Straightening a ramin ramrod

[jhenry1728]

When I purchased my parts from TotW, I bought a spare ramin ramrod, because you can never have too many spares. One of the rods has a bend in it and I cannot remember some simple trick for straightening ramrods. Steaming? Running it across a hard edge?

Thanks in advance!

 

[JayDee Flohr]

I run a smooth hard edge across the wood. A spark plug socket works good.

 

[Zonie]

A hot air blow gun and some gentle persuasion will also work if the heat is aimed at the bend and you hold the rod slightly overbent opposite the existing bend.

If the ramrod isn't too bent to start with you might want to just leave it alone.
A slight bend will help to keep the ramrod from sliding forward when the gun recoils.

 

[jhenry1728]

Thanks guys! I knew I wasn't far off the mark.

 

[Packdog]

I've wrapped them in a wet or damp wash cloth and then used an iron to steam them. You can bend them straight or crooked at that point.
Ken

 

[ohio ramrod]

Wait for a full moon, dip the rod in the blood of a virgin, hold it up to the moon and chant "Kum Bye Ya " seven times. :bow: :idunno: :blah: Then hang the rod from the bones of a white buffalo. :surrender: No wait that is how to straighten a bent barrel!

 

[jhenry1728]

Good to know. I saw the blood and buffalo bones on the TRS website and I was wondering what they were for. :grin:

 

[Robby]

Jhenry, First off, throw that ramin wood thing out, it will hurt you one day, get straight grained hickory, and proceed in any number of ways described.
Robby

 

[matt denison]

Here's a coupla interesting facts about Ramin.

It comes from Indonesia and it is illegal to import it anymore. There are some stockpiles of it still in the USA but when that is gone it's gone.

Ramin ram rods are 9mm (.357")in diameter. Typical 3/8" round dowels for ram rods are .375" plus or minus.

So, if you have a gun with ram rod thimbles designed for the 9mm ramin rods and need to replace it you better plan to do some scraping or get a couple spare ramin rods while they are still available.

Some suppliers have made special orders of 9mm hickory dowels just for this reason. BTW, the manufacturers of these dowels will not sell them to you if you refer to them as ram rods. :shake: "Excuse me sir, we sell only hardwood dowels". It's a liabillity thing.

L. Dog

 

[Birddog6]

As indicated, you can wet it & then heat it with a heat gun & straighten it. That being said, I seldom straighten one, as you can't keep a straight RR in the rifle. :idunno: The bows in the RR are what help retain it. Now I have purposely bowed them before & several of them, but have not straightened but maybe two in 10 years I guess.

As for it being Ramin wood ramrod, I would discard it. Real good chance of a flesh wound with it, tho not a life threatening wound... :wink:

I buy all of my RR blanks from Steve Bailey.... Best straight grained hickory rods I have ever seen & he is VERY reliable. I have bought probably ? 75 rods from him & they are top quality rods & he will cut them any length you want. He advertises in the back of MuzzleBlast & usually had a booth at the spring Friendship..

:thumbsup: