Bought some pillow ticking...

[mykeal]

Went to Wal-Mart yesterday and purchased 1 yard of 100% cotton pillow ticking material to use as patch material. Haven't miked it yet, but I expect it to be .018. I plan to cut it into strips to use as cut-in-place patches for my .54 GPR's.

Question: how wide should the strips be?

Question: lube material - does anyone lube these strips with anything but spit?

 

[rafterob]

I find about 1 1/2" is good for a .54. I tried cutting mine as narrow as I could to "optimize" yield but found there was not enough on the sides to be able to cut it easily. I use crisco but find it a little greasy and it spreads everywhere.I am going to try blending with beeswax next time. I melt the lube, dip in the strips and lay them on a length of wax paper and use a spatula to squeeze out the extra. Hang em up to set and then roll em up and store em in a zip lock bag.

 

[HFD60]

I cut my .54's to 1 3/8". They fit good.

 

[MikeC]

Just my opinion but if cutting at the muzzle it's best to just use spit. I can't think of anything that would work as good and not be messy or a hassel to use.

I just cut my patches square and lube with whatever suits the situation. Hunting I use mink oil from TOTW. Extended range use or where wiping after each shot isn't praticable I use Hoppes. I'll use bore butter for regular range use.

 

[silverfox]

I use Stumpy's lube and store in 35mm cans. I rip the ticking at about 5 color stripes roll it up and put it in the can and then put a little Moose Juice on it. You can use it as it comes from the can or you can let it dry a little first. I can shoot a relay without swabbing in my guns.
Fox :thumbsup:

 

[jtmattison]

About 1 1/2 inches wide is good.
I like to "dry lube" my strips with Stumpy's Moose Milk.
I soak the strip and lay out flat to dry. Soak again and dry again. Roll it up and go shooting.
This method leaves a lightly oiled patch.

HD

 

[deanscamaro]

I'll tell you my experience. I bought the same ticking, brought it home and washed it. I was using it and said the same thing about it being .018 to a 30 year flinter who has been real good at helping me get started. He said that he uses a micrometer (not a caliper, as he is a machinist) and takes it with him to Wal Mart to find the ticking he wants. He said it usually measures .020-022 with his mic. I went home and tried it with some calipers (not as accurate, he says) and guess what? He was right. Even with my calipers, it measured .022. Just some added knowledge.
:hmm: :hmm:

 

[Bill Bryan]

I get my patch material from "Wally World" also. I've worked my way through several yards over the years. Spit works well but in the last couple of years I've started using Balistol mixed with 7 parts water. I keep it in an alcohol dispensing bottle that I got from my local vet. I can moisten each patch as I load at the range.

 

[mykeal]

Thanks. Lots of options that sound good.

 

[smo]

I rip it 5 stripes wide, cut it at about 1&1/4" long ,then chew on it & load her up. This is for a 50 cal,54 you might want to go a bit longer.Good Luck & Good Shootin'

 

[nchawkeye]

I lube with Stumpy's Lube, I did use SnoSeal for about 25 years, just figured it was time to change...

After you cut or tear your strips, lay the ticking on 4-5 sheets of newspaper, take a putty knife and smear the lube on, both sides...Then roll up, put on a paper towel or paper plate and pop in the microwave for 20 seconds or so...This helps distribute the lube evenly and the excess will melt off...I then roll up and put in the patch box or loading bag to cut at the muzzle, or load and cut at the loading block...

 

[user 2647]

Be sure and run it thru the washer to rinse the sizing ot of the material before you use it.

 

[smo]

For sure, if you are going to use as spit patches it tastes real bad :barf:

 

[deanscamaro]

I talked about Wally's World ticking, but forgot to add the recipe (1 gallon) I use for lube.

8 oz - Water Soluble Oil
11-12 oz - liquid dish washer soap
3 oz - Hoppes #9
Fill gallon with water

That is also from my 30 year flinter. I haven't worried about width of my ticking patch width too much. About 1-1 1/4" wide (I just rip it off the sheet, as long as it is wider than what it takes to stick up on all sides of my 50 caliber ball) and I make a few rolls. Then I spray the end of the ticking roll from a little spray bottle as I prepare a shot, mash it in and trim the ticking at the barrel. In my short life of experience, it has worked well.
:v :v

 

[mykeal]

More great ideas. Thanks, again, folks. Very helpful.

And yeah, I did wash/dry the ticking first thing.

 

[50cal.cliff]

Mykeal, I use the same ticking and use Hoppes Black Powder Lube and Solvent. It can be a little messy for muzzle cutting but worked very well as far as fouling and such! Works well on precuts especially if you squeeze out the excess and put up in a old pill bottle!

 

[No Deer]

Wash the pillow ticking first before you do anything with it, especially if you are going to spit patch :barf: After that for my 20 ga. smoothbore I cut it into 8 stripe wide strips. For lube I spit patch, I carry it on the range with the end in my mouth all the time getting it wet, suck the excess spit out, layb it across the bore, short start the ball, and cut.