Home made patches

[Fishhog]

After reading the previous post I was wondering how many guys hand cut their own patches and to what sizes?I personally use a drain stop/rubber plug and stamp with an ink pad then scissor cut..Always wanted to buy one of the Foernster rotating patch cutters but in an hour or so I can cut an outing or two's worth of patches..Has anyone bought the patch cutter from the guy who sells them on ebay? If so do you spin them to cut or hit them ...always wondered...Ray

 

[rabjr]

I just cut out square patches for the appropriate cal. and leave them square. Quick and easy and they work just as good as any round patch.

 

[Swampman]

"I just cut out square patches for the appropriate cal. and leave them square."

Me too, I've been doing that for years.

 

[MikeChapin]

I can never cut a straight line worth a darn. I use hole saws with the teeth ground off and an edge put on. I chuck it up in the drill press and can cut a season's worth in a few minutes. I use a 1 3/4" for .50 to .58 and a 7/8" for .32 and .36.

I have found round or square or cut at the muzzle patches all shoot the same. Use whatever method is easiest for you.

 

[roundball]

"...wondering how many guys hand cut their own patches..."

A really simple alternative is if anyone in your house has/uses a "fabric cutting board device & rotary wheel cutter" (like a pizza cutter) you can knock out 1000 square patches any size you decide in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee.

I currently use 3 sizes:
1+1/8" for .40/.45cal
1+3/8" for .50/.54/.58cals
1+5/8" for .62cal

When the 1+3/8" size prelubed stockpile is used up I'll just be using 1+5/8" for .50/.54/.58/.62cals from then on.

 

[2172]

I just cut long strips of pillow ticking, following the stripes in the fabric...lube 'em and cut at the muzzle..Hank

 

[mazo kid]

I just cut long strips of pillow ticking, following the stripes in the fabric...lube 'em and cut at the muzzle..Hank

Exactly!! Quick and easy.

 

[longcruise]

For a centered ball every time and the least amount of work, cut at the muzzle with a very sharp knife.

For precut patches, square will work as good as round all day long. Cut strips to the width you want then start folding the strip over and over to the same size as the width. When it's all folded over, stick a pair of scissors through the center and cut at the folds on both side. Two cuts and you have an handful of patches. You can do the same thing to cut your wiping and cleaning patches.

I don't know why anybody would go to the trouble to make round patches no matter how efficient it is when cutting at the muzzle does it perfect every time! :shocked2:

 

[deanscamaro]

I have to go along with Hank. As a newbie, I went to an Arizona State Shoot last weekend, where I learned a lot. The one thing I saw was a number of the really longtime shooters just using pillow ticking strips, putting the ball on the strip at the muzzle, bunching the ticking up with their fingers and then cutting it off the strip.

 

[Black Hand]

Rip the cloth to the appropriate width and cut into squares with scissors. Impregnate with lube in the toaster oven. Done!

 

[Swampman]

"For a centered ball every time and the least amount of work, cut at the muzzle with a very sharp knife."

It's much slower, and you have to take your eyes off the target. It also buggers up your muzzle.

I don't believe it was done historically.

Those are my reason for not cutting at the muzzle.

 

[soggy]

" It also buggers up your muzzle.

What are you cutting your patches with;.......................a hatchet??????

 

[Swede50]

I pay the wife the cost of factory patches about 1cent each. She cuts them out round with a pair of scissors. It gives her something to do more that watching soap operas and a little more spending money.

 

[MikeC]

I cut square and like Roundball will be standardizing on one size in the future when current stock is depleted.

 

[Ohio Rusty]

I found the right size I needed and made a cardboard round that matched the patch size. During the winter I drew little circles around the cardboard pattern on my patch material. Then it was just a simple matter to cut them out. The left over material will be charred in the char can. Great winter project sitting in front of the TV and too cold to go out.
Ohio Rusty

 

[roundball]

"...During the winter I drew little circles around the cardboard pattern on my patch material..."

You're not mentioning this to a whole lot of people in general are you? :grin:

(Only another ML would understand)

 

[Halftail]

" It also buggers up your muzzle.

What are you cutting your patches with;.......................a hatchet??????

No Sogg,
I would say he was using a Spade Bit or a cutting torch. :shake:
How many thousands of patches would you say you've cut at the muzzle in that ol' trusty longgun of your?Still seems to shoot pretty straight to me. :hmm:

 

[Fishhog]

Might have to cut me up some square patches and give them a ride..Strange.I'm from western Pa. and do a few shoots at different clubs and I can say I have only seen one guy using square patches!! I used to cut mine at the muzzle but gave that up so not to screw up the top of my barrel.I did have to pull a muzzle cut patch once and was suprized at how non-round they were,and shot just as good as anything else..Ray

 

[Mulebrain]

" It also buggers up your muzzle.

What are you cutting your patches with;.......................a hatchet??????

:haha:

I was thinking sledge hammer :grin:

I use precut patches, and also trim at the muzzle with a sharp knife.

Test's have proven square or round, it doesn't really matter!

 

[Little Wattsy]

I pay the wife the cost of factory patches about 1cent each. She cuts them out round with a pair of scissors. It gives her something to do more that watching soap operas and a little more spending money.

Obviously you are still in the process of training your wife so keep at it. With a little more effort on your part and she will be cutting patches just for the privledge of sleeping in the bed VS on the floor with the dogs. :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:


Sorry :wink: