Best finish for a wiping stick?

[2 Locks]

I've been away from the site for about 9 or months now.  :shock: what am I nuts?) as to what y'all thought was the best traditional finish that kept the the ramrod from getting too sooty.  My guess is it doesn't make much difference, but if someone has noticed one finish works better then the rest, I would like to know.
And no, brass is not an option.

[RiverCat]

All but one of my ramrods are hickory, and all I`ve ever done is rub them down good with linseed oil every once in awhile.

[Rev]

Same here...

[pathfinder]

Back when I was learning this stuff,Pa Keeler had me soak the ramrod's in a pvc pipe full of kerosine for a couple of day's,take it out and dry it. Then stain it with Danglers stain and linseed oil.

The kerosine was supposed to make the rod more limber. I also use a tubing cutter for brake lines to score the rod for the tip.

[Captchee]

the way pathfinder describes is how i  also was taught to make RR .
also my RR are not always hickory . i have used ebony as well as rosewood .
Today I seldom soak them  but I  always give them several coats of linseed

[2 Locks]

Thanks guy's.  I used linseed on the only other ramrod I made.  I just thought maybe someone had some secret sauce.

This is the first I've heard about soaking in kerosene.  Sounds easy enough, I might as well give that a try.

[Buzzard]

Yep, these guys are pretty much spot on! Any good, water proof finish, that won't attract or hold grit will be fine.

[Uncle Russ]

A little bit late with this, but I have also used the Kerosene in a pvc pipe.
The effectiveness, in my mind, is somewhat subjective.
Supposedly, at the time it was thought to make the rod a bit more 'limber', a bit more flexible, maybe.

IMHO, about all that ever come of that was a ram-rod that stank to high heaven until you finally tossed it and started using, and maintaining them with Linseed Oil.....a quick rub down with 0000 steel wool, and another quick rub with Linseed Oil seems to do the trick as well, and about as cheap, as anything I have ever tried.

And, FWIW, I also think the use of a brass ram-rod full time, without proper cleaning, is just as bad as a fiberglass, and many of those other "Bullet Proof, Break Prof" rods on the market......except, when you are trying to worm a ball out, then they shine right nicely.
BTW; Worming a ball out is the very reason God gave mankind the co2 dischargers, too many good christian folk who had never uttered a foul word, jut going by the wayside, or so I'm told.  

Uncle Russ...