Today's Therapy-- Cannon Swab

[Double D]

For todays physical therapy I built a cannon swab. I built this one for one inch bore, but it will also work for the 1 1/4inch powder chamber in my Dom Dictator.

For the swab I got a fake sheeps wool paint mitt at the hardware store.



I opened it up and cut off a strip 2 1/2 long using a quilters cutting wheel and cutting board.  I've had this cutting board for years and used it to cut cleaning patches for my rifles.



I found it easiest to cut from the wooly side, but you had to bear down to cut

I used a 5/8 inch wooden dowel for my shaft.  In order to find the correct circumference I wrapped  a strip of paper around the dowel couple of time, the cut the edge of the paper with a cutting wheel.



The distance between the two cuts is the circumference of the dowel.



I cut this paper out and it became my template. I laid the template on the wool and cut it out.



I couldn't find any Barge Cement in town so I used Weldwood contact cement.  I coated the back of the wool and the dowel witht he cement.



When it dried I rolled the wool pad around the dowel.  I cut out a round piece of wool and glued it on the end.

I rounded the other end of  the shaft.  Later I will linseed oil the shaft.  I was going to do that today but the can of oil I have that is 8 or 9 years old has dried solid.

[Rickk]

DD, I did the same exact thing a couple years ago when I got a couple of 1" bores from Irishman.

The synthetic wool that I get from the leathercraft supplier that I deal with is great for bigger bores, but the wool is a bit too long for smaller bores. The wool in the mitt is much shorter, and perfect for 1" bores.

I found the mitt in the automotive department of my local hardware store.

A small brass or brass plated furniture nail in the end will dissapear into the wool and give a bit extra hold to the end piece.

Rick

[Double D]

Rick, you didn't have to bring up the brass brads...I asked the wife this morning where the little brass brads were that we had.  She said we don't have any...and without thinking I said yes we do...turns out she was right and is darn proud of it...

[gulfcoastblackpowder]

One minor point: the use of the paper wasn't to determine the diameter of the dowel, but the circumference.  You could also have done that with the simple formula c=d*pi, where d is the diameter of the dowel (which was known to be 5/8"), though it's always a good thing to check it.

[Double D]

Right Circumference, and no the math method was not an option. It would have taken longer to do the math and make the meauresment than to do the whole project nicking the paper, other than the wait for the contact cement to dry.

I'll fix circumference.

[Double D]

DD, I did the same exact thing a couple years ago when I got a couple of 1" bores from Irishman.
Rick

Didn't you post that on the board? Do you have a link?

[Ex 49'er]

I made mine with a 3/4 inch dowel and one of the little 4.5 inch mohair mini paint rolls. It fits my 1" bore just right.

[dynomike]

I made mine from paint rolls for a 2 1/4" bore I wished we had a Hardware store all we have left is Wallmart.

[Double D]

I was going to use the paint rolls, but passed as they had cardboard rolls and I thought they might not stand up to the water...how do they work, does the water have adverse effect on roll?

[dynomike]

The cardboad is coated so there is no probablem. I have an old one that has been laying in the yard for a year and it's still  8)good.

[Ex 49'er]

The little roll is no problem. The center is plastic. I buy 1 gallon containers of window wash at the dollar store and use
that to swab with. Been using this system for 2 years now and haven't replaced the roll, yet.

[tapwater]

   Love the ideas of wool mitts and paint rollers. Mine is made with "Handy Andy" yellow cotton
mittens, split, layered and tacked to a section of broom handle. It's a snug fit in my 2 5/8" bore
"farmer special". Like my cannon, it's certainly not historically correct, but it does the job. I need a new one, and I'll try out your ideas. Thanks.

[Double D]

I know some of you other guys have made posts on this subject, how about posting a link to your post here or do a BTT on your original post.

I wanna add the links to the stickies.

[subdjoe]

For inexpensive fake wool, check out thrift stores for kids jackets.  They are usually quite inexpensive.  I had the good luck to find one by a dumpster.  The sleeves were almost perfect for my needs.  Plus I have the body to work with later.  I did a turn back to make a casing to put a drawstring in.  Worked like a charm at that CWRS shoot.