ramrod tempering

[sunshot]

An oldtimer told me he filled a pipe with kerosene and put his ramrods in and let them soak for several months before using them. He claimed they would bend more before breaking. Comments?

 

[chawbeef]

I have heard the same. Makes them more flexible..........Daniel

 

[Black Hand]

Old-wives tale.
Does little more than make the ramrod slick and smell like kerosene...

 

[BillinOregon]

Black Hand, I have heard this, but also heard that soaking in coal oil does work. Is that another tale? Seems like I read this in the back of the old Dixie catalogs.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Kerosene soaking is an old idea. Some swear by it, some at it. Kero will dry out quickly and your rod will be back to where it was before he dousing in old stinko. I use few hickory rods anymore but new ones get a soaking in lemon oil. I believe it makes them more flexible but have never scientifically tested the notion. My experience indicates it does help. BTW, the soaking can be anywhere from a week to a month.

 

[nwtradegun]

i knew bob watts of stone mt. armoury in stone mt., ga. he kept a 4 in pvc pipe with coal oil in it to treat hickory ramrods. he let them soak for 30 to 45 days. I used them and never had one break. they flexed but no breakage.

 

[Black Hand]

they flexed but no breakage.

A good rod should flex but not break. However, even a good rod will break if mis-used/abused.

The primary cause of breakage appears to be grain-runout/poor grain since most rammers are cut rather than split. A rod with crappy grain is far more likely to break with or without treatment.

 

[rushlake1]

I call BullShip!

The only rod you could temper is steel...

Myth---BUSTED!

 

[Twisted_1in66]

they flexed but no breakage.

A good rod should flex but not break. However, even a good rod will break if mis-used/abused.

The primary cause of breakage appears to be grain-runout/poor grain since most rammers are cut rather than split. A rod with crappy grain is far more likely to break with or without treatment.

You're right that grain run-out will make a rod more likely to fail, but the primary cause for a ramrod fails is that it is used incorrectly. Grabbing your ramrod at full arms reach and trying to ram the ball down all at once is just asking for trouble. I asked once and I received...don't do that!

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:
Dan