Author Topic: Diy Cutting round patches (Read 2036 times)

uno676 · « **on:** February 17, 2014, 06:13:39 AM »

Ive read about someone doing this I cant remember what they used and I cant find the thread.

Sent by Jedi mind trick

bilmac · « **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2014, 06:32:30 AM »

You do know that the original way to cut patches was to start the ball on a large piece of cloth and then slicing the excess off with a knife, right.

tacklebury · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2014, 08:32:56 AM »

I use lots of patches for cleaning and my bp guns. I save old T-shirts I get from family and friends for free and cut them into squares. I make about 1/2 Large 3" and 1/2 small 1.5" square. Then as stated above, start your ball, take patch knife and trim flush at barrel. You can also just cut the material right off a long piece. I like having separate ones. This is what I get out of one XL mens white t-shirt. Makes me enough for several months of shooting in about 1 hr.

I save the scrappy pieces to make charcloth or for filling shot loads.

Swampman · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2014, 08:59:16 AM »

Quote from: bilmac on February 17, 2014, 06:32:30 AM

You do know that the original way to cut patches was to start the ball on a large piece of cloth and then slicing the excess off with a knife, right.

I've been researching muzzleloading history for nearly 40 years and I haven't found this to be the case.

Swampman · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2014, 09:00:56 AM »

Square patches work fine. Use washed pillow ticking.

flintlock · « **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2014, 09:05:42 AM »

Quote from: bilmac on February 17, 2014, 06:32:30 AM

You do know that the original way to cut patches was to start the ball on a large piece of cloth and then slicing the excess off with a knife, right.

Who says??? Do you have a period account to document this???

tacklebury · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2014, 09:05:59 AM »

That works too, except most pillows aren't made with ticking any more.

Some look like it, but t-shirt material works fine for me. Also, there is some loss of accuracy in my finding with using square cut patches in rifles. I nearly always get some fliers although not severe. I use them square in my .75 cal Brown Bess smoothbore, because it's not accurate past about 25 yards typically anyway.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2014, 09:06:21 AM »

Forster used to make a round patch cutter or you can use the hammer punch type, but not worth the time involved when making square patches for cleaning or PRB is so simple and fast!

Tim

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Forster-round-patch-cutter-/380806635141?nma=true&si=UdgstSVdNa5pK60b8c62o0rljvw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

http://www.castbullet.com/makeit/patch.htm

quickdtoo · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2014, 09:20:02 AM »

A rotary cutter and mat can make a bunch of patches real quick, the cutter will cut several layers of cotton fabric at one time.

Tim

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fiskars-Rotary-Cutting-Set/12335930

Swampman · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2014, 09:21:52 AM »

As soon as the ball leaves the barrel the patch separates from it. Accuracy is the same.

tacklebury · « **Reply #10 on:** February 17, 2014, 09:31:48 AM »

It does separate, but not always consistently. If a corner gets around front etc, you have opportunity for inconsistency. Takes 2 seconds to trim, so why not.

Swampman · « **Reply #11 on:** February 17, 2014, 09:35:55 AM »

Because it's a waste of time. Your Bess should be able to hit a man sized target at 200 yards. T-shirt material is unsuitable for shooting patches.

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #12 on:** February 17, 2014, 10:04:47 AM »

Pillow ticking can be purchased at Walmart in the fabrics section. Throw it in a load of laundry to wash the sizing out before you use it. Make sure it is 100% cotton. I rip it in 1 1/2 inch strips. Lay the end of a strip across the muzzle, push a ball down to be flush with the muzzle, cut the patching off at the muzzle (which is what a patch knife is for) and ram the ball home. I find this easier than trying to center the ball in precut patches.

If T-shirt material works for you, that's great. However, you might buy a yard of pillow ticking and try that, see if it makes any difference. Oh, Dixie Gunworks sells it also, at GREATLY inflated prices. I'll stick with Wally World!

~WH~

tacklebury · « **Reply #13 on:** February 17, 2014, 10:16:17 AM »

Good to know.

I've used lots of materials and experimented a good bit. T-shirt doesn't work well if you have magnumitis and have to shoot 100 gr. BP with a round ball, but in my .45 and .50 cal guns, I'm usually using 35 gr. with my pistols and 70 with my rifles. Seems to work very well and I suck on em before loading. Softens up the fouling really good. The Bess will never hit a man at 200 yards guaranteed, but it's great fun launching that 575 gr. round ball into pallets.

At 25 yards my BEST group so far was about 8", so I consider it pretty much a point blank gun. I have hit some stuff at 50 yards, but like the fact that I can use it with shot or RB. With lead prices heading up it's mainly a wall hanger. I'm moving mostly into .45's now as I can get several more bullets per pound. I am casting Maxi Balls and RB for .45's as soon as it warms up some here.

flintlock · « **Reply #14 on:** February 17, 2014, 10:49:56 AM »

I guess we should ask, are you cutting for shooting patches or cleaning patches???

I buy pillow ticking or pocket drill in bulk and strip and cut at the muzzle or loading block for shooting patches...

For cleaning, I buy the flannel material as it holds and absorbs cleaner better...

tacklebury · « **Reply #15 on:** February 17, 2014, 10:53:11 AM »

I use them for both.

Ranger99 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 17, 2014, 11:33:37 AM »

when i first started, i used pieces
of old worn bluejeans. any tight
woven 100% cotton of the correct
thickness will work. as said before,
new cloth must be washed thoroughly.
i haven't used any homemade patches
in a long time because at one time
store-bought ox-yoke patches were
cheap enough that it wasn't worth
my time to mess with. i bought
a partial lifetimes supply a good
while back. now, if i have to buy
some here before long, it may be
a different story as far as price
and availability. is ox-yoke even
still in business?

tacklebury · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2014, 11:50:34 AM »

Yep they are. They still make lots of wool wads etc.

uno676 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 18, 2014, 01:37:51 AM »

Round ones fit in my patch box better. I remember some one made something to put in their drill and it cut through several layers. I bought some pillow ticking at walmart and washed it. I had a gentleman email about a punch set I might do that

Sent by Jedi mind trick

quickdtoo · « **Reply #19 on:** February 18, 2014, 02:58:18 AM »

Lots of hammer type punches available on Amazon.

Tim

Punches

Swampman · « **Reply #20 on:** February 18, 2014, 08:12:03 AM »

Patch boxes aren't actually for patches. They are for lube.

flintlock · « **Reply #21 on:** February 18, 2014, 08:39:19 AM »

I use my patch box to hold patches...I roll up a prelubed strip, usually about 12-15 inches long...

I also have a vent pick, knapping rod, jag and extra flint in a wrap...

Swampman · « **Reply #22 on:** February 18, 2014, 08:55:52 AM »

Not the way they were traditionally used but that may not matter to you. They didn't have patch knives or loading blocks either.

rawhidekid · « **Reply #23 on:** February 19, 2014, 09:27:09 PM »

I use .018 pillow ticking from Wal-Mart and use a half dollar to cut round patches for my 50 & 54 cal. I use the quarter for my 45 cal.

Landngroove · « **Reply #24 on:** February 20, 2014, 10:36:09 AM »

For many years I have been buying pillow ticking material, either red, or blue stripes at Wal Mart by the yard. Wash to remove sizing, and cut into squares. Accuracy is the same as round, pre made, store bought patches.

rawhidekid · « **Reply #25 on:** February 25, 2014, 06:48:51 AM »

Yep, mine are the blue stripe