Pillow ticking stiffness??

[Grenadier1758]

I find the washed patching material (I use the #40 Cotton Drill cloth from JoAnn's) easier to cut at the muzzle not to mention softer to take on a bit more patch lubricant and the weave is tightened. Washing works for Cotton Drill, Pillow Ticking, Mattress Ticking, Denim, Canvas and Linen. My most recent batch of linen came from India and the weave isn't as tight as the drill cloth. Worked fine for the breeches I was making. The scraps shot okay.

 

[waksupi]

Being cheap, I have made shirts from pillow ticking. When they wear out, then they get used for patching

 

[springfield art]

Ordered some pillow ticking this morning since its unlikely that the Patches I bought off ebay early last week will make it here tomorow before my first patch n ball shoot saturday.

Ordered this

https://www.joann.com/utility-fabric-pillow-ticking-blue/16840183.html
Went pick it up after work. And it is extremely stiff. Im thinking it may be too thick. Does it normally come stiff like that? Do you have to wash and dry it before use to make it softer? Says its 100% cotton..

It only cost me 8 bucks for 1 yard so I wont be upset if it is indeed the wrong stuff.

Shooting Hornady .490 roundball

Appreciate the help!

You need to wash it prior to using for patching. This is a tip long put forward. As a joking aside, I don't think the "my pillow" guy would like stiff ticking!

 

[ZUG]

Like most of the other people here I wash mine first and use some laundry soap. I place about a yard of material into a mesh laundry bag so that the material ends don't get tangled up or you can use pinking shears to help prevent that but I would bag it also. I dry it in the dryer in the mesh bag then remove it as soon as it is mostly dried and spread it out on a flat surface to finish drying.

 

[toot]

I do what smo does , then I steam iron the fabric and cut the edges with pinking shears to keep the fabric from shreading.

sorta like making the DAISY CUTTER PATCHES?

 

[Jim K]

I find the washed patching material (I use the #40 Cotton Drill cloth from JoAnn's) easier to cut at the muzzle not to mention softer to take on a bit more patch lubricant and the weave is tightened. Washing works for Cotton Drill, Pillow Ticking, Mattress Ticking, Denim, Canvas and Linen. My most recent batch of linen came from India and the weave isn't as tight as the drill cloth. Worked fine for the breeches I was making. The scraps shot okay.

What does the drill cloth from Joanne’s mic?

 

[Buckskinquin]

Also, I can’t find any .020. My Joanne’s had thin stuff. I take a mic in with me. Hobby Lobby had .017 so I bought it but I prefer .020. Haven’t tried Walmart yet. But I will.

Try the Walmart “Duck” cloth. It’s beige and .020–.022 thick

 

[slaptrigger]

As others have stated, I get the blue pillow ticking and wash and dry it 2x before use. And I keep it in a mesh bag while in the wash and dryer both. Comes out very soft and pliable. Just make sure u have good sharp shears!! Your hands and patience will appreciate it!!

Slap

 

[Raz]

Washing the material will make it softer and it will take out the sizing that makes it harder to soak up liquid or lube.
As a side note, some cleaning patches that are sold commercially have sizing making them less absorbent. You can check them by putting a drop of water on them and see if it is quicky absorbed or sits on top of the patch.

 

[Grenadier1758]

What does the drill cloth from Joanne’s mic?

The Drill cloth measures 0.017" to 0.018" depending on the micrometer I use. It can get a little thicker after washing and drying.

 

[Urban Coyote]

I've found two different thicknesses of red stripe sitting side by side on the shelf so color never seems to make a difference.

As I said, "What you find may be different..."

The green stripe ticking I had stashed in a storage box measures .011 to .012.

 

[Jim K]

The Drill cloth measures 0.017" to 0.018" depending on the micrometer I use. It can get a little thicker after washing and drying.

Thank you!

 

[Jim K]

Try the Walmart “Duck” cloth. It’s beige and .020–.022 thick

Thank you. I will.

 

[rkg1]

Recently bought some linen that measured .010 at the store but after washing several times it now measures .013. That's what I was hoping it would do.