Clearing the touch hole

[ozarkjim]

I don’t know if this subject has been presented before or not, but I have accidentally found a good way to clean the TH, so here it goes being 79 years old, flossing is highly recommended but I don’t like it, my better half found an item at Walmart. It is called a food and plaque remover and can be found in the toothpaste section next to the floss. Well, I have been a flintlock shooter since the bicentennial and at one time or another I have a flash in the pan! We have to get out the pick to take care of it. The remover is a little plastic piece similar to a toothpick but is flexible with tiny burrs on a stem and a small tab to hold on to. The advantage here is it is flexible and can bend in the flash channel even on a patent breech! Give it a try next time at the range! It worked very well for me! “Ozarkjim”

 

[ord sgt]

That is one way to clear the touch hole. I keep a thin brass rod in my shooting bag. Don't need it too often but it's there when I need it. Others use the quill of a feather. Many different options to keep that little port open.

 

[Grimord]

I use a small brush (bottle type) that is made to clear paint nozzles on a spray gun. Very flexible, and the bristles help to pull the gunk out.

 

[charlesk]

i use a set of Tip cleaners, used for oxy acetylene torch tips, and or tig rod,

 

[ML48]

I don’t know if this subject has been presented before or not, but I have accidentally found a good way to clean the TH, so here it goes being 79 years old, flossing is highly recommended but I don’t like it, my better half found an item at Walmart. It is called a food and plaque remover and can be found in the toothpaste section next to the floss. Well, I have been a flintlock shooter since the bicentennial and at one time or another I have a flash in the pan! We have to get out the pick to take care of it. The remover is a little plastic piece similar to a toothpick but is flexible with tiny burrs on a stem and a small tab to hold on to. The advantage here is it is flexible and can bend in the flash channel even on a patent breech! Give it a try next time at the range! It worked very well for me! “Ozarkjim”

Those things are cheap and easy to carry. Never even entered my mind to use those. Good idea!

 

[Sidney Smith]

Mine is a piece of very thin piano wire with a small brass tip to hold onto. It's long enough to reach the other side of any bore.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

I don’t know if this subject has been presented before or not, but I have accidentally found a good way to clean the TH, so here it goes being 79 years old, flossing is highly recommended but I don’t like it, my better half found an item at Walmart. It is called a food and plaque remover and can be found in the toothpaste section next to the floss. Well, I have been a flintlock shooter since the bicentennial and at one time or another I have a flash in the pan! We have to get out the pick to take care of it. The remover is a little plastic piece similar to a toothpick but is flexible with tiny burrs on a stem and a small tab to hold on to. The advantage here is it is flexible and can bend in the flash channel even on a patent breech! Give it a try next time at the range! It worked very well for me! “Ozarkjim”

If it works for you, go for it. I usually don't have to pick, but do not have a patent breech. If I do pick, I just use a piano wire with a dime size circumference bend grip on one end. If you like different ideas: This was listed at .99 cents.
Larry

 

[EC121]

I've used those little tooth cleaners for years. I use them to plug the vent when loading and for cleaning. If a vent is on the large side they will let the air out but stop the powder

 

[ML48]

This just proves...there are more ways than one to skin a cat....great ideas.

 

[Gvilleddie]

Pipe cleaners work well....

 

[B P Maniac Shooter]

Paper clip bent out works great for me.

 

[M. De Land]

Paper clip bent out works great for me.

I use soft black wire fit closely to flash hole diameter and a rounded end. No hard steel or sharp points are needed to get the job done. Hard picks tend to ream out the flash hole and spear the off side barrel.

 

[deerstalkert]

the little wire in the tip of my antler measure is .030 welding wire. works when i need it, which i haven't .
like the idea of those tooth picks though! have a habit of chewing on a piece of straw. always end up with a piece between two teeth. carrying those would fix both needs!

 

[hanshi]

Very rarely need to pick the vent, but mostly use a feather, homemade copper wire thingy, paperclip or a simple wire I keep in the vent pick inlays.

 

[M. De Land]

One of the main reasons flash holes get plugged is fouling build up on the breech plug face. When that happens the only sure remedy is to use a scraper to clean the crud off it to where it will clear the flash hole again. When the fouling builds up on the breech face a pick only makes a little furrow in it which will plug up again very quickly.

 

[BJHabermehl]

One of the main reasons flash holes get plugged is fouling build up on the breech plug face. When that happens the only sure remedy is to use a scraper to clean the crud off it to where it will clear the flash hole again. When the fouling builds up on the breech face a pick only makes a little furrow in it which will plug up again very quickly.
[/QUOTE agreed

One of the main reasons flash holes get plugged is fouling build up on the breech plug face. When that happens the only sure remedy is to use a scraper to clean the crud off it to where it will clear the flash hole again. When the fouling builds up on the breech face a pick only makes a little furrow in it which will plug up again very quickly.

Agreed!!! I will use a pick to get the gun to fire then. Scrape and clean. BJH

 

[tom_in_vt]

Welding tip cleaner!