Author Topic: Suggestions on making sponges..?? (Read 1769 times)

opatriot · « **on:** February 01, 2006, 10:01:08 AM »

Gday friends ......blossoms are poping already on our almond trees here in northern cal. .....freakyfreaky weather seems to early for such a thing .......was wondering what your suggestions where on fabricateing sponges .....??? .......thanx ....davey

Powder keg · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2006, 01:03:39 PM »

Turn a round piece of wood down with clearance for a baby sock and use that for the spounge. When it gets dirty, change socks.

Later, Wes

opatriot · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2006, 06:38:41 PM »

Good idear Wes..... I think ill use childs socks for the covers .....found one of calamitys old posts on sponge heads .....with some suggestions.....

opatriot · « **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2006, 06:42:32 PM »

Does anyone know what material they used during civil war erra......old pics sorta look loke canvas cover ....???

Powder keg · « **Reply #4 on:** February 02, 2006, 06:47:19 PM »

Santa Dave said he was going to try a paint roller for a swab in his new golf ball gun. I might have to try that also.

Later

Artilleryman · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2006, 01:51:33 AM »

If you use a paint roller you don't have anything to sponge the breech face which is just as critical as sponging the rest of the bore. Are you folding part of the roller over the end. The reason I posted this is because about 25-30 years ago I saw a gun crew using a paint roller that was held in place by nails driven into the end of the staff and bent back over the roller and nails driven into the staff at the other end of the roller and bent over the roller. This meant that only the nails ever came in contact with the bore. The gun crew wasn't willing to take any advice and I put a lot of distance between me and them.

Will Bison · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2006, 07:25:21 AM »

I've been using the paint rollers with a cotton sock pulled over it for several years. After the sock is pulled over I tie it around the bottom with some twine. I also run a single, small brass screw in the side of the roller to ensure it won't slip.

Bill

Santa Dave · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2006, 08:01:44 AM »

I spent yesterday confirming to the good folks at Lowes that I am crazy !
(but you all know that!)
Anyway heres what I'm going to try:
A paint roller (standard size ) cut to length on a piece of wood turned to fit. Inside the breech end sticking out I will glue a Small size paint roller Which comes with the end fully covered and rounded. over all of this I will place a sock (I have not thought out what kind) Or, as I have lots of rough terrycloth & a good sewing machine, make a cover. This should wet (and dry) the entire bore, bowder chamber and all. Of course with a short piece a flashlight can see what goes on!
Dave

dominick · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2006, 12:02:30 PM »

This is not exactly a sponge, but it comes in handy for cleaning 1.5" to 2.75" bores. Lowe's and Home Depot sells a ceiling fan brush with a telescoping handle for about 10 bucks. It has a wire loop shaped brush on the end designed to wrap around the fan blade. Just pull the wire loop straight and flatten slightly and it makes a good cleaning brush for the bore. Dom

Articifer Tom · « **Reply #9 on:** February 03, 2006, 01:08:30 PM »

Synethic lambs wool from fabric shop or Tandy leather over a dowel 1/2" smaller then bore build tie in to back to cinch it up .

opatriot · « **Reply #10 on:** February 03, 2006, 03:05:16 PM »

OK ...Put the yankee brain cells to work and GOT-ER DONE......I cut fluffy dish towel correct length / width ...stapled first part , then rapped and glued end with rubber cement .......bought childs cushion socks and covered , tied end with twine and spot glued knot withrubber cement .........looks pretty good - GOOD FIT.......click go to photos home then click.. sponge..[url]...... http://photos.yahoo.com/difabiojr@sbcglobal.net......Now too the worm ........thankyou all for some gooooood ideas..................davey

GGaskill · « **Reply #11 on:** February 03, 2006, 03:31:29 PM »

Correct link for http://photos.yahoo.com/difabiojr@sbcglobal.net" target="_blank">the above sponge pix.

Powder keg · « **Reply #12 on:** February 03, 2006, 05:12:24 PM »

Nice looking Spounges!!

Cannonmaker · « **Reply #13 on:** February 03, 2006, 05:43:29 PM »

From my reserch of the Civil War, the sponges were made of Sheep's Wool. This would most likley be dificulte to make on a small sponge. I will build a punch the size of the bore with a 1/4" hole in the middle. I then punch out dozens of patches from 100% Cotton. I machine a Steel end, much like the origanals. This end has a 1/4" hole in it, slip it over the dowdle and pre drill the dowdle. I then place a washer on a 1/4"X 3" lag bolt and put the cotton patches on the lag bolt, about 2" of patches. I then screw the bolt into the dowdle until tight. Then hand sew a few patches (with out holes) to cover the end. This looks good, and holds up to the worming and cleaning process.

