Pillow Ticking

[CascadeRob]

Okay, forgive me for my ignorance. But I would like to buy my patch material in bulk, and make my own patches, or at least try it, as I've heard its cheaper, and more authentic. I only have/need .018 patch thickness for all my rifles. My question is, is the all the cotton blue/white ticking roughly .018" thick? Or are there different thicknesses of the stuff? If I wander on down to the fabric store in search of pillow ticking what am I looking for?

 

[tenngun]

Ive heard of people taking a mic to the store.
I find tic works, blue tan or red
You just have to try it and see
Wash a few times before use in hot water
By the by
Lay your strips north south during waxing moons, east west during waining moons.
Unless your south of the equator

 

[Harry Marinakis]

Not all the same. Take calipers to the store and measure the thickness.

When you do measure, but sure to clamp down on the fabric with some force to get an accurate measurement of the thickness.

Thoroughly wash your fabric in hot water to remove the stiffening agent from the fabric. Dry on the hot setting.

 

[snakebit]

Yep. What those guys said, not the same. And take calipers with you. They can vary quite a bit. Like Ten and Harry mentioned wash it. I wash mine twice, hot water. Dry on hot setting too. I then use a historically correct fabric cutter, and period correct aluminum yard stick to clean up the frayed edges.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Recently I checked the ticking available at JoAnn's Fabrics. They have what is called mattress ticking from China which feels flimsy and measures about 0.014". Both the blue striped and red striped are the same. The blue striped pillow ticking from India feels to be a tighter weave, but also has lots of sizing that needs to be washed out. They also have a good supply of 100% cotton duck cloth that measures about 0.018" and is tightly woven. Sadly, I could not find any of my favorite, the #40 pocket drill cloth. That was 100% cotton and consistently measured 0.017 to 0.018.

The answer is that ticking can come in a variety of thicknesses. Bring your calipers or micrometer to the store and measure before you buy. The sizing can be misleading on measuring compression. So look through the fabric at a bright light. Lots of bright points of light indicate a loose weave and a tighter weave should be sought.

Make sure the material is 100% cotton. Measure for thickness and tightness of the weave. If it is striped ticking, the striped should be woven in the fabric, not printed. Duck, denim and canvas an be considered for patching.

For the real exotic, 100% linen from flax is a traditional patching material that is stronger than 100% cotton.

 

[CascadeRob]

Not all the same. Take calipers to the store and measure the thickness.

When you do measure, but sure to clamp down on the fabric with some force to get an accurate measurement of the thickness.

Thoroughly wash your fabric in hot water to remove the stiffening agent from the fabric. Dry on the hot setting.

Fantastic thank you!

 

[CascadeRob]

Recently I checked the ticking available at JoAnn's Fabrics. They have what is called mattress ticking from China which feels flimsy and measures about 0.014". Both the blue striped and red striped are the same. The blue striped pillow ticking from India feels to be a tighter weave, but also has lots of sizing that needs to be washed out. They also have a good supply of 100% cotton duck cloth that measures about 0.018" and is tightly woven. Sadly, I could not find any of my favorite, the #40 pocket drill cloth. That was 100% cotton and consistently measured 0.017 to 0.018.

The answer is that ticking can come in a variety of thicknesses. Bring your calipers or micrometer to the store and measure before you buy. The sizing can be misleading on measuring compression. So look through the fabric at a bright light. Lots of bright points of light indicate a loose weave and a tighter weave should be sought.

Make sure the material is 100% cotton. Measure for thickness and tightness of the weave. If it is striped ticking, the striped should be woven in the fabric, not printed. Duck, denim and canvas an be considered for patching.

For the real exotic, 100% linen from flax is a traditional patching material that is stronger than 100% cotton.

I noticed JoAnnes had the same stuff that Amazon was trying to sell. Same brand and everything. I’m curious to see what they have in store

 

[flatcreek]

Take a small piece or a couple home and try it and when you find what works, go back and buy a bunch.

 

[French Colonial]

Recently I checked the ticking available at JoAnn's Fabrics. They have what is called mattress ticking from China which feels flimsy and measures about 0.014". Both the blue striped and red striped are the same. The blue striped pillow ticking from India feels to be a tighter weave, but also has lots of sizing that needs to be washed out. They also have a good supply of 100% cotton duck cloth that measures about 0.018" and is tightly woven. Sadly, I could not find any of my favorite, the #40 pocket drill cloth. That was 100% cotton and consistently measured 0.017 to 0.018.

The answer is that ticking can come in a variety of thicknesses. Bring your calipers or micrometer to the store and measure before you buy. The sizing can be misleading on measuring compression. So look through the fabric at a bright light. Lots of bright points of light indicate a loose weave and a tighter weave should be sought.

Make sure the material is 100% cotton. Measure for thickness and tightness of the weave. If it is striped ticking, the striped should be woven in the fabric, not printed. Duck, denim and canvas an be considered for patching.

For the real exotic, 100% linen from flax is a traditional patching material that is stronger than 100% cotton.

I have tried ordering #40 cotton drill from JoAnn's online and have been to four stores now and cannot find it anywhere, I am set for awhile with already cut patches but was wanting to try out a new 1-1/4" hole punch on some bulk material.

