JoAnns #40 cotton drill

[springfield art]

I was always taught never to put anything other than 100% natural material down the barrel. When you think about synthetic, I picture images of burning plastic in a barrel . Any percentage of synthetic material just doesn’t seem right at all? I would think that over time it would build up and create one enormous headache!

Yes! Synthetic is a major no-no. Just as you indicated!

 

[springfield art]

Hope the craft store honchos don't catch on that we desire such fabric; they'll double the price!

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Hope the craft store honchos don't catch on that we desire such fabric; they'll double the price!

And don't tell them what we do with it or they will likely discontinue. I buy yards of denim for charcloth and when they ask what I'm making I just say its the wife's project....

 

[MtHoot]

Yes! Synthetic is a major no-no. Just as you indicated!

I thought I read that someone was using a fabric from Jo Anns that had a small % of synthetic in it?

 

[Justin.44]

I bought 2 yards of drill cloth from JoAnn's yesterday and got it washed. Heading to the range after work to try it out.

 

[MtHoot]

I bought 2 yards of drill cloth from JoAnn's yesterday and got it washed. Heading to the range after work to try it out.

Have fun, let us know how it worked out

 

[Grenadier1758]

So what's so great about that material for patches?

I assume you are asking about #40 Pocket Drill Cloth.

For starters, it is made of 100% Cotton.
Secondly, it is woven using three threads making for a very tight weave, even tighter than twill woven fabric. Ticking is twill and the cloth is woven from two threads.
Third, it is consistent in thickness, measuring 0.017 to 0.018" in thickness. Once washed and dried in a hot dryer, the weave tightens up but does not really increase in thickness.
Fourth, it takes lubrication well whether it is for use as a damp patch for use after wiping between shots or as a wet patch on the ball for those that do not wipe between shots.
Finally, it compresses into the grooves with the matching ball for great accuracy whether for target shooting or hunting.

 

[MtHoot]

I assume you are asking about #40 Pocket Drill Cloth.

For starters, it is made of 100% Cotton.
Secondly, it is woven using three threads making for a very tight weave, even tighter than twill woven fabric. Ticking is twill and the cloth is woven from two threads.
Third, it is consistent in thickness, measuring 0.017 to 0.018" in thickness. Once washed and dried in a hot dryer, the weave tightens up but does not really increase in thickness.
Fourth, it takes lubrication well whether it is for use as a damp patch for use after wiping between shots or as a wet patch on the ball for those that do not wipe between shots.
Finally, it compresses into the grooves with the matching ball for great accuracy whether for target shooting or hunting.

Exactly

 

[HighUintas]

I was always taught never to put anything other than 100% natural material down the barrel. When you think about synthetic, I picture images of burning plastic in a barrel . Any percentage of synthetic material just doesn’t seem right at all? I would think that over time it would build up and create one enormous headache!

That I'd what I've heard and make sure my material is 100% cotton

I thought I read that someone was using a fabric from Jo Anns that had a small % of synthetic in it?

Not sure. 10oz denim at Joann's used to be available in 100% cotton. Now the only available is stretch with a % of synthetic. I haven't used that stuff

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Grenadier1758,​

You summarized all the reasons I like the material so well, some of which I didn't even know!

 

[Lippy984]

Great to know…too bad it’s out of stock everywhere near me. Even their website

 

[BS]

Good fabric, been using it a long time.

 

[Justin.44]

Have fun, let us know how it worked out

So it worked great in both the rifles I shot tonight. I'm very happy with it! My GPR was tearing up both kinds of pillow ticking I had from Walmart no matter what I did and this held up great.

 

[SDSmlf]

How do you measure the thickness of your fabric?

What follows about measuring patch material thickness I have posted before.

I have found that if you can find one, a radius anvil micrometer works even better than a standard micrometer for compressed measurements of patch material. As an example, with normal pressure on a regular micrometer, a piece of denim may measure about .022” thick, however, this is NOT the important measurement. What is important, at least in my opinion and experience, is the compressed thickness. In this case, about .0155”. Also very important is how consistent you measure that thickness. I use a micrometer with a radius anvil and apply normal torque pressure as I measure. The radius anvil allows for a small area to be easily compressed. A standard flat anvil micrometer works also, you just have to be a bit more careful with how you apply pressure to compress the fabric to get consistent readings, at least in my opinion. Hope the following photographs help explain.

Below are two more photographs showing measurements of a different lot of denim. Normal measurement is .018” thick. Compressed, .0085” thick. With .012” deep grooves in the bore I would expect it to fail spectacularly as a patch material.

 

[HighUintas]

As @SDSmlf said, it matters how the material is measured.

My method is to use my Hornady dial calipers, mostly because that's what I have available, and I squeeze with thumb and pointer finger about as hard as I can.

I haven't measured the drill cloth, but I measure the 12oz denim (the sew classics brand, I think) to be 0.023ish

 

[ETipp]

I assume you are asking about #40 Pocket Drill Cloth.

For starters, it is made of 100% Cotton.
Secondly, it is woven using three threads making for a very tight weave, even tighter than twill woven fabric. Ticking is twill and the cloth is woven from two threads.
Third, it is consistent in thickness, measuring 0.017 to 0.018" in thickness. Once washed and dried in a hot dryer, the weave tightens up but does not really increase in thickness.
Fourth, it takes lubrication well whether it is for use as a damp patch for use after wiping between shots or as a wet patch on the ball for those that do not wipe between shots.
Finally, it compresses into the grooves with the matching ball for great accuracy whether for target shooting or hunting.

That sums it up nicely. Thank you for that information.

 

[Woodwright]

Ever wonder how Timothy Murphy, Daniel Boone, David Crockett, and so many other flintlock shooters of the 18th and 19th centuries managed to be so accurate without resorting to micrometers?

 

[LongWalker]

So are you saying that it provides noticeable and improved accuracy?

No--too many other variables to say that without knowing specifics. This just eliminates some of the variables, and is available to everyone.

 

[Relic shooter]

Back in my early days tightly woven cotton pillow ticking could be found in several thicknesses in all fabric stores & was the 'best'.
Purchase 3-4 yards, wash a couple times to remove the sizing & you had years of shooting.
Synthetics will melt & leave hard to remove deposits in your bore.
Relic shooter

 

[longcruise]

I don't do much measuring anymore. I've come to be pretty sensitive to what's in hand just by the feel of it. But @SDSmlf gives a good accounting of how to measure.

I got curious about my stock of patch material and pulled out a bag of various stuff. It's not all here! There's another bag somewhere some of this stuff goes back over 40 years. Each piece in the picture is distinctively different in texture or thickness, etc.

Some of these were a total bust and some were pretty ok. Some with the same measurement were not equal in results.

BTW, a very common bit of advice seen on the forum(s) and given to new shooters who inquire about patch material is "Wally world pillow ticking". This is a good example of erroneous advice or conventional wisdom. In the picture below is a collection of Wally pillow ticking. None of it is the same!! Nor is it consistent when compared by same color.

#40 drill is the only one I've found currently available that is consistent bolt to bolt.

In the '80's I was using artist canvas that I purchased from a local artist supply shop. It was sold unsized off huge rolls in four weights by oz. I used one of those exclusively for a long time and it was excellent in every way. I had a huge supply and used it for many years. Of course I ran out and went to replenish it about 15 years ago and found that the quality had obviously changed. Weave was loose in all of it.

That's when I followed another shooters suggestion and started using #40. Hopefully it continues with the same quality!