I wasent going to tell my trade secrets, but then agean----

opatriot · « **Reply #14 on:** February 03, 2006, 06:25:31 PM »

Hey rick interesting design .......If they used lambs wool originally , I wonder how they formed it ???.... I have one of those famous old CW close up picks of the four officers standing around the cannon and I would swear it looks like their sponges have old socks tied around them ........I duno anybody else have old CW picks of implaments.???................interested .......davey

Artilleryman · « **Reply #15 on:** February 04, 2006, 04:24:55 AM »

I believe what you are looking is canvas sponge covers.

Kuntrykouple · « **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2006, 03:59:02 PM »

Quote

Does anyone know what material they used during civil war erra......old pics sorta look loke canvas cover ....

I just got back from Wilson Creek Battlefield...again. and when i saw this i thought of you Davey hopefully this helps a little!

The cover on the sponge looked and felt like a well used corduroy/felt material i could not exactly take it apart to see what was on the inside!
I have tons of pictures of artillery related items and artillery.

Rickk · « **Reply #17 on:** April 08, 2006, 05:21:05 AM »

Articifer Tom, Here is a source of synthetic sheeps wool that is probably way cheaper than Tandy:

http://www.eleatherworks.com/customer/product.php?productid=16284&cat=587&page=1

Also, this stuff (Barge Cement):

http://www.eleatherworks.com/customer/product.php?productid=16228&cat=336&page=1

is an awesome glue that will attach the wool to a wooden dowel without needing nails. It is waterproof. I built my sponges with it, havn't tried it yet... mortar not finished. However, the mentioned glue is used in shoe making, which is a pretty rough duty to put anything thru.

I do leather work myself and I use the glue all the time. Never had it come apart when it wasn't supposed to.

By the way, the solvent in it is somewhat nasty... use it outside.

It is a contact cement. Apply to both surfaces, let it get tacky, and stick together. If it is still a bit wet when you stick it together you can slide things into alignment a bit. If it is no longer wet it sticks almost instantly.

Articifer Tom · « **Reply #18 on:** April 08, 2006, 05:35:32 PM »

Thank you . Looks like a good sourse . I was lucky did some work at local factory that made dog and cat beds. They lined them all with this wool always were throwing away the dirty outter layer and ends.
I think they need to be removable; as seen many of rotted and split dowel because they did not dry out . Also rot at the joint of staff.

Rickk · « **Reply #19 on:** April 09, 2006, 03:17:38 AM »

for cleaning my 2.25" mortar we are talking about a $3 dowel and 20 minutes work including varnishing the dowel and attaching the wool, so if it rots out in a few months into the wood stove it goes.

Rickk · « **Reply #20 on:** April 30, 2006, 09:46:40 AM »

In a picture takin mood...

Here are the sponges I made....

I got bored waiting for my Oak to dry, so I propped my mortar barrel up on a piece of quartered firewood.

Fun fun :grin:

Gunna play with it again tonight after it gets dark :twisted:

Anyway, they held up to one session so far. I made three... one to wash, one to dry, and one to dry again.

I'll put some mileage on them over the next coupla weeks and give an update.

Powder keg · « **Reply #21 on:** April 30, 2006, 02:15:23 PM »

Very nice Job!!! Thanks for sharing.

Rickk · « **Reply #22 on:** May 29, 2006, 02:58:03 PM »

Well, the oak for my mortar base is dry. I went up to dad's today and squared it up on his table saw. I'm going to Sears tomorrow to buy a drill press (been wanting one forever... it's about time) to drill the assorted holes.

Anyway, I have lacked patience to finihs the base. I just completed my third firing session with the barrel propped up on a piece of firewood. The sponges are holding up well. I examined the fists sponge (the one that gets the bucket) after I was done cleaning the barrel. The "barge cement" it holding up nicely. It is ignoring the water entirely. The synthetic sheeps woool shed a bit during the first firing session, but that has stopped by now.

I wondered about maybe having my wife sew a "sock" out of cotton bath towel that I could slide over the sheeps wool and tie in place. I havn't done that yet, but she was nice enough to pick up a towel so I guess it will happen. It is an experimental imporvement, but right now I am happy with things as they are. Having two "drying" sponges is nice. I can really soak the heck out of the barrel with the first one. The second one removes 90% of what I leave in there, and the thirs one takes out the rest. They seem to dry between rounds, so they continue to do there job.

I think if I went to an extended match I would bring a second set to allow them to dry if they got too wet to do their job. They are cheap enought to make that it wouldn't be a big deal. I think they cost me between 5 and 10 each to make, and they took about 15 minutes apiece in labor.