Preferred Cleaning Patches?

[JBird]

I tried searching this, but considering there are many post daily discussing patches for loading not much came up.

I've used various "bulk" patches whether purchased local or online with mixed results some great some worthless. Curious what you guys are using I know some use old t shirt or buy cotton/flannel? by the yard and cut it up which I'm considering just gotta find the right material. But in the meantime I'd like resupply with some precuts

 

[waarp8nt]

I have tried store bought patches when they were on sale, old sheets and pillow ticking too, however I seem to have and endless supply of old free T shirts. Old T shirts work fine for me.

 

[deermanok]

I use pretty much any type of cotton material I can find.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I like diaper flannel or children's flannel that is on the discount table at the fabric store. T-shirts are too thin. They work when doubled over, but I don't think t-shirt material cleans as well as the flannel T-shirt material is good for the final application of oils and rust inhibitors.

 

[nhmoose]

Free!

 

[Dibbuk]

I use 100% cotton T-shirts that I've worn out.

 

[SDSmlf]

One of the advantages of getting larger quantities of patch material is the consistency you get. Problem I find with odd rags and t-shirts is they vary in thickness from piece to piece, some being a tight fit on your jag, others being loose. Not a big deal, but still a bit of a PIA. Find old high thread count bed sheets will provide a nice quantity of consistent material, or you can spend the big bucks ($1-$2 per yard by 56”- 60” wide) on close out cotton flannel, or better yet if you can find it, cotton flannelette. A yard of 60” wide material will give you nearly 240 3” square patches. That less than a penny a patch if you can find it for $2 per yard. Might end up with some unique colors and patterns on close out, but who cares?

 

[Versanaut]

There is a person in our local community that somehow gets scrapped worn out infant hospital blankets and cuts then 2x2 and sells them.

Usually though, I buy cotton flannel on closeout/clearance, wash it, and cut to size.

I started to wash these to reuse but found that not worth my time.

 

[PathfinderNC]

I use cut patches from my old sweat pants which works great. Very absorbent and thick enough for deep rifling. Fine for my sloothbore as well.

 

[Notchy Bob]

I like the square GI cleaning patches from Brownell's. They are all cotton, nappy on one side and woven on the other. Thickness is consistent and they are strong and absorbent. These also make the best char cloth I have tried for flint and steel. I got some GI cleaning patches from another source one time and found them less consistent in size and thickness. They worked okay for their intended purpose, but I tried making char cloth and all I can figure is the fabric must have been treated with a fire retardant. They char all right, but just won't keep a spark alive. Very difficult to make fire, even with the best tinder. However, that's not what they were intended for. I just like the patches from Brownell's better.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

 

[ohio ramrod]

I like flannel cloth for cleaning patches. I get "used" flannel blankets at our local Save and Serve or good will store. A small blanket will make several hundred nice square patches and a paper cutter will cuts strips into squares quickly. I use good sissors to cut the strips and then use a paper cutter to cut the strips into squares. It takes me about 1/2 hour to cut a years supply.

 

[Buckskinquin]

I tried searching this, but considering there are many post daily discussing patches for loading not much came up.

I've used various "bulk" patches whether purchased local or online with mixed results some great some worthless. Curious what you guys are using I know some use old t shirt or buy cotton/flannel? by the yard and cut it up which I'm considering just gotta find the right material. But in the meantime I'd like resupply with some precuts

When shopping at WalMart, stop by the fabric table and look at the remnants. Ive found nice small dregs of cotton flannel easily cut into nice patches.

 

[johnfrommd]

When I am shooting, I use doubled up paper towels to swab between each shot. They are compressible and readily absorb any water moisture formed in the barrel. Flannel patches will work also but they have to be washed a couple of times to allow them to absorb cleaners readily.

When I clean up at the end of a shoot, I use flannel patches as they hold up better for scrubbing.

 

[Are. M.]

Last November I bought a bulk bag of cotton patches from Eastern Maine Shooting Supply for 5 bucks. They were doing a free shipping promo, so I got two. In it are various sizes of patch cut from flannel, t-shirt, ticking, and bedsheet types of material which is great if you have various calibers as I'm sure most of us do. When it arrived there were almost four pounds of patches. I haven't needed to buy patches this year and won't need to buy patches for another year or two.

Before that, I would head to my local thrift store and look for 100% cotton t-shirts. They're usually a dollar apiece and I can handle them to check the thickness and quality. I use them for cleaning and wipe-on stain or finish applications.

Best of luck,
RM

 

[Barry Strickland]

The fabric that I have found that works best is baby diaper material from your local "China Mart". Over the years I have tried many different fabrics and this is what I have found best to get into the rifling grooves.

 

[flintsteel]

I best I have found is Scott Heavy Duty Shop Towels. Paper is solvent proof and works great! Just double the patch to get enough thickness. Cheap, efficient, and readily available,

 

[J. Paul]

White cotton flannel from Jo anns or Walmart. Last I bought was 2.29 per yard and 34 inches wide (i got $10 worth), makes char cloth, cleaning patches, stain applicators, etc. I even keep a 18" square in shooting box to wite hands as needed.

 

[45man]

I like diaper flannel or children's flannel that is on the discount table at the fabric store. T-shirts are too thin. They work when doubled over, but I don't think t-shirt material cleans as well as the flannel T-shirt material is good for the final application of oils and rust inhibitors.

This is what I use, best ever.

 

[flntlokr]

I tried searching this, but considering there are many post daily discussing patches for loading not much came up.

I've used various "bulk" patches whether purchased local or online with mixed results some great some worthless. Curious what you guys are using I know some use old t shirt or buy cotton/flannel? by the yard and cut it up which I'm considering just gotta find the right material. But in the meantime I'd like resupply with some precuts

I like old flannelette, like old shirts, sheets, or pyjamas, but pretty much any soft cloth works. I find t-shirt stuff too thin, but it is marvellous for polishing.

 

[rp77469]

Flannel from the fabric store also. I prefer remnants as they are heavily discounted, but will buy from the bolt. I cut the cloth up with one of those rotary fabric cutters that looks like a pizza cutter only smaller. Bulk storage is in old metal kitchen flour cans, and a couple sandwich bags full in the shooting box. Any natural fabric ought to work. Use what you got.