There probably are. The ram rods you refer to were often called 'wiping sticks' and where whittled. In museums I have seen wiping sticks with what we call a jag whittled into the end. I did it once just for yuks. It works. But, caution, if you try do be sure to use a stick that is strong and flexy you do not want a break to penetrate yer hand.Does anyone on this forum use wood with no ends and have other rods for cleaning, range work etc…
Well, yeah…The frequency of having to whittle a ramrod would be in direct proportion to the frequency with which they are broken.
I doMmmm, obviously I need to reword my thought.
I’m curious about how often someone has seen or read about muzzleloaders with a wooden ramrod a person (frontiersman or such) whittled from a tree branch or other piece of wood due to a broken ramrod. No brass ends, basically just a stick.
Does anyone on this forum use wood with no ends and have other rods for cleaning, range work etc…
YesDoes anyone on this forum use wood with no ends and have other rods for cleaning, range work etc…
Some of my old picket rifles have just plain rods with no ends. Perty sure they're there just so it looks like nothings missing. Buddy of mine has been making all sorts of ramrods for years on his lap with a hand plane. They are beautiful.Mmmm, obviously I need to reword my thought.
I’m curious about how often someone has seen or read about muzzleloaders with a wooden ramrod a person (frontiersman or such) whittled from a tree branch or other piece of wood due to a broken ramrod. No brass ends, basically just a stick.
Does anyone on this forum use wood with no ends and have other rods for cleaning, range work etc…
This is significant. Handmade ramrods like arrows are not whittled, they are shaved. In order to minimize the risk of breakage it is important to avoid grain run-out. Rods are first split from a stave, then planed or shaved to size. Commercially available rod blanks are made by a doweling machine these days and often have run-out. When replacing a rod I usually purchase three blanks and pick the one having the least.Buddy of mine has been making all sorts of ramrods for years on his lap with a hand plane. They are beautiful.
This is trueCommercially available rod blanks are made by a doweling machine these days and often have run-out.
Congrats.I whittled down a sapling to make a temporary ramrod. It worked just fine.
Grain runout on a round shaft looks like this.Run out? If you're talking about a bend in a rod, I don't mind that in a hunting rifle. Keeps the rod from falling out.
I been making Ebony rods on my lathe the last few weeks. This rodView attachment 268124 is perfectly round and extremely straight. The finish is linseed oil and rubbing with a cotton tack rag. I tried the plane method on my lap. You gotta love your work to do it that way.View attachment 268171
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