What is the smallest size diameter ramrod brass pin that can be found?

[ETipp]

Been on the search for a small diameter brass pin for the ramrod tip for my .32 Squirrel rifle. After taking down the end to fit the I.D. of the tip on the 5/16" ramrod, there isn't a whole heck of a lot of room for error. No doubt a very small diameter brass pin is what I need. I did find a listing on Amazon for 1/16" brass pins and I reckon that would work. However, a little smaller would be better IMO.

Anyone know what size smaller brass pin and/or where to get one?

Thank you.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Use a small brad, aka finish nail. Stronger and small enough for any ram rod.

 

[waksupi]

Check a hobby shop for brass wire. Get too small, it won't have the holding power needed.

 

[ETipp]

Thanks, Phil. I will look into that.

Much appreciated

 

[flconch53]

Steel nail is much stronger than h an brass pin. I wouldn't go any smaller than 1/16

 

[HSmithTX]

It doesn't need to be all that strong if you aren't pulling a ball, brass pin would be fine for patches and jags I think. Brazing rod is what I have used in the past, I'm pretty sure mine is 1/8 diameter. That said I use steel pins on everything now because I might have to pull a ball, I make sure it can't contact the bore and call it good.

 

[pacanis]

I have some 1/8" brass pop rivets. The pin measures .075.
I can't see it not working. Not even in a .32 rod.

But of course 1/16 is slightly smaller if you have access to that. Otherwise I'd just mail you a rivet.

Sure seems like someone ought to make a brass nail though. Something skinny like a picture hanging nail. For hanging an exposed brass hook.
The trick would be making sure it isn't just brass plated.

BTW, I'm curious. How thick is the wall of a brass ramrod tip?

 

[ETipp]

I have some 1/8" brass pop rivets. The pin measures .075.
I can't see it not working. Not even in a .32 rod.

But of course 1/16 is slightly smaller if you have access to that. Otherwise I'd just mail you a rivet.

Sure seems like someone ought to make a brass nail though. Something skinny like a picture hanging nail. For hanging an exposed brass hook.
The trick would be making sure it isn't just brass plated.

BTW, I'm curious. How thick is the wall of a brass ramrod tip?

Thanks Pacanis. My wife just picked up a package of small brass platted nails from Hobby Lobby. They are thinner diameter and 1/2" long. Pretty sure I can make one of those work. Not solid brass but they will make do.

Interesting enough, and this is something I should have checked earlier, both ends on my GPR ramrod is pinned with small diameter roll pins. My guess is they are steel.

I did not measured the I.D. of the tip but its fairly small. Not a whole heck of a lot of wiggle room for error when drilling the through the wood. Thus my rational for wanting a smaller diameter pin.

 

[pacanis]

I thought you were looking for solid brass. Otherwise I would have gone with steel, since the bulk of the pin is going to be hidden anyway. And plated you will still have exposed steel.

I was curious about the wall thickness. Not the ID.
I wanted to know how much material on the brass tip the pin will actually be grabbing.

 

[andy52]

1/16th rod is about the smallest, less than that and you're into wire which is a much softer material.

 

[French Colonial]

Thanks Pacanis. My wife just picked up a package of small brass platted nails from Hobby Lobby. They are thinner diameter and 1/2" long. Pretty sure I can make one of those work. Not solid brass but they will make do.

Interesting enough, and this is something I should have checked earlier, both ends on my GPR ramrod is pinned with small diameter roll pins. My guess is they are steel.

I did not measured the I.D. of the tip but its fairly small. Not a whole heck of a lot of wiggle room for error when drilling the through the wood. Thus my rational for wanting a smaller diameter pin.

I buy 1/16" brass rods from Hobby Lobby and use them to make pins for the ramrod, vent picks etc.

They are about a foot long, made by K&S precision and come in packs of 5. They say they are brass and they appear to be brass but they are pretty tough, not soft like you might think.

 

[ETipp]

I thought you were looking for solid brass. Otherwise I would have gone with steel, since the bulk of the pin is going to be hidden anyway. And plated you will still have exposed steel.

I was curious about the wall thickness. Not the ID.
I wanted to know how much material on the brass tip the pin will actually be grabbing.

Actually, I was/am looking for solid brass. My wife brought that package home. After she got home, I read on the package that they are brass plated, not solid brass.

I do not know the wall thickness of the tip and it would be difficult to measure it as small as the tip is, especially with the radius. But it does appear to be solid enough to hold whatever I choose to put through it. Considering the tip is compression fit, plus epoxied, my concern is not if the pin will be too small, rather larger than I want. As I have said, there simply is not much wood left inside that tip. 1/4" to be exact. So not much wiggle room at all. My thoughts are that I a pin a tad smaller than 1/16" might be best.

I have to make another trip to town today (against my will) so I might go back by the supply store and see if they have small diameter roll pins. If I have to use steel then its to my belief that a steel roll pin would be most conducive. If I cannot find a small roll pin then I'll have to go with whatever the smallest size brass pin I can find.

 

[arjay]

Rods, 1 Foot Long Rod, 1/16" Diameter

https://www.mcmaster.com/8859K511

 

[beardedhorse]

Pancanis asks a good question on wall thickness of your ramrod tip. Steel piano wire is strong but can slide out of hole and scratch the bore. Finish nail and brass are softer. Tip with enough thickness to countersink allows you to peen the ends of your annealed pin so it stays put and once filed flush, won't scratch the bore. A trick archers use to keep their field and target points on the end of wood arrows is to tap coarse threads the inside of the point. You could do the same on the ramrod tip before applying gap filling epoxy and cross pinning.

 

[ZUG]

Small wire brads are a good choice for a small diameter ram rod tip and it does not have to be in the center of the tip. Its better if it is but if you first put epoxy in the brass end and then insert the ram rod end into the brass then drill for the brad the epoxy will lock everything together and be extra secure.

 

[Master Blaster]

Roll the pin between two files to roughen the surface for better adhesion.

 

[Doc]

Actually, I was/am looking for solid brass. My wife brought that package home. After she got home, I read on the package that they are brass plated, not solid brass.

I do not know the wall thickness of the tip and it would be difficult to measure it as small as the tip is, especially with the radius. But it does appear to be solid enough to hold whatever I choose to put through it. Considering the tip is compression fit, plus epoxied, my concern is not if the pin will be too small, rather larger than I want. As I have said, there simply is not much wood left inside that tip. 1/4" to be exact. So not much wiggle room at all. My thoughts are that I a pin a tad smaller than 1/16" might be best.

I have to make another trip to town today (against my will) so I might go back by the supply store and see if they have small diameter roll pins. If I have to use steel then its to my belief that a steel roll pin would be most conducive. If I cannot find a small roll pin then I'll have to go with whatever the smallest size brass pin I can find.

Your suggestion on using roll pins is positively the way to go.
Doc,

 

[French Colonial]

Does anyone know when roll pins were invented?

 

[ETipp]

Your suggestion on using roll pins is positively the way to go.
Doc,

That's the conclusion I came to as well. Picked up a few roll pins of different sizes yesterday.

 

[ETipp]

Does anyone know when roll pins were invented?

I do not know the answer to that one, but I did ask the question of the benefits of using roll pins rather than solid pins. The place I was at yesterday was busy and the guy that waited on me did not know the answer. I'm sure one of the more experienced workers there would know.