Touchhole plug other than toothpick?

[Skychief]

Anybody find a better option than a toothpick to plug a touchhole for filling bore with water/cleaning solution?

I have tried the toothpick route with so-so results. Often the toothpick gets saturated quick enough to let water drain out of the touchhole.

Any suggestions for a leak-proof experience? :idunno:

Thanks, Skychief. :hatsoff:

 

[Matt PA]

Cut in half and taper a Q-tip.
The water make it swell and creates a nice seal.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I remove the lock, lay the firearm vent down on old towels with the muzzle lower then the breech and wipe with soapy wet cleaning patches alternated with dry patches.

You don't have to fill the bore with water.

 

[duckhunt93]

i heard a feather works good

 

[mr.flintlock]

I took a 2 1/2 inch C clamp and epoxied a round disk of leather to the inside screw. I clamp it over the rifle with the leather disk tightned against and covering the touch hole. I use another piece of leather on the otherside of the clamp to protect the wood on the opposite side of the rifle.

Once this device is clamped in place, I stand the rifle up and pour water down the bore and let it soak while I clean the lock. I have never had a problem with leakage.

 

[nchawkeye]

You might be leaving it in there too long...

I pour the water in, tip the barrel a time or two with my finger over the muzzle and pour it out...

 

[Flintlock58]

I use a pipe cleaner but it isnt leak proof.

 

[mdtnhunter]

The old large wooden kitchen matches work great They are softer than toothpicks allowing you to whittle the bare end to a taper and push them into the touch hole. The soft wood makes a much better seal than a toothpick.

 

[Celt5494]

I snap the toothpick in half, insert the sharp end and give a few light taps to the blunt end with my knapping hammer and I've never had a leak even while letting the stuff soak for awhile.

 

[jbwilliams3]

I had some leaking problems with toothpicks, so I starting using twigs off pine trees. Whittle the end down and it plugs up really well.

 

[wayne1967]

For some unknown reason we have a bag of bamboo skewers in our kitchen drawer. Must be 100 of them and I don't remember ever using them for cooking. I break the tip off one and use it. Perfect cone shape, strong and won't snap off.

 

Skychief,
I've never had any trouble with leaking around a toothpick. After the barrel has soaked for a short period of time, instead of pouring the cleaning solution out I force it through the nipple with a tight patch. This, I feel, helps flush out the snail, or drum, and the nipple.
Mark

 

[Skychief]

Skychief,
instead of pouring the cleaning solution out I force it through the nipple with a tight patch. This, I feel, helps flush out the snail, or drum, and the nipple.


What kinda FLINTER are you totin' Mark? :haha:

 

Skychief,
Can I blame it on SOMETIMERS DISEASE :redface: ? Actually I do the same thing with my flints, it cleans the touch hole liner out right now.
Mark

 

[biliff]

Little curly feather off the butt end of a drake mallard. Seems to be the right size, sheds water and the curly end is easy to get a hold off.

Or pretty much any other feather will work, too.

 

[Skychief]

:wink:

 

[texcl]

I use porcupine quills for vent picking and plugging.

 

[DTCoffin]

I'm not critizing here but that must make an awful mess when you pull the plug to drain the water from the barrel.I can see the point in flushing the touchole,but how do you keep the slop from getting all over everything.I use to do it that way when I had a caplock, pull the barrel out and stick it in a can and pull the solution right up through.But I don't disassemble the flinters.Just asking

 

[Swampman]

You don't pull the plug. You pour it back out the muzzle. You only use the cleaning rod when the barrel is empty. 3 patches and you're done. The tooth pick won't leak if you use round ones an put them in hard enough.

 

[redwing]

Just place a tooth pick tightly into the vent. Then place a cotton cleang patch over the tooth pick and close the frizzen on the patch. This patch will absorb any cleaner passing the tooth pick. Then use this patch to wipe the pan clean.