Vent Pick and Pan Brush

[Rifleman1776]

spring-steel is harder than the touchhole liner and could wear it.

That is about as real a problem as Martians listening to our brain waves. :youcrazy:
There is barely any touching of the pick on a touch hole. Spring steel is just fine. My preference, in fact.
But, a real caution. :shocked2: Never, ever, never use drill rod. Way too brittle. I was once given a very pretty pick with a bone scrimed handle but made with drill rod. Broke just being handled. Now I have the end but no pick.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Very nice!

 

[Crewdawg445]

Very nice! These types of projects are always the best, good work! :thumbsup:

 

[Birddog6]

I made same many many years ago & still use them. I made my brush with a horn tip & just drilled it out with a 1/4"
drill bit & glued in boar hair. I used a piece of large gem clip for the vent pick.

Keith Lisle

 

[Black Hand]

spring-steel is harder than the touchhole liner and could wear it.

That is about as real a problem as Martians listening to our brain waves. :youcrazy:
There is barely any touching of the pick on a touch hole.

I commend you - you must have the aim and steadiness of a military sniper. Every time you insert a pick in the touchhole, you will make contact with the sides and could eventually wear the touchhole. The ideal would be to use material that is softer than the surrounding metal, thereby wearing the pick (easily replaced) instead of the insert/barrel (far more difficult and expensive to address).

 

[Rifleman1776]

could eventually

Yer right, of course. After about 11 million picks. :haha:

 

[Black Hand]

Far less - Coned touchholes are, by design, thin along the edges....

 

[Crewdawg445]

Ooo good idea, I've got an extra bores hair shave brush laying around I was going to just throw out... Glad I didn't! I'm also going to use a dart... not to concerned about wearing the vent liner, highly doubt it would happen as often as most of us get out. Now, if I relied upon my rifle for everyday use, then I'd certainly rethink my material choice.

 

[jfaldo]

Well I'm sorta on the fence with this vent pick argument. I will be in the shop Friday morning brewing beer so I'll have time to play around with a few different pick designs. See what comes out of it in the end and will share some results on it.

 

[Crewdawg445]

Yes, must have pics! :thumbsup:

 

[tenngun]

Beware - spring-steel is harder than the touchhole liner and could wear it. I use baling wire, soft enough to do the job and less likely to cause damage.

Wow never thought of that. I can see Riflemans point that you wouldn't ware it vary fast,but you know that saliva causes cancer...but only if swallowed in small amounts over long periods of time.
Has anyone used #10 copper wire filed down. I was going to make a new pick for a new bag and was thinking of using that. Copper would be softer then the steel, so litile ware there :idunno:

 

[Rifleman1776]

Beware - spring-steel is harder than the touchhole liner and could wear it. I use baling wire, soft enough to do the job and less likely to cause damage.

Wow never thought of that. I can see Riflemans point that you wouldn't ware it vary fast,but you know that saliva causes cancer...but only if swallowed in small amounts over long periods of time.
Has anyone used #10 copper wire filed down. I was going to make a new pick for a new bag and was thinking of using that. Copper would be softer then the steel, so litile ware there :idunno:

Yes, I have made picks using brazing wire. My preference is for spring steel. But almost anything will work. The sharpened racoon parts work just fine. I have couple around somewhere. In the woods I have whittled sticks.
Actually, I really consider the wear issue to be a hilarious non-issue. Maybe others have different "picking" techniques than I do but, in reality the pick barely touches the metal. Oh, well. Each to his own.

 

[Birddog6]

:grin: Same here. It is Not... intended to ream the vent hole out. It is to
move a piece of fouling that could be blocking the vent hole. :idunno: So all ya need
is something that will fit in the hole & go into the powder charge.

Keith Lisle

 

[Artificer]

FWIW, "A Soldier Like Way" The Material Culture of the British Infantry 1751-1768," by R.R. Gale shows both Iron Wire and even Cast Lead Vent Picks for Muskets.

Gus

 

[jfaldo]

Made two more this morning. Used a large paper clip. These came out pretty good I think.