Homemade patch cutter

[1in48]

Heres one I've used for years And it works! Buy a cheap round hole saw, the kind that has several sized blades on it that goes in an electric drill. Use the 1-3/8 size for 54cal and the next one down for 45 and 50cal. Put the size you want in a drill press and run at a lower speed, Take a Dremal tool and grind off the teeth and continue to sharpen the edge. You end up with a cookie cutter design. Now, Use JUST the blade, not the 1/4 in drivescrew. I fold up 16 layers of pillow ticking or any other material place it on a piece of hardwood and using a hammer strike it a few times and you will make more patches than you will ever use. Watch your fingers holding your cutter because there isn't a lot of room. This is the first time I ever shared this because I though folks might think I'm nuts, But it works great!

 

[BrownBear]

Here's a finger saver for you. A friend did the same as you, but then screwed the cutter into a flat piece of oak 2x4 for a "handle" about a foot long (screw with washer on the inside of the cutter). He smacks the oak with a rubber mallet for the same results.

Good suggestion all around. It works.

 

[LRB]

It is even easier if you put it in a drill press. Put the folded material on a piece of plywood, another piece of plywood over it with a hole in it just large enough for the hole saw blade to pass through. The top piece of plywood keeps the material from moving as it is cut. You can cut out hundreds of patches in a half hour with no strain, hammering, or noise to speak of.

 

[1in48]

WOW! I thought I had a good idea but you guys have made it a great one!