Treasure hunting a cannon.

[mac762]

I was driving by the WWI cannon in a local park yesterday. The barrel is pointing up at the sky at about a 30 degree angle.
I was watching some kids play on it and they were looking down the barrel. So I said to my Sister, "Do you think I'd find anything cool if I stuffed my magnet down that barrel. She says "I don't know, but we used to roll coins down the barrel for good luck." I freaked out when she said this. (She grew up in the town I didn't.) She says "people always have."
I don't know exactly how long the cannon has been there, but I know we drove by it in the early 70's, when I was a kid.
Now I'm just wondering what kind of device I'm gonna use to try and see what's down there. I'm probably gonna go there this evening and peek down the barrel with a flash light. Probably full of trash.
Maybe I'll tell the city I want to clean out the barrel and put a cap on it to keep it from rusting.

 

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[silverswede]

Shop Vac off power inverter.

 

[Mackaydon]

Maybe tie a magnet to the end of a broomstick (notched or not) and see what you pull up.
Or maybe tie a strong hook onto the broomstick end to first remove debris.
I'm looking forward to reading about/seeing what you retrieve.

 

[mac762]

The shop vac sounds like one option. I'm gonna go peek down the barrel when it's dark with my mag light. The cannon sits on the main street of the town.

 

[luvsdux]

Not sure what's the best tool for retrieval, but really like the concept.
luvsdux

 

[RGINN]

If you could get a magnet down there, (it might stick to the barrel) I don't think you're going to pull out any coins. If it's breech-loading just open it and let everything fall out. Shop-vac sounds the way to go. Pretty cool post, as I would have never thought of checking a spot like that.

 

[Shortstack]

Take an old broom or mop handle and make a duplicate barrel cleaner / ramrod. Wrap the end in old rags and wrap that with duck tape turned sticky side out and use that to stick to the trash and or coins. Repeat this until all stuff is out. Just keep rapping with fresh tape when the old sticky isn't sticky anymore. Do Dah, Do, Dah. LOL

 

[RGINN]

This has the potential to be a cool thread displaying the best of redneck ingenuity. If you posted under 'Have you ever dropped your car keys in a porta-potty and how did you get them out?' you might get even way more better ideas.

 

[Monk]

You have it about right! This worked for me to rob a wishing well when I was a kid. Get a stick the right length, then bend and tie a table spoon to it. Dip and pull in the loot. :-)

 

[Tnmountains]

Little black powder a greased softball,
clear the primer hole prime and light.
Then you can chase the softball and hopefully hunt out of the city park.

 

[NGE]

Use extreme caution when trying to find out what's down in there. I am extremely allergic to yellow jacket wasps, and you would never catch me doing something stupid like that. Wait until it is really dark out, then return with a couple cans of wasp spray, empty both cans in the barrel, then run like hell. You spray at night, because all insects will be in there. Come back the next night to clean it out..........NGE