Mexican cannon balls

[james45]

Can anyone remember the difference in cannon balls? Some are dangerous to mess with,is it the one with hole in the middle?Around Goliad county the Mexican army came through and there are a lot of relics .

 

[Tpmetal]

Yes the ones with a hole are usually hollow to be filled with powder and a fuse.

 

[james45]

Yes the ones with a hole are usually hollow to be filled with powder and a fuse.

If I remember right several years ago some one got blown up by messing with one ,but is this possible?This was about 8 years ago.

 

[Tpmetal]

If I remember right several years ago some one got blown up by messing with one ,but is this possible?This was about 8 years ago.

Yes there have been instances of people blowing them up. The only instances I have heard of is people trying to drill them out to disarm them with out the proper equipment and procedures. There are ways to do it safely but I do not recommend anyone try it themselves.

 

[hoser]

Oh where was it that I saw a video or read a story of a guy that found one or two and was pounding on them with a hammer to knock the rust off. Gutsy move!

 

[james45]

Oh where was it that I saw a video or read a story of a guy that found one or two and was pounding on them with a hammer to knock the rust off. Gutsy move!

Hmmm, just had a thought maybe it was a SPARK that set this balls to blow up while working on them?

 

[EmuDetector]

Hmmm, just had a thought maybe it was a SPARK that set this balls to blow up while working on them?

That's exactly what happened. The older powder off gasses as you drill into it. His drill ignited the gases and it blew. The "professional" way is to drill while they're under water and use a remote press.

 

[james45]

That's exactly what happened. The older powder off gasses as you drill into it. His drill ignited the gases and it blew. The "professional" way is to drill while they're under water and use a remote press.

Yep,live and learn,unreal how the powder could stay active all this years