In the Navy the cannon ball holder is called a monkey and was made of cast bronze. Cannon ball were cast iron. In cold weather the monkey shrink more than the cannon balls. The saying "So cold it would freeze the balls off a brass monkey" I enjoy your channel thanks for uploading it.

I watch most machining channels because they are entertaining. I watch yours because it's educational. OK, it's entertaining too.

Hello Joe. The base you made for the canon balls is called a MONKEY. Originally they were made of brass and screwed to the ships deck to be salt water resistant. The cast iron balls were then stacked as yours. In freezing weather the balls if wet would freeze solid on the Monkey. Hence the saying of "it is cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" Great outcome. Happy New Year from Australia.

I’ve seen many ball turners but I’ve never seen it done like this. You’re full of surprises Joe!

Good shout out to Stefan, man's a legend👍 I think he gave credit to Tom Lipton /OxTools for that milling a sphere method though🤔 Great lesson in form-cutting in this video, gotta say👍

Man, if the idea to pressure turn a high contact form tool had ever entered my mind, I would have dismissed it as impractical at best. Now I gotta rethink the whole idea. Thanks, Joe?

Good morning, love the videos Joe, I found your channel by accident and learned so much from you. Can’t thank you enough.I was in an accident that left me disabled.I was a master plumber but since watching you for about 2 years now. I have learned a new skill.Can’t thank you enough. Keep the videos coming. From PENNSYLVANIA.

This came at the right time a simple way of turning brass balls as I need two for a project I am embarking on

2nd step, clever. Didn't see that process coming... TY

When in the machinist school some 50 years ago hand ground HSS tools were the norm. There was some carbide but only used rarely. Same basic rules are applied but with a negative or neutral rake. Those skills are as they are and the basic rules will never be changed but can be modified to suit the material in question. There you go with more pressure turning. I have still yet to try it. I may have to just do it to get the feel for it. All the best for 23 my friend. Take care eh ! ! !

I needed some 0.625” brass balls recently. I took the easy way out and did the old McMaster Carr thing. 😊

If you had made the cannon ball stacking base, you would have made a "Brass Monkey".

Stefan is wonderful! You 2 could have a great time addressing various mounting challenges! Love your relatively simple method for this project.

Well done, Joe, amazing simple technique. I definitely keep this one! Thanks for sharing 👍

At one point I thought ‘now how the hell is he going to hold that?’ But then you introduced the pressure turning holders. So brilliant, so simple, so Joe Pie. Happy New Year.

Outstanding work. Fixturing is 50% plus of the machining challenge. You've taught me a tremendous amount. Many Thanks, Scott

Hi Joe, A very interesting project. I think you need to make a "triangular ring" to hold the balls. The triangle should have 1/4" radius at each corner and sized to hold the first layer of balls. Originally they were made of brass and in the British navy they were called monkeys. Hence the saying "cold enough to freeze the balls on a brass monkey" I made a ships cannon from a 40mm Bofors "ack ack" shell that I picked up whilst on holiday in Malta. My grandad was stationed there for some time during WW2 and I have his regiment cap badge which is like a crown I have fixed this to the top of the cannon barrel to represent the crowns cast into the barrels. I think it is a nice way to display his badge.

Learn something every time I watch your videos sir. Great stuff 👍🏻

I’m impressed! Just another example of things I wish I had learned how to do!

This is a much better way to make balls on a lathe. Lot easier than to actually add an attachment to lathe to turn balls. Will certainly put that in the "tip toolbox " and will try it🙂

🤣saying Stefan sounds like the Terminator just made my day! lol

Hey Joe enjoyed your video thouroughly previously I watched a clickspring video. Chris was making a form tool with a small radius. Didnt understand why it wasnt done your way in the first place. I thought afterwards your Radius would of been closer to aproximate to print without the heat treat distortion and extra work Chris put in to achieve his result. I do also acknowledge Clickspring channel and Chris is an absolute craftsman too.

Nice work, Joe and now you have a set of brass balls!

No ball busting here ...... 👍👍😎👍👍

Oh, this is a super neat technique. I'm definitely trying this. Thanks for the tip!

Interesting work holding method - I always learn something from your videos.

The base should be brass and called the monkey (at least in 17/18th Century British Navy) It's where the phrase 'cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey' came from as the brass contracted more than the cast iron when it got cold

ILMAO!! love the "break out in a rash" comment. Priceless. Happy New Years and thanks for all your videos.

Brilliant - what a great technique.

Excellent work, after watching the second work holding set up and cutting operation. It's rather simple as long as your tool profile is correct. Enjoyed that Joe (well, you make it look simple). Tony

As an amusing aside. Pretty much everyone has heard the phrase "Cold enough to freeze the balls of a brass monkey" A "Brass Monkey" is actually the base you stack the cannon balls on. With the cannon balls usually cast iron and the monkey made of brass they have different thermal expansion characteristics. In cold weather the brass contracts more than the cast iron. If it is cold enough the monkey contracts enough to let the cannon balls fall off.

Very interesting! I would have never thought that the pressure turning setup would hold against the interrupted cut like that. Certainly good information to store away in the back of the mind.

That was fun - great to follow that approach. Balls turned out excellent and as usual some useful tips.. :)

Love it. Amazing work holding. Thanks, ill use that one

Nice lesson on form cutters and their use, Thanks. The cannon is a real beauty!

