wash pillow ticking?

[kevin beers]

It cost about $6.50 for 100 lubed pillow ticking patches at gun shop.At walmart I can buy a yard of pillow ticking for less than that and have about 500 patches :hmm: .I think I'll cut my own patches! Does anyone know should I wash this material before I cut it into patches and use it?Does it matter?Will it seat better if I wash it first?And yes I was the guy shootin every kind of conical I could find I am now shootin patch and round ball :surrenderatch and round ball does'nt drain your wallet! Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Keppy]

I wash mine in plain warm water. They seem to be much softer. Then cut into squares.

 

[ronrryan]

I also wash. Takes the "sizing" out and tastes better when you spitpatch. Good smoke, Ron in FL

 

[Tumblernotch]

Some like to wash it. I tried it and it didn't work as well for me. I spit patch and the taste never really bothered me. (Maybe the terbaccer juice covers the taste). Anyhow, for target shooting I've started using a spray bottle with water to wet the patches. Gets it on there more evenly and you don't have to spit or lick the patch. If you leave it unwashed it's a little stiffer and that makes it easier to cut into strips too.

 

[renovato]

I'm also a "washer". It takes out the starch that the factory puts in. Works better with the Ballistol I use as patch lube.

 

[chapmans]

I wash mine in hot water, it seems to shrink it up so the weave is tighter, then let it line dry , no fabric softener. I use pocket drill, much tighter weave than pillow ticking, washing seems to let it soak up the lube better, I use Murphy's Oil Soap straight or spit for target and woods walks and Hodgdens Spit Patch for hunting.
Lonhball 58

 

[paulvallandigham]

Wash the fabric in rinse water, to get the " sizing" -- which is a starch like substance used to make the fabric lay flat and look nice in the stores-- OUT. It makes the fabric softer, and when you run it through a cool dryer, the fabric will tighten up ever so much, to give you a consistent thickness of patching material. Using a little fabric softener, both helps to soften the material, and to get the sizing out.

 

[bart_anastasi]

do not wash any more.

Tried a few times and saw no real difference. now I just cut some patches all the same size into squares for the 50 and 54 .

The night before I shoot take some to lube up and store in pocket in 35 MM camera film cans which are water tight. And cut at the muzzle.

 

[mazo kid]

I wash patch material. As usual in a post like this you will get differing answers....spit or lube, wash or not, lead or leather flint wrap, etc. But then, that is how we learn.....by exchanging experiences, ideas, knowledge. Keep the info coming! Emery

 

[2172]

I wash by dumping in with wife's washing of my jeans...heavy duty cycle...if the ticking doesn't feel soft enough, I'll wash it again. It soaks up any lube I've tried better...and I've just switched back to Wonderlube/Bore butter 'cause Balistol did not prove the "miracle mouse pee" that I'd hoped...Hank

 

[bwhoffman]

I found that washing actually made it thicker when measuring with a clutch drive micrometer comparing prewash off the bolt to out of the washer/dryer.... .018 expanded to .019-.020ish

didnt work in the rifle but the smoothbore liked it!

 

[kevin beers]

Thanks for the input fellas gonna try stumpys moose snot for patch lube.appreciate the help! :thumbsup:

 

[2feathers]

I've tried both ways and have found that after washing the fibers are swelled much larger and this causes it to soak up lube a lot better which creats a tighter seal and improved my accuracy.

 

[deanscamaro]

When you cut ticking into squares, do you make the square the same side measurement as the 50 cal round patch diameter?

 

[pcrum]

I wash patch material. As usual in a post like this you will get differing answers....spit or lube, wash or not, lead or leather flint wrap, etc. But then, that is how we learn.....by exchanging experiences, ideas, knowledge. Keep the info coming! Emery

:thumbsup:

 

[Swampman]

The sizing will play havock with your barrel. It needs to be washed. I just toss it in with a load of clothes. Hemp drill makes the best patching ever. You can't burn a hole in it.

 

wash it to take out the sizing. With the washed ticking - it will take the lube better and conform to the barrel + it will not leave the sizing residue on the botre.