Got felt

[AtlLaw]

Got the roll I ordered from the lady Jawja tofo (Gatofeo) recommended.  Also bought a set of punches.

I had to sharpen the 36 and 44 punches and I need to get a block of oak to use as a punch base.  Do you think one of those plastic cutting boards would dull the punches?     Anyway, I would say I'm set with wads for life!   

I'm gonna lube them with the b'wax/crisco mixture I have so's I can mix up that batch of B'wax/parafin/mutton tallow lube I been wanting to try!   

[doc623]

If you need a block of oak or hickory just let me know.

[Gatofeo]

I use a scrap of plastic cutting surface. It was applied to a large worktable in a room where I worked, for use with utility cutters and other knives, and they had a little left over.
I epoxied this scrap to the top of block of wood I got at a thrift store for $1. It's a turned wood block about 8 inches in diameter, and had an ugly toy bear affixed to it. I yanked off the bear (sounds vaguely dirty, don't it?) and had the block of wood I needed.
No suitable trees grow here in the Utah desert, so this was a good route.
I've probably punched that plastic, self-healing surface 1,000 times and no wear is visible. I should have my headstone made of that stuff; it'll last longer than granite! 

[AtlLaw]

If you need a block of oak or hickory just let me know.

Thanks Doc.  I appreciate the offer!   

I use a scrap of plastic cutting surface. ...  I epoxied this scrap to the top of block of wood I got at a thrift store for $1.

This got me thinkin...    I'm always cutting something in the mancave.  I need to make something like this instead of using the top of the workbench.  Should be fairly easy, but I ain't yankin off no bear to get it!      

[flmason]

I've probably punched that plastic, self-healing surface 1,000 times and no wear is visible. I should have my headstone made of that stuff; it'll last longer than granite!  

When you say self healing, do you mean it literally reflows or the like? What kind of plastic is it?

Just out of curiousity, what is the correct sizing for a wad, if I were to make a punch? Basically the inside diameter of the chambers?

[AtlLaw]

I'm assuming ... ugh!     I hate that term!     I try NEVER to assume anything!     Let me try again... 

I'm guessing, but it's only a wild guess dontchaknow, that Jawja Tofo means those synthetic cutting boards.  Ima gonna try one and keep a close eye on my punches to see if they dull up real quick... I never used one of those synthetic things; I've always used wood cutting boards made the old fashioned way!   

As for wad size, it would seem to me that the wads should be made a little oversized.  Hummmm, let me think on this for a bit... 

Logic tells me the wad will curl up around the ball some when it, the ball that is, is seated on the powder and the powder is compressed, said compression creating a "dimple" in the powder.  This action may reduce the diameter of the wad on a 2 dimentional plain...    But then... the compression of the wad could expand the diameter of the wad when considered in one dimention... 

And for the life of me I can't think of a way to measure the net gain or loss of the wad's diameter in the chamber...     But wait a sec...    the wads are ¹/₈ inch thick and the balls are either swagged or cut to the exact thickness of the chamber...    If the wad is the same diameter as the chamber, when the ball is seated the bottom edge of the wad will curl up on both sides of the ball, and the wad will be compressed in the center and expand the outer edge diameter, making the wad ¹/₈ of an inch larger then the chamber all around, or in effect making the wad ¹/₄ inch larger then the diameter of the cylinder to begin with!   

So maybe we actually need to make the wad smaller then the chamber!     No, wait, that can't be right... 

I'm confused...   

Thanks a bunch there brother Mason...     You know I won't be able to sleep tonight for thinkin about this stuff dontcha!?   

 

[bubba.50]

i've punched about 12,000 .50 cal. milk carton wads using a punch from buffalo arms and a piece of plastic that was from an auto parts shipping crate(about the consistency of a milk jug only around 3/8ths thick). i had to touch up the punch on a stone once in all that time and the piece of plastic is good for many more thousand wads. for what it's worth and have a good'en neighbors, bubba.

[mcwoodduck]

Go get a new cutting board.
Take the old cutting board in to the man cave and use it.
I am sure by now there are enough lines in the old plastic boards that the germs have condos, guest houses and estates build in them that you can not get really clean unless you soak in bleach.
The plastic boards come in a bunch of sizes and range from $5 to 20 at Target or Wally World.

[Cornbelt]

If you're punching on wood, use the end grain.

[flmason]

I'm assuming ... ugh!     I hate that term!     I try NEVER to assume anything!     Let me try again... 

I'm guessing, but it's only a wild guess dontchaknow, that Jawja Tofo means those synthetic cutting boards.  Ima gonna try one and keep a close eye on my punches to see if they dull up real quick... I never used one of those synthetic things; I've always used wood cutting boards made the old fashioned way!   

As for wad size, it would seem to me that the wads should be made a little oversized.  Hummmm, let me think on this for a bit... 

Logic tells me the wad will curl up around the ball some when it, the ball that is, is seated on the powder and the powder is compressed, said compression creating a "dimple" in the powder.  This action may reduce the diameter of the wad on a 2 dimentional plain...    But then... the compression of the wad could expand the diameter of the wad when considered in one dimention... 

And for the life of me I can't think of a way to measure the net gain or loss of the wad's diameter in the chamber...     But wait a sec...    the wads are ¹/₈ inch thick and the balls are either swagged or cut to the exact thickness of the chamber...    If the wad is the same diameter as the chamber, when the ball is seated the bottom edge of the wad will curl up on both sides of the ball, and the wad will be compressed in the center and expand the outer edge diameter, making the wad ¹/₈ of an inch larger then the chamber all around, or in effect making the wad ¹/₄ inch larger then the diameter of the cylinder to begin with!   

So maybe we actually need to make the wad smaller then the chamber!     No, wait, that can't be right... 

I'm confused...   

Thanks a bunch there brother Mason...     You know I won't be able to sleep tonight for thinkin about this stuff dontcha!?   

 

Ah well, wasn't trying to make you loose sleep. Was just wondering what the right size is, once some beeswax is on then to seal out moisture. My primary objective is to find a loading regimen that's both convienent (for cap and ball, LOL!) and waterproof. Want to not have to worry about the powder getting fouled by the lube, and at the same time to keep water out. Basically want to get as close to cartridge reliability as possible, ideally with as few components as possible.

Have often wondered if the easy answer is just to get the Lee conical mold and lube with beeswax. I noticed that mould is .450. Not having an inside caliper around at the moment, no idea what the actual I.D. of my NMA's chambers are.

Have yet to see a mold that makes a heeled bullet, so that the traditional Civil War era combustible paper cartridge could be made.

[crgator]

Duro-felt is great!  I ordered a roll on the 29th, got it today, less than 48 hrs after making the order.  Already punched out a dozen, just to see how a .45 cartridge works as a punch.

[brpc]

No, will not dull them.  Use it all the time.  Can you chuck the punches up in a drill?  I use a regular hand drill....you'll never go back to the hammer again.

[Cornbelt]

Just curious, what's duro-felt made from, wool or synthetic?

[crgator]

Just curious, what's duro-felt made from, wool or synthetic?

Wool

[El Gringo]

My punch size for my .44 1860 and Remmy is the 45 pistol (.455) punch from Buffalo Arms and its just the ticket.

I use a thick piece of scrap leather that I have leftover from making holsters / sheathes and such. I just put it down on the coffee table and punch out wads while watching TV.  If you have a Tandy Leather near by you can pick a piece up.... or a friend who dabbles in holster making.  I really cant see my punch getting dull using this method.

Its about time I get over to my brothers place and get some shooting time in.