Touch Hole Pick

[miked35]

I use sterling silver picks, when I use one at all. Usually only when blowing down the barrel doesn't clear the vent for the next load. I have tried picking before priming, but get way many more hang fires than not picking.

That's a mighty sweet pick ya got thar. Where'd ja git it?

Mike
Mostly do my pickin' on a geetar.

 

[RJR]

I've been following this topic since it started the other day and I find it real interesting. One of the things I have learned from the good folks here is find out what your gun likes. I started into flinters last year and now have two that I shoot on a regular basis. One has a GM IBS barrel in .50 cal and it don't like to be picked or the ignition slows. The other is a regular GM barrel in .45 cal and it wants to be picked every shot or the ignition slows. So I guess it all boils down to "find out what your gun likes and do it" just like you folks have always said. JMHO

Rick

 

[Twisted_1in66]

Why do some flint shooters use soft iron or copper wire touch hole picks? I've had no problem with piano wire which would be harder than soft iron.

In my experience, picking the vent seems to work with standard breech flintlocks but not patent breech.

If I get a flash in the pan with my Early Lancaster, I'll pick it and it will fire on the next try. When I had that problem with my Traditions PA longrifle, picking never helped because the problem was usually beyond the reach of the pick. Compressed air or water cleaned it out, but not the pick.

I had to be careful not to use a swatch that was too wet with that patent breech or it would just push gunk into that smaller breech area and wouldn't fire again until you cleaned it out.

My Lancaster is much easier to deal with.

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:

 

[jbwilliams3]

I find that they can be like a pan brush- everyone seems to have a fancy one, but a simple rag will do the job better. If I ever use a vent pick- it’s just a piece of coat hanger that I’ve fashioned into a pick.

I even spent a lot of time and effort a few years ago on a vent pick and a pan brush, because it seemed like that was the thing to do. I soon learned that a piece of cloth is better for the pan, and a simple piece of steel coat hanger is fine for a pick, though I rarely use it.

 

[Vaino]

Read somewhere many years ago that the TH has to be picked so drilled holes in my loading blocks for bale wire vent picks and never used 'em. Have shot many different flint MLers and have never used a vent pick. Possibly having to pick the vent is symtomatic of other problems?....Fred

 

[wildeagle]

I kinda took the question as should the pick be made of a soft or hard material. If you have to insert anything in the vent for what ever reason, my fear would be of it becoming lodged and rendering the weapon "spiked". Hard and brittle = easily snapped, soft and spongy( feather,wood,ect.)easily stuck. I would think no matter what , if you have to pick, make sure it can be removed to keep the vent open.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Of course. All the picks I have made are tested on the smallest vent I own, with enough leeway to fit something smaller. I used coat hangers to make picks. The metal is dead soft- almost iron--- so it neither sparks, nor is easily Stuck in the vent. They can be filed easily to reduce the point to fit the smallest of vent holes.

The secret is to make the picks long enough to get a full grip on it with your hand. Mine are made at least 4 inches long, with a looped Pommel at the back end to add to the grip you can get on it. The only picks I have ever had trouble with were short little things, 2 inches or less, that I could not grip well with my big hands.

 

[tg]

"
If I ever had to, I imagine I could easily find a little stick out in the woods I could quickly fashion to proper shape."

And you could store that little stick in that neat leather cocked hat I have been trying to pawn....er give you.

I use a pick at times but if I forget or just don't feel like it the gun usually goes off anyway, I use a piece of brass welding rod sharpened a bit at one end with a loop on the other end to hold onto and tie a whang of leather to, I saw a guy using a welding tip cleaning tool once, that seems a bit aggresive to me, seems like one might have a considerably larger hole than needed after a while.