If anyone finds some .018 material at JoAnn's that is cotton and a tight weave, please post the part number and you will get many thanks.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Okay, forgive me for my ignorance. But I would like to buy my patch material in bulk, and make my own patches, or at least try it, as I've heard its cheaper, and more authentic. I only have/need .018 patch thickness for all my rifles. My question is, is the all the cotton blue/white ticking roughly .018" thick? Or are there different thicknesses of the stuff? If I wander on down to the fabric store in search of pillow ticking what am I looking for?

I have found at least 3 maybe 4 thickness in my shooting BP. (About .013 to .023) Don't purchase without taking calipers or a micrometer with ya.
Larry

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Not all the same. Take calipers to the store and measure the thickness.

When you do measure, but sure to clamp down on the fabric with some force to get an accurate measurement of the thickness.

Thoroughly wash your fabric in hot water to remove the stiffening agent from the fabric. Dry on the hot setting.

THEN mic it again. Sometimes those fabrics will "thicken" as the fibers contract after the hot water wash and tumble dry. I've had what I though was the right patching material suddenly be too thick after I washed and dried it.

LD

 

[jarentz]

I have posted this before,
Item#00683532
BRND DRILL 40 Unbleached
This was from Joann's 5/4/24

 

[Grenadier1758]

I have tried ordering #40 cotton drill from JoAnn's online and have been to four stores now and cannot find it anywhere, I am set for awhile with already cut patches but was wanting to try out a new 1-1/4" hole punch on some bulk material.

If anyone finds some .018 material at JoAnn's that is cotton and a tight weave, please post the part number and you will get many thanks.

I don't have the part number, but JoAnn's cotton duck cloth comes close.

Duck Canvas Fabric​

Item# 5609797

December 2024, I have been to several JoAnn's and have not seen any of the #40 Drill.

I think their Chinese mattress ticking is too loosely woven. Get the pillow ticking from India.

 

[French Colonial]

I don't have the part number, but JoAnn's cotton duck cloth comes close.

Duck Canvas Fabric​

Item# 5609797

December 2024, I have been to several JoAnn's and have not seen any of the #40 Drill.

I think their Chinese mattress ticking is too loosely woven. Get the pillow ticking from India.

Thanks!

 

[stubshaft]

I haven't had any luck either in getting any #40 pocket drill. I visited the local Fabric Mart armed with my trusty micrometer and found some 10.5 oz. white canvas that measured .019". Shoots the same in my .40 and .50 plus it appears to be stronger that the pocket drill.

 

[CascadeRob]

I haven't had any luck either in getting any #40 pocket drill. I visited the local Fabric Mart armed with my trusty micrometer and found some 10.5 oz. white canvas that measured .019". Shoots the same in my .40 and .50 plus it appears to be stronger that the pocket drill.

I reckon visiting a few fabric stores wouldn’t a bad idea either lol. It’s a good thing my wife’s grandmother is a quilting machine she may be my new fabric contact

 

[Coinneach]

Okay, forgive me for my ignorance. But I would like to buy my patch material in bulk, and make my own patches, or at least try it, as I've heard its cheaper, and more authentic. I only have/need .018 patch thickness for all my rifles. My question is, is the all the cotton blue/white ticking roughly .018" thick? Or are there different thicknesses of the stuff? If I wander on down to the fabric store in search of pillow ticking what am I looking for?

I can only speak for whats here in Aussie land but Im sure that any of your fabric retailers would maybe have the same for sale over there.

I was fortunate enough to pick up the last 7 metres (whatever "feet" that is) of pure cotton ticking on a wide roll in our local "Spotlight" emporium / super market (refer to the attached card in photos here) and it miked out around .015 of an Inch (we work in both Imperial and Metric over here). I'm not sure of where or or how plentiful Pure cotton fabric is over there in the States, but avoid the so called Chinese made "Cotton" I've tried it and its proven to be "meltable" so no good for ML patching.
The Indian made Cotton is reliable and comes in various thicknesses, if you can buy in bulk its wise to do so nowadays.

BTW if you buy it in bulk its perfect for making period era shirts etc, and/or selling /trading it some of it as patching material at cost price.

Photos attached.

 

[Coinneach]

Ive heard of people taking a mic to the store.
I find tic works, blue tan or red
You just have to try it and see
Wash a few times before use in hot water
By the by
Lay your strips north south during waxing moons, east west during waining moons.
Unless your south of the equator

And....only middle age blonde virgins should be allowed to soak the patching material in unadulterated virgin olive oil and rendered unicorn fat.

 

[Coinneach]

Not all the same. Take calipers to the store and measure the thickness.

When you do measure, but sure to clamp down on the fabric with some force to get an accurate measurement of the thickness.

Thoroughly wash your fabric in hot water to remove the stiffening agent from the fabric. Dry on the hot setting.

If its Cotton DONT "thoroughly wash in hot water" otherwise it will shrink and fray around the edges.
In fact theres little to no reason why you should wash pure cotton thats intended for use as patching material.

 

[ETipp]

I’m one of those that learned the hard way about ticking. There are no places to purchase it here other than perhaps WalMart. So, ordering is the only way.

What I have learned is that ticking can be of the same approximate thickness but can have an actual difference in weaving. I had some that was blowing apart. Purchased some new ticking from October Country and problem solved. Same thickness. Age may be a factor as well.

The last batch of ticking I received was very stiff, so washing was in order. That made the material more playable and easier to deal with. I always prelube all of my patches with TOTW Mink Oil, both sides. Nothing broken, nothing to fix.