Cleaning Patches Only!

[Cowboy]

Have been cutting my own cleaning patches lately using old T-shirts, underwear, and anything else that I can find 100% cotton. I want to make the most absorbent patches to soak up any extra oils and foreign matter that might be left behind in the bore. Have cut a few thousand so far. All 100% cotton patches. I also have some material that has a cotton blend with polyester in it too. Not sure about using the material with the polyester in it? My extra material is part cotton and part polyester. Do not want to waste my time cutting cleaning patches out of this stuff if it isnt absorbent like 100% cotton. Any one ever use a blend of cotton/polyester in it? Respectfully, cowboys1062.

 

[Jim C]

A polyester blend will no doubt drastically reduce the absorbency of any material and I would think it might possibly be fine for wiping the bore between shots, but wouldn't do a good enough job as a cleaning patch. The only material I use for cleaning patches is strictly 100% cotton flannel because of the fact that it is the most absorbent material there is for that particular purpose.
I will use tee shirt/underwear material for wiping between shots, but have found it to be too stretchy and thin for my liking as a cleaning patch. I save old cotton flannel shirts and pajamas etc strictly for cleaning patches and sometimes pick those items up at thrift stores for next to nothing when I run low which is still quite a bit cheaper than buying the stuff by the yrd new at a fabric shop. When ya gotta be frugal, ya gotta be frugal :wink:

 

[Crewdawg445]

Indeed as already mentioned, 100% cotton. I never seem to run out of a supply. :hatsoff:

 

[Eric Krewson]

Being a skinflint, I wait until there is a discount coupon in the paper for Jo Ann's Fabric and stock up on cotton flannel or ticking. You can get it for a couple bucks a yard or less. A yard makes a bunch of cleaning patches.

As a packrat, I thought I bought 3 or so yards of cotton flannel a while back but couldn't find any in the house, so I bought some more, then found my first bag.

I suspect I have a lifetime supply of cleaning patch material stored on a shelf next to my wheelie thing fabric cutter so I can't loose the material in the future.

 

[Crewdawg445]

Yes sir! I do the same for hobby lobby.

 

[necchi]

Any one ever use a blend of cotton/polyester in it?

Nope, I need rags for garage wrenching too.

 

[pinemarten]

...not attempting to hijack this thread, but since it is about the type of material used in cleaning this should probably be a reasonable question here:

I am getting ready to place a supply order for my new flintlock and have only taken it out shooting twice. Has brand new Getz .50 barrel. I first cleaned by removing barrel and swabbing the barrel in the bucket of water, second cleaning I left barrel attached and put the toothpick in and used 3 changes of warm water to soak for 20 minutes, then 5 minutes each for two more times draining out (with two patch swabs) between each soaking. My issue is this: It took me about 20 patches after booth methods and there still was some grayish streaking on the patches before I finally gave in and ran a Barricade patch to finish. I am wondering if the thin cotton (Outers brand from Gander mt) cleaning patches are not getting into the grooves well enough? Is it normal to have a bit of cray streak on the patches? 20 plus patches seems like a lot! (And I was trying to impress my hunting buddy in how the flintlocks weren't all that big a deal to clean as he sat with a whiskey by the fireplace watching me work away for over an hour on it!). Maybe the flannel you all speak of is thicker or more texture to pull out the gunk?

Daniel

 

[necchi]

No steaks are not considered "clean". White patches need to come out white. You'll get better at cleaning as you gain experience and develop a technique. There is no one best way to clean as long as general guide lines are followed.
Yeah, the typical patches for cleaning CF guns are kinda thin.
When you get a yard of flannel and cut it into cleaning patches,, the result is a bunch of patches for cheap.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Baby blanket flannel from Wal-Mart is what I have been using for decades. Read the labels, not all is pure cotton anymore. And, not all is U.S. made anymore either. Look for short pieces and on-sale items. Ignore the looks of lady customers when you buy pink flowered baby blanket flannel. :grin: I do wash (sometimes) before cutting up into patches.

 

[Tom Compton]

I think your analysis is correct, Daniel. Rifling in CF barrels is not near as deep as on my ML barrels. I go to fabric store or department and get flannel that is fuzzy on both sides (probably 3x thicker than sold at local gun shops for CF) and cut to size. 2" square isn't too big for my .40 or too small for the .54. I save the cleaning patches and wash/dry in a mesh bag sold for washing small or delicate items.
TC

 

[pinemarten]

good to know! I will try to find flannel and cut my own...makes since that I would be able to get the gun dry and clean with many fewer patches...those white cotton ones are so thin that you can see the jag coming right through as they stretch.

Daniel

 

[SgtErv]

Used the regular store bought Shotgun cleaning patches for a while, leading me to think "Oh cleaning a muzzleloader isn't so bad. The patches are already white." Not so much. I was sort of appalled when I pulled a cotton patch cut from a tshirt out of my flint and saw what the normal ones had left. Appalled and shamed. Mostly shamed. The infantry gremlin on my shoulder lets me know)

Those deep rifling grooves hide a lot that can't be cleaned without a very tight, very absorbent patch. Been using an old 100% cotton t-shirt and the cleaning game has improved - I think.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Any one ever use a blend of cotton/polyester in it?

Yep!....Imagine trying to wipe your backside with Saran wrap..... :grin:

Cotton T shirts are my favorite.

 

[Grumpa]

Imagine trying to wipe your backside with Saran wrap..... :grin:

CC, you do have a way with words. :haha: :haha:

 

[Crewdawg445]

Any one ever use a blend of cotton/polyester in it?

Yep!....Imagine trying to wipe your backside with Saran wrap..... :grin:

Haha! Woke the wife up from laughing! :rotf:

 

[jbwilliams3]

I have a lifetime supply of old white cotton tshirts. I usually fold them in two to improve efficiency. I’d go to the goodwill and look for some thicker, more absorbent cotton flannel”¦ but then what would I do with my lifetime supply of t-shirts??? A man can only make so much char cloth.

 

[Jim C]

In my experience with it, even when doubled, tee shirt material still stretches too much for my liking as a cleaning patch. Although I do like them not doubled for wiping between shots because they don't fit so tightly in the bore which leads to forcing fouling in front of it and down into the chamber/flash channel area which after a number of shots will invariably lead to misfires. But, if it works for others, by all means, go for it.

 

[jbwilliams3]

In my experience with it, even when doubled, tee shirt material still stretches too much for my liking as a cleaning patch. Although I do like them not doubled for wiping between shots because they don't fit so tightly in the bore which leads to forcing fouling in front of it and down into the chamber/flash channel area which after a number of shots will invariably lead to misfires. But, if it works for others, by all means, go for it.

I agree. My point was simply that I'm too cheap to look for an alternative to my supply of free cotton t-shirts. However, I went hunting in my closet last night and found pairs of old cotton flannel underwear. There was enough material to make several hundred cleaning patches. Here's to fewer patches to get the job done!

Actually, I had forgot to mention that that my favorite cleaning method is tow wrapped around a tow worm. I just don't do it often because my town supply is limited.

 

[Jim C]

"I agree. My point was simply that I'm too cheap to look for an alternative to my supply of free cotton t-shirts".

I agree with that also. Join the crowd. I also know what it's like to have to be frugal as possible. I go to thrift stores and buy cotton flannel garments for next to nothing to use for cleaning patches, but I can't do that for shooting patches and remain consistent so wallyworld undoubtedly gets the nod for that one.