How I Stripe my Ram Rods. A how-to video.

Kabulrocks · Mar 16, 2024

Thank you for the video! For dispensing acetone, lacquer thinner, etc. bottles like this are great. You can get them pre-printed for common solvents too: https://www.amazon.com/Economy-Bott...619224&sprefix=chemical+dispen,aps,140&sr=8-4

bpd303 · Mar 16, 2024

They are great, however I find them a little too big. I get the small flip spout or spritz bottles in the traveling section at Walmart, works for me.

Bucks Co · Mar 17, 2024

I pretty much do the same but I use painters masking tape and I follow the spiral with the torch and clean off with Shellite or Coleman Fuel - a light stain; a coat or two of Tru-Oil then use Boiled Linseed after that.

ColonialRifleSmith · Mar 17, 2024

Bucks Co said:
I pretty much do the same but I use painters masking tape and I follow the spiral with the torch and clean off with Shellite or Coleman Fuel - a light stain; a coat or two of Tru-Oil then use Boiled Linseed after that.

I think painters tape melts to the wood and is too difficult to remove. I also stain, color depending on the stock color. I use Tung Oil then BriWax. However, thanks for sharing. All ideas are welcome. :thumb:

Semper Fi

Ohio Rusty · Mar 17, 2024

I striped mine. I used a light flame from a torch and went round and round from tip to bottom. I then rubbed in several coats of coal oil.
Ohio Rusty ><>

Josephg · Mar 17, 2024

I like striped ramrods. Why not....

beardedhorse · Mar 17, 2024

A striped ramrod is easier to find on the forest floor if you for some reason put it there. I used to soak my hickory rods in kerosene or coal oil for buggy whip flexibility but it would not take on stain and burned bad when using a torch. Painter's masking tape spiraled in the same rate of twist as the rifling in the barrel, trace with pencil and brush on a stain. Some bleeding of stain ( like Fiebing's leather dye) under tape unless burnished heavily. Remove tape, sand pattern to liking and then seal with spar varnish. If I use a denatured alcohol patch to remove any left over moisture from cleaning before oiling or lubing, the alcohol will soften the varnish. I think rods were spiral decorated for looks. Hacker Martin and some of the early 20th century gunsmiths had them in their rifles. Not too many surviving original ramrods from French and Indian and Rev war but how many of them were striped?

ColonialRifleSmith · Mar 17, 2024

longcruise said:
Never had any desire to stripe a rod but now I'm thinking of doing it. Looks like fun!

What's the little animal in the blue bowl!!

The critter is one of my Bantam Hens. Last fall when she molted, her feathers didn't grow back. I couldn't leave her outdoors in the winter without feathers. So, I keep her in my heated workshop 'til it warms up this spring. She has since molted again, and her feathers grew in. Semper Fi

2Moons · Mar 17, 2024

LonestarShootR said:
As a newbie what it the purpose of striping a ram rod? Does is make ramming betterer?

Just for appearances. Nothing to do with function.

tenngun · Mar 17, 2024

LonestarShootR said:
As a newbie what it the purpose of striping a ram rod? Does is make ramming betterer?

Yes, traditionally seen in the south. It has been credited with the victory at New Orleans, and played a decisive roll at San Jauncinto
Later during the Mexican war Scott was stymied at Vera cruz until a shipment arrived
Unfortunately if you ran any sort of conical it slows the loading and causes the shot to go low and to the right. Adjusting the sites to try and compensate will only cause it to get worse.
This was the cause of the south loss in the late unpleasantness with the north

longcruise · Mar 17, 2024

LonestarShootR said:
As a newbie what it the purpose of striping a ram rod? Does is make ramming betterer?

I had a rational fact based response at the ready. But @tenngun has a better one.

PathfinderNC · Mar 18, 2024

So, Magic Markers are out?

m4fun · Mar 18, 2024

I knew the lack of striped rods led to the end of the war of northern aggression.

Honestly thanks for this - this hobby is sucking all free time away.

ColonialRifleSmith · Mar 19, 2024

Since I retired, I use this hobby as an excuse to veer away from my 'Honey-Do-List'. Some 'ME' time. Semper Fi

longcruise · Mar 19, 2024

@ColonialRifleSmith I understand

Retirement had me reviewing my military "escape and evasion" training.

jimairwin · Mar 19, 2024

Eric Krewson said:
I would wear nitrile gloves with acetone, it absorbs through your skin and is really toxic stuff.

Nice looking stripping job, much better than most.

Look it up...acetone is not toxic. Can dry your skin. Nothing more.

windini · Mar 19, 2024

PathfinderNC said:
So, Magic Markers are out?

Not if they are made of India ink & oakum packed in cypress tubes. If you are cautious by nature, refer to them as Wonder Markers; "Magic" can lead to a dunking and perhaps worse!

Great video @ColonialRifleSmith! Very quick & effective method.

bigted · Mar 20, 2024

I also enjoyed your video. Thing that appeals to me is the UNprecise lines making your burnthrough on the tape a very natural appearance. Thanks for the tutorial.

jimairwin · Mar 20, 2024

I've looked a few times, but never found the video of any stripper...oh, that's striper, not striped bass. Anyways, how can I take a gander at this video, please?
I've done mine free-hand and was quite satisfied with my results. Howsomever, I don't think I've seen any old originals with such stripes, so....

How I Stripe my Ram Rods. A how-to video.

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