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Tradition:
This area has a long and proud association with the Canadian military, but you wouldn't know it from the condition of the many cannons, aircraft and field guns forming memorials throughout the area.
Problem:
There is severe corrosion on a WW1 memorial in Boucher Park.
Abrasion, pitting and crevice corrosion are attacking a WW2 25 Pounder in MacDonald Park. Kingston's newest artillery piece, a NATO era 105 mm. Pack Howitzer at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch # 560 is showing the insidious early stages of crevice and standing water corrosion. Static aircraft in Trenton are also in trouble.
Oddly enough, our older, pre-smokeless powder era pieces are doing quite well. These 1700-1870 era pieces are cast iron, which does not corrode to the extent that modern steel does. Carronades and Naval 24 pounders are in great shape, showing only minor surface rust where water pools, such as in sight grooves, vents, etc.
Cause:
When in military service, these pieces see every weather condition possible, including being towed down salty highways, yet they stay rust free. Why? It's due to the constant maintenance efforts of the gunners. Almost daily, they are stripped, checked, oiled and reassembled.
To become a monument, they are rendered un-serviceable by welding shut the many moving parts. After this, they can never be stripped, cleaned and oiled properly again. This aggravates the corrosion process by creating crevices that become home to rampant rust.
Solution:
To assist the City, Canadian Forces Base Kingston and Royal Military College we now treat over 70 area monuments annually, no charge, as our community service. Taking full advantage of Rust Check's ability to creep into the tightest seams and crevices, we will do what we can to preserve them in place. It is not a moment too soon. The 77 mm. cannon in Boucher Park actually has pieces falling off, rust holes all the way through the barrel-saddle, and extensive crevice, pitting, and abrasion rust. It is our pleasure to help preserve these valuable and historic pieces for future generation to admire and climb on. If you know of a corroding monument call us, we'll help.
Want to learn how to save a cannon near you? Click here!
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