Traditional Muzzleloading Association
Craftsmanship => Accoutrements => Topic started by: Smokey on September 08, 2021, 04:27:04 PM
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Instead of ordering pre cut patches, I want to try making my own from pillow ticking.
I need suggestions. What do you use to punch or cut out the circles?
Thanks.
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It's not what you're asking for, but I've used a rotary cutter (Fiskars) for years. It makes square patches instead of round but the rifle doesn't seem to care.
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Buy a cheap set of hole saws from Harbor Freight. Grind off the teeth, then sharpen the edge with a file. Put several layers of your patch material over a soft board, chuck the hole saw in your drill and start cutting patches. You can cut hundreds of patches in just a few minutes. resharpen the hole saw as needed.
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... Or maybe I should cut the patch at the muzzle instead of buying more stuff. Worth a try maybe.
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Lot's of folks do cut their patches at the muzzle, nothing wrong with that. As Hank said, square patches will work just fine as well as a round one. Harbor Freight probably has some 1" to 1-1/4" round punches that would work. You could also check company's that deal in canvas (tent pole rings) as they'd have to punch through the canvas for the eyelet / grommet to be installed. Good luck! :shake
Here's a link, but I feel there are better ones out there;
https://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-1271O-Punch-4-Inches/dp/B000189UCU/ref=psdc_2225054011_t1_B0051UXY2U
NOTE: I would prefer this shape in the following link;
https://www.amazon.com/C-S-Osborne-Arch-Punch-Tool/dp/B002FCMCSE/ref=pd_di_sccai_3/141-3085847-9704003?pd_rd_w=W23we&pf_rd_p=c9443270-b914-4430-a90b-72e3e7e784e0&pf_rd_r=7H8QWSJRR3P5EKMAR8XE&pd_rd_r=b6907728-190d-4d87-b0bf-4cdfd2c40f65&pd_rd_wg=l5UHC&pd_rd_i=B01FT2E9ZK&psc=1
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A lever type paper cutter makes square patches quickly.
Ironhand
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All good suggestions. Ohio Joe's idea is closest to what I'm thinking. It's a close second to just cutting at the muzzle.
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Any special reason you want pre cut vs cut at the muzzle.
Lubed patches for hunting perhaps .
I carry a small pre lube gatofeo strip for that.
CATM just seems easier.
Kevin
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Just my thoughts (don't know the original Poster's thoughts), but a precut lubed patch holding a ball in a ball block does make for a much faster reload in a hunting situation,,, and if you should find yourself in a competition where reloading fast is required (such as a post shoot -or- a timed event of some kind) - where every second saved on your reload may come into play. :shake
And of course, just the convenience of it...
:shake
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Any special reason you want pre cut vs cut at the muzzle.
I'm experimenting with different methods. I'm tired of waiting for my order of pre made patches to show up in the mail. I'd rather try making my own. Other than that, I have not decided whether one method bests another.
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Well Smokey, I guess you'll just have try them all and pick the one that works best for you. Part of the fun. :bl th up
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I buy pillow ticking at JoAnne's then rip it into 1 1/2" strips. I pre-lube these with whatever is my preferred lubricant at the moment, or just leave them plain for spit patch and cut at the muzzle. Recently I have been cutting some of the strips into 1 1/2" square patches which may be too large and bunch up when ramming the ball down, but accuracy seems to be the same.
I have had a couple of rifles with coned muzzles and cutting at the muzzle didn't work too well; while cutting the material I would invariably pull the ball out of the barrel with the knife. Pre-cut patches were necessary in that instance.
I also get flannel material from the same source and cut square cleaning patches from it. sure is cheaper than buying commercial patches!
~Kees~
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Precut and lubed patches is an in between load process that's neither slow nor fast.
Once my quick loading ball boards run empty I'll resort to either refilling the boards or load off patch strips at the muzzle.
It's all good, no matter how ya load yer smoke pole. :bl th up
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Precut and lubed patches is an in between load process that's neither slow nor fast.
Mostly, consistency has been the benefit that I enjoyed with pre cut patches. Patches allow for the same size piece of cloth going down the barrel each time.
One the other hand, pre cut patches can be awkward, especially when loading from the bag. Open the tin, grab a patch without spilling the others. oop. Now those two are stuck together . . . AND I dropped the patch.
The goal is consistency and simplicity. Speed will follow.
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Precut and lubed patches is an in between load process that's neither slow nor fast.
... Patches allow for the same size piece of cloth going down the barrel each time. ...
So does cutting patch strips from the same BOLT of cloth - this insures that ALL patches cut at the muzzle or ball board are not only from the same cloth lot thickness, but also of a very proper diameter. This is why some of us by patch material from cloth shops, right off the bolt. I buy at least 5 yards and that insures my patch load consistency for a few years. ;)
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. . cutting patch strips . . . insures that ALL patches cut at the muzzle or ball board are . . . proper diameter.
RobD. Understood. That's why I want to experiment with both methods. I plan to buy some ticking soon enough and I am not ruling out any particular method. I like the idea of cutting at the muzzle. For now, the question is still about finding a punch to make round patches. I want to try that method for now.
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. . cutting patch strips . . . insures that ALL patches cut at the muzzle or ball board are . . . proper diameter.
RobD. Understood. That's why I want to experiment with both methods. I plan to buy some ticking soon enough and I am not ruling out any particular method. I like the idea of cutting at the muzzle. For now, the question is still about finding a punch to make round patches. I want to try that method for now.
That's the way to go - test and see what fits your shooting agenda best. A precut patch is clearly faster that cutting a patch at the muzzle, a ball board is clearly faster than a precut patch, a ball board with powder is faster yet, and the fastest of all is the way it was mostly done in the military of the 18th century - a paper "cartridge" for muskets.
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I recently completed a woodswalk that was very educational. It revealed a lot about how my bag is set up, and the patches I was using. I no longer see any real benefit in punching my own patches. When I use pre-cut, I'll just buy them. BUT, I stil want to try cutting at the muzzle. Tying some strips of ticking to my bag will reduce the amount of times I have to go reaching into the bag to fish out items.
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I use the same wad cutters that Dixie sells (or did) to cut my precut patches .
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I have never found a large enough, or the right size punch for punching out the patches I need. Just this week I made several dozen round patches for my .48 caliber flintlock rifle. Once I figured out the right size I needed, I cut out a round cardboard pattern of that patch size. I used that card board pattern to draw circles on my pillow ticking patch material then cut the circles out with scissors. I find that relaxing making patches like that. They were then greased and put in the patch tin to be used.
Ohio Rusty ><>