have been done in an area that did not have facilities to cast iron. That, to me indicates the United States or Canada, at the late 18th--early 19th century."

 

Hi,
I had an Empire secretary x-rayed to find the secret compartments but it was done at a friend's medical office. Found three compartments that I did not know about. It had four that I knew about.
greg

 

OMG!!!! That is SO AWESOME!!!!!!!!

 

Doctor, I need a chest X-ray.

No, not mine, the one with drawers.

No, not those drawers, the wooden ones.

Am I not making myself clear?

 

I've learned that the only economical way to see inside the "possibly wrought-iron cannons" is using gamma rays. X-rays give a sharper image but you'd need massive equipment that very few companies have, to get through inches of iron. So we're going to have three pieces "shot" with gamma rays and film. The largest films the biz has are about 14 X 17 inches so each piece needs two exposures along the length.

Here are the 3 pieces, the verbal contract will be something like if they don't spend over a certain amount of time on my priority piece on far right, they'll shoot the lighter two both on one film in two exposures along the length. They'll call me when they finish the one on right with cost status. We're talking hundreds of bucks minimum here, the first quote was $1k and I balked at that, that's why the piecemeal approach. Gamma exposures for thick metal can take hours, and like most service businesses, they charge for time and materials. Film sheets are $19. each.

The specimens from left to right: 1. Asian, 18th ? C; 2. European, 16th C. ?, 3. American ?, 19th C. For no. 1, muzzle is at bottom of photo. Will repost with gamma images when they're done.

 

Summary of results:

 

and..."C" still has a ball in it, and "A" has welding flaws as I was told by previous owner. Tomorrow we'll work on getting the ball out. Wife has already forbidden my doing it the fun, quick way so we'll have to do it with penetrants, air pressure, and/or inertia.

 

Neat !

So now I see who the voice of reason is in your family !!!

 

So were you able to see anything from the films that told you what you wanted to know? The ball is cool!

 

Wanted to see how the barrels were structured using separate pieces of iron. That showed up well in the breech area but it looks like the radiography doesn't pick up forge welds that have been well-done, which would be nice to see. Still, I think I got my $554. worth from doing this, will be smarter next time and will know what this process can and can't do. For example, was thinking about doing radiography on a 1300-lb. British rifled Cannon made in 1871 because it was made in separate wrought-iron and steel sections. But now I'm going to just stick with the design drawings of that model since now I know a radiograph wouldn't show the structure clearly enough to justify the large expense.

 

One of these, which now we won't radiograph. Light green = wrought iron; dark green = cast steel.

 

Very interesting images.

 

Correction: Last image in post #10 above was supposed to have been this one-