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Reusing Cleaning Patches

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sequoia

40 Cal.
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Does anyone else out there reuse their cleaning patches? I use them once and put them in a ziploc bag. When the bag is full I wash them in a mesh bag. I trim the frayed edges off (usually while wathing the boob tube) and tie bundles of 25 or so with a piece a yarn so I have these bundles of hopefully PC looking cleaning patches. After washing they are softer and more absorbant. I do this until they are too small even for my .45 pistol.
 
Not me. :shocked2:
With my luck, they would escape from their confinement in the wash and decide to escape thru the washing machines drain pump where several self sacrificing ones would commit suicide by wrapping them selves around the impeller.

$400 and one ****** off wife later, I would have things pretty much back to normal except, I would have to hear about how I screwed up Her Washing Machine for the next 30 years. :yakyak:
 
I am certain that this would work, but, I have to agree with DCF. I buy 3"x3" shotgun cleaning patches in a 500 count bag for $11.00, that comes out to .02 cents per patch. Can't see it worth my time to wash and re-use these at that price.
 
Mornin Post Rider
I wash mine also in a mesh bag, I like em better after their washed, As soon as their washed, I lay em out on top of the washer , flat, to dry, I can wash em bout 5 times, I don't worry bout the edges, I keep the new/clean ones for the last patches to run down the barrel, After it's clean and lubed,,,
 
J.R. said:
I am certain that this would work, but, I have to agree with DCF. I buy 3"x3" shotgun cleaning patches in a 500 count bag for $11.00, that comes out to .02 cents per patch. Can't see it worth my time to wash and re-use these at that price.
JR, FWIW..."Southern Bloomer Co." makes all size cleaning patches (and pillow ticking shooting patches)...I buy 2x2 and 2.5x2.5 cleaning patches from them bagged $11.00 per 1000...I think if you buy 4-5 bags, shipping is free
 
I am willing to religate both cleaning patches and toilet paper to one time usage.

:hatsoff:
 
Roundball - I do need to re-up on patches, the price you are quoting beats my local gun store supplier. Went to Southern Bloomer's web sight, it does not appear that they sell retail - am I wrong there? If so, who does sell their stuff retail off of the web? Checked Sportsman's Guide - they are sold out. Thanks for the tip!!!
 
J.R. said:
Roundball - I do need to re-up on patches, the price you are quoting beats my local gun store supplier. Went to Southern Bloomer's web sight, it does not appear that they sell retail - am I wrong there? If so, who does sell their stuff retail off of the web? Checked Sportsman's Guide - they are sold out. Thanks for the tip!!!
I've bought from them a half dozen times over the years...just call their 800 number...tell them what size you want and specify "cotton" patches.

One time they had some they called "muzzleloader patches" and when they arrived, I found that they were polyester, not very absorbant...returned them and exchanged for cotton.

They may have corrected that situation by now but to be safe, suggest you don't ask for muzzleloader patches...just the size and in 'cotton'.
 
I scrounge old Flannel Bed Sheets the wifes old Flannel Night Gowns and spend a winters night while watching Hockey cutting up enough cleaning patches for the next year or so.When my kids were Babies they had these little Crib Sheets and There musta been a jag of them Cause they are 17 and 15 years old and I just ran out of them.
I never really thought anyone had to buy these things.
This is another part of this hobby that I love...It's cheap! :v
 
Halftail said:
I scrounge old Flannel Bed Sheets the wifes old Flannel Night Gowns and spend a winters night while watching Hockey cutting up enough cleaning patches for the next year or so.When my kids were Babies they had these little Crib Sheets and There musta been a jag of them Cause they are 17 and 15 years old and I just ran out of them.
I never really thought anyone had to buy these things.
This is another part of this hobby that I love...It's cheap! :v

I've started doing some of that the past couple years too...can get a lot of cleaning patches out of a half dozen old T-shirts, Wife's PJ's, etc...and the good news is because she's into quilting big-time she has one of those rotary cutters and a cutting[url] mat...in[/url] 30 minutes she'll have 1000 cleaning patches stacked up for me.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I can see where one of those Rotary cutters would be better than my Scissors method.
 
My bore brush chews up any patch manufacturer I tried. Using a jag for cleaning the bore doesn't seem to clean in the rifling proper. So as a result, I cannot reuse my patches. I buy the Hoppes 3" square. They are at Meijer costing around $5.99 for 300.
 
Halftail said:
I can see where one of those Rotary cutters would be better than my Scissors method.
Especially if the rotary cutter is being used by my Bride of 39 years!
:rotf:
 
My mother-in-law has a lifetime supply of old sheets in the cellar. I'll not likely run out in this lifetime :grin:
 
rubincam said:
i have been using paper towels some of them are pretty tough

Years ago I bought 1000 2" diameter paper patches at a gun show for $7-$8 bucks...had almost a quilted / embossed surface on them as though that had been compressed...outstanding, absorbant cleaning patches...wish I could find a few thousand more
 
Post Rider said:
Does anyone else out there reuse their cleaning patches?...

No.

But, I've had great success with the waffle design 100% cotton patches from Camp Cap. 1000 patch can be purchased on eBay for about $5.00, including shipping. They're good for wiping between shots and hold a lot of crud when cleaning up. Just go to ebay and do a search in sporting goods for "cleaning patches."

Why reuse patches when scrap can be used or precut patches can be purchased so inexpensively. But, I may be set for life for cleaning patches. After going through 1,000 of the Camp Cap waffle design patches, I snared 10,000 for about $20 including shipping.
 
I've actually been trying to think of something creative to do with my old ones... maybe a very, very small quilt? What would Martha do... hmmmm....
 
I shouldn't say it, but, IMO, washing old cleaning patches and re-use them sounds like saving the lint out of the cloths dryer filter and the fuzz off of peaches for pillow stuffing. :rotf:
 

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