Outstanding Joe!

very good job Joe..thanks for your time

The 2 very best engineering tutors on YT Joe Pie & Stefan Gottswinter. Stefan also, (like "This Old Tony") has a fantastic eloquence in respect of real English humour. Great video Joe.

Going to have to revisit pressure turning , haven’t had much luck in the past but this video gives me new hope. 🤔Thanks for making it look so easy.

Thanks Joe for another excellent video! I learn something from EVERY video that you share-

Outstanding Joe

Joe, great video. Just commenting to say that I was given the PMR engine lathe kit as a christmas gift, and I intend on following your lathe series step by step to learn all the little tricks you used. Thank you for the effort you put into your videos and the knowledge you share, it is invaluable to young machinists like me.

Thanks for everything you do Joe, it's really appreciated. I've picked up so many tips from your Chanel.

Such a beautiful project.Thank you.

As always, brilliant video. Short and to the point Thanks for the video

Thanks for another great video. I also enjoy watching Stefan do amazing work on his Dekel FP1.

Thanks for Sharing ... Happy New Year .... Stay Safe and Well ....

I might try this technique so I can finally get a round tuit.

Neat! The navies used brass monkeys on which to store the cannon balls. This to prevent rust and corrosion in the salt air environment. Hence to the saying 'colder than the balls on a brass monkey'. The example I saw the depressions in the monkey were spherical and not conical.

Another masterclass in holding a difficult shape for machining. Thanks again Joe. A belated happy new year. Bob

Well done! Also nice tips on grinding your own tools

Joe the base is called a “Monkey” that’s where you get the old Royal Navy saying freeze the balls off a Brass Monkey👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

You never cease to amaze me with your lessons that you share….HNY, thank you

I didn't know you needed brass balls to build a Quorn! Happy new year!!

So cool. I have a 1 1/16 bore Cannon I made 20 years ago. Now I know how to make some Balls for it!

Great tutorial Joe... Again i can say ""Joe Pie Taught Me Something" didn't know about pressure turning! For interest, the plate you made to stand them on, in historic Royal Navy times was apparently called a "Brass Monkey". when it was cold enough on the ships, the plate buckled and the balls would roll off.. Hence the term "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey ! Learned that on the HMS Victory tour !

not having access to other machinist you are an amazing resource I have wondered about holding similar shaped parts. This definitely goes in the workholding book!! Thanks much

Brilliant. Thanks Joe for the video. I wondered how you were going to make them 👍

You're always an inspiration on work holding!

Lovely work that Joe.

Fantastic technique. As always. 😊😊😊

Great Tutorial of how to make the cutter & the brass balls.

Happy new year Sir, good to see you again.

WOW Joe that was amazing thank you for teaching me something new.

Love it Joe, great video!

I always learn something from your videos. Thanks Joe.

Very nice, great technique, nice look. Cheers

That was absolutely magic, loved that method superb 👍🏻

You are so cool Joe. I love your videos. Such a master. Thanks for sharing with all of us mortals. Paul

Stefan is one of my favourites.

Great video! I always learn something new. Thanks!

Nice! Happy New Year!

Thanks Joe

You have a good eye for esthetics. Happy New Year!

Nice tutorial - as usual. :) Thanks. Were it my assemblage, I'd darken the bead-blasted cannon balls with any one of several brass blackening solutions for a little extra authentic look.

I come here for inspiration and you provide it. Keep up the good work.

You made it look easy. Brass is my favourite material to machine next to Acetal. Stefan has gone full time, will interesting to see his progress.

Thanks again Joe.

When I do stuff like this, I superglue the ball in place, and heat it up to remove it. It may never slip without it, but it calms my paranoia!

There hasn't been a video I did not enjoy Thanks for sharing

This goes to prove it !!!!! Joe does indeed have brass balls......and can make em too !!! Don

Hey Joe, Nice brassies couldn't help myself Haha. Putting this one in the Rolodex. Joe thank you buddy be safe.

All the best in the New Year.

Look sharp thanks for the video

Very neat! Thanks

I have now learned that "Brass Balls" are made and not grown. Great job on their turning. Turned out just like the cannon and it carrage. Opinion - Blueing them would make them unique.

So one on the cannon Joe, he looks great, 👍👍👍👍

Brilliant!

Thanks for sharing 👍

Perfect Joe👍👍👍

Happy New Year mate

You have balls of brass! ;) Many thanks for the tips!

11:32 The square "monkey" looks good in contrast to the cannon balls, but making one that is triangular is the correct style "monkey". Don't shoot me I'm only the piano player.

Very nice indeed

Awesome I would not have believed you could that

Way cool learned a thing or 2 here thanks!!

GREAT job making brass balls and love the technique. Folklore tells us the cast iron cannon balls used on ships were held in a brass ring known as a monkey. Because the coefficient of thermal expansion and contraction for brass is about twice that of cast iron, supposedly in very cold weather the brass would contract much more than the cast iron balls, setting them free and thus "freeze the balls off a brass monkey". With today's technology, we now have Gorilla Glue which can be used to secure the brass monkey's balls.

I once had to make more than 1000 brass balls 10mm in diameter. Very interested in your solution - great result. Thanks for sharing.

Very good thank you 👍🏁

Sweet. Some powder and a ram rod is all you need now. Does the barrel have a powder hole and sump to send the ball down range? Don't forget the recoil rigging. Thank you Joe and Happy New Year.