Copper Wire for Vent Pick?

[Smokey Plainsman]

I’ve read many say to never, ever use a steel vent pick as it will ream out the touch hole of the rifle and do things like ruin accuracy due to decreased bore pressure etc.

Would a copper wire work? Also, would a copper wire carrier for such a purpose be historically correct? Did copper wire exist in them days? Thanks!

S.P.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I’ve read many say to never, ever use a steel vent pick as it will ream out the touch hole of the rifle and do things like ruin accuracy due to decreased bore pressure etc.

Would a copper wire work? Also, would a copper wire carrier for such a purpose be historically correct? Did copper wire exist in them days? Thanks!

S.P.

I've never heard that before....Man, you gotta tell me where your reading all this stuff, Sounds like a cure for insomnia....

It's usually not very long before a copper wire is bent and becomes useless.... At least that's been my experience. If you have a stainless removable liner, what's the issue? You're not going to ream it with mild steel, and if it does, replace it.

 

[Crewdawg445]

Interesting... you would have to be jamming and ramming to wear the vent out, even with a steel pick. Keep in mind your not doing the ramming and jamming even when you do clear the touch hole. That said... why then copper?

Copper wire existed.

As a vent pick, likely not, at least I've never came across any historical documentation of such.

Something that works better is the small quill end of a feather.

Many natural materials are available that will serve the purpose, one less item to hang on a bag that gets in the way. You know though Clyde, the more stuff people can hang on their bags the better! :grin: :shake:

 

[coloradoclyde]

I Use a forged steel pick...Make a good small awl/needle too in a pinch.

 

[Elnathan]

Some of those forged, square-sided picks will supposedly ream out your touch hole if you are aggressive with them- they may be soft, but so is the touch hole liner. I haven't experienced this myself, though.

I used a bit of copper wire as a pick and it works better than anything else I've tried, including one of those square forged reamers and one like a very long needle. I got the idea after reading something over on the Frontier Folks forum, but I don't recall the reference so I can't be certain that it is PC. Mine is from a piece of electric wire and just smaller than the touch hole (i.e., about 1/16"). No problems with bending and as cheap as free.

You might want to hold off one getting all your accouterments until you actually get the gun, BTW. You are going to discover that what works great for one person might not work for you, and I'd hate for you to spend a whole bunch of money on a kit that turned out not to work well for your situation.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I have used copper and it is fine.

What I use now is clothes hanger wire heated red and allowed to cool without quenching. Makes it soft. And while red you can twist and shape the end to pretty it up.

 

[Black Hand]

I’ve read many say to never, ever use a steel vent pick as it will ream out the touch hole of the rifle and do things like ruin accuracy due to decreased bore pressure etc.

Steel will work too - I use a small-diameter steel wire pick. The problem can happen when people use one of those fancy, 4-sided hardened vent-picks that some vendors sell...

 

[azmntman]

Next time I see a road kill porkypine I will grab me a pick, thats gotta be P/C :idunno:

 

[coloradoclyde]

Well sure....4 sided square tapered and hardened....That is a reamer.... :haha:

 

[Crewdawg445]

Next time I see a road kill porkypine I will grab me a pick, thats gotta be P/C :idunno:

Bingo, I usually have a spare quill from quilling that has served as a pick and to seal off the powder charge in weat weather.

 

[Cowboy]

You can use about anything that’s sturdy enough not to bend my friend. Let yer imagination be the guide. I’ve seen others use about anything with a sharp point. Just wanna be sure to use something as to where the point doesn’t break off in the touch hole itself.

Remember, the purpose is only to create a pathway into the main charge via the touch hole. It doesn’t require a lot of force to do so. I personally wouldn’t worry about expanding your touch hole using steal or iron. Ya only need to create a pathway into the powder. Gorilla force is not necessary or required.

I do admire your enthusiasm and attention to the various aspects of it all though! You’re a motivated dude.

Anyway, you’ll settle on what’s best for you my friend. Wish you the best of luck!

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[rafterob]

.Man, you gotta tell me where your reading all this stuff,

You see it right here on a fairly regular occurance.

 

[Zonie]

Copper wire should work fine for a vent pick and there is no way it will enlarge a vent hole, even in a iron barrel.

A #16 guage wire is .0508 in diameter and should fit just about any touch hole you can find.

As for copper to be soft and bendable, it is, as it comes from the factory.
Copper can be hardened by bending it so, if one wants the pick to be hard, they need to bend the wire back and forth several times.

This could be done with some pliers. 2 sets would be useful with one set holding the wire while the other one grasps the wire 1/4-1/2" away and bends it back and forth.
It would probably take a bit of tapping with a small hammer to straighten the wire out after the bending was done but the wire would become quite stiff in the process.

If your vent hole is larger than 1/16" a larger diameter wire could be used.
Here are a few sizes:
#14 = .0641
#13 = .0720
#12 = .0808

 

[bronsht]

Vent pick:
Not HC but I purchased a set of welding cleaning needles (picks) at a tool rental. The set comes in a rectangular metal box and has a number of wires, in various sizes from very fine to fine to medium diameter. It is easy to disconnect them all from the box and then make a ring out of some tie wire. You could gussy up the tie wire if necessary with imagination. I always carry that with me just in case.

bronsht

 

[nhmoose]

A squared tapered pick will not make the hole bigger unless you really try to. Gee pick the hole and get rid of the fouling not metal.

Using one for many years and as a former smith don't try reaming with the pick WTH.

 

[Rifleman1776]

ream out the touch hole

Just the idea of reaming a touchhole gives me the willies. :shocked2:
Seldom needed, but when I have to clear my touchhole I'll use an iron pick, sharpened 'coon bone, toothpick, feather, copper wire, whatever. But I pick or poke to clear the hole. Never, never ever, ream. :shake:

 

[azmntman]

You can use about anything that’s sturdy enough not to bend my friend. Let yer imagination be the guide. I’ve seen others use about anything with a sharp point. Just wanna be sure to use something as to where the point doesn’t break off in the touch hole itself.

Remember, the purpose is only to create a pathway into the main charge via the touch hole. It doesn’t require a lot of force to do so. I personally wouldn’t worry about expanding your touch hole using steal or iron. Ya only need to create a pathway into the powder. Gorilla force is not necessary or required.

I do admire your enthusiasm and attention to the various aspects of it all though! You’re a motivated dude.

Anyway, you’ll settle on what’s best for you my friend. Wish you the best of luck!

Respectfully, Cowboy

Dont try pine needles :redface: