Ball Boards

[RobD]

With a new-to-me .50 flinter on the way, time to make up some ball boards in shooting anticipation whilst whiling away the doldrums of a freezing, snowy winter.

Cut up some 1/2" x 2-1/2" oak to 6-1/2" lengths, layout the tick marks for the ball holes.
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Drill press does the hole making deed.
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Ready for sanding.
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Belt sander takes care of smoothing out the flats and rounding off the edges.
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Ready for some wipe-on polyU to seal the grain.
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All done.  Made a pair - top one with the red .015" pillow ticking (9/16" ball holes) and t'other with .010" linen (1/2" ball holes).
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[KDubs]

Looking good.
 I still haven't gotten around to making any of those.
 Been busy making horns and leather stuff.
 Kevin

[Butler Ford 40]

They look good!   

[ridjrunr]

👍🏻👍🏻

[Ohio Joe]

They certainly are a handy item for sure...

These are as close as we'll ever get to a; "Magazine or Clip" in this hobby... 

They really are a handy item for sure. I use them all the time. 

[Fyrstyk]

If the ball board holds more than 10 rounds you might have to pay a $200 tax under Biden's gun laws if enacted. (just kidding)

[rollingb]

If the ball board holds more than 10 rounds you might have to pay a $200 tax under Biden's gun laws if enacted. (just kidding)

Please don't give Ol' Puddin' Head any ideas!   

[Uncle Russ]

If the ball board holds more than 10 rounds you might have to pay a $200 tax under Biden's gun laws if enacted. (just kidding)

    Ain't that the darn truth! And I ain't kidding.

Russ..

[Ohio Joe]

If the ball board holds more than 10 rounds you might have to pay a $200 tax under Biden's gun laws if enacted. (just kidding)

That's why I only make mine with 8 holes... I don't want to have to pay a fine and plug two holes in a ten hole board... 

[PetahW]

.

Nice job !

I did pretty much the same thing for my .45 T/C Seneca - but I also inletted the bottom end of the holes to fit the muzzle & lower rib nose of my rifle. (I used some scrap Walnut 3/4" thick board I had laying around)

[Bigsmoke]

Fun stuff.  Gee, I have no idea how many ball boards I have made over the years.  I have never cared to use them, but I made them.
Petah, that is the way I made mine, with a cut out around the hole.  Originally I figured on that countersink as a location area to put the patch, then push the ball through.  I started out using a Forstner bit, but found that difficult to center, so I got a 1 1/4" countersink bit with a hole in the middle to put a 1/2" shank bit into, and presto changeo, one easy operation.  I probably still have it laying around somewhere.
The few times I have used a ball board, I usually located them on the barrel of the rifle by having the patched ball protrude a bit and located off of that.
Anyway, good stuff here. As always, this is a good place to learn.  Bravo !!!

John (Bigsmoke)

[Fyrstyk]

Here are a few of the ball boards I have made up so I wouldn't go stir crazy.  I had quite a bit of left over hardwood (hickory) flooring from a remodeling job. 

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The beaver block has a built in powder measure, and the tail is a cap holder.

[Fyrstyk]

Here are a few more.  The 3-hole block at the end of the powder horn has magnets built in so it sticks to the end of the horn.  The white ball block is made from a Moose antler shed. [ Invalid Attachment ]

[RobD]

Very nice ball boards. Fyrstyk. 

[rollingb]

I like the moose antler one and the beaver.