DIY Wads for Revolvers

My understanding is that you want the hard felt. Maybe a medium grade would work well enough. I've considered trying felt wads as a filler in which case the density shouldn't be an issue, and wonder about its use as an over powder wad for my rifle with a conical to seal the bore.

Another critical issue is that it's not made with synthetic materials that would melt in the barrel.

You can make lube pills, also known as grease cookies. Basically, pour a mix of wad lube, (beeswax, tallow, and paraffin), into a shallow pan and you can punch out wads just like that. Just make sure you use a mix that has a good amount of beeswax in it, because you don't want the lube pill melting and contaminating the powder.
I know this isn't the solution you're looking for, but it may give you another option.

Greetings Ryan
I to make anything I can...
Check into the resale houses for old felt hats. In our area in East ILLinois is the Goodwill Stores and the Pet Rescue store. One or the other will have an old felt hat that no one wants . For $1 can end up with hundreds of felt patches. Have a set of hole cutters... make my own "lube" of olive oil and bees wax. So far my revolvers and long barrels have had no gripes.
Mike in Peru

Search the Web for durofelt they have what you want.
It might even be in the 'stickies' on THR blackpowder section

Oh, I see.
Missionary is right in post #5. I shot up a pretty good hat before I found durofelt.

Ryan, from my limited experience I can tell that the wad is nothing more than a lube carrier. Use any cheap, 100% wool felt that you can lay your hands on and leave the round balls to scrape the barrel.

Best,
Boris

I use a 50-50 mixture of beeswax and Crisco as an over-the-ball lube. It remains firm enough to handle in 90 deg heat. When you fire chamber #1 and inspect chamber #2 you will still see most of the lube in chamber #2; it doesn't get blasted out.

I make lube flakes by pouring the melted mixture onto a cookie sheet that has been covered with wax paper until I get a puddle about 1/8 inch thick, then allow it to cool and solidify. Then break the sheet into squares about 1" by 1" and carry them to the match in an Altoids tin. After charging the chambers, I take a piece of the lube flake and just push some of it into the chamber mouth with my fingertip.

Now I know many if not most prefer to have a lube wad or cookie between the powder and ball, so I have tried using this mix that way too; pour the powder in the chamber, then press in a layer of the lube flake, then seat the ball. And it works just fine.

So my point in boring you with all of this is, you don't have to take the time to cut circles of lube out of a sheet of the stuff. Whether you want it in front of the ball or behind the ball, suit yourself...just mash it in there and it will work OK, at least for cowboy action shooting. If you are doing precision target work at 50 yards, I don't know, never tested that situation.

If you are lubing the wads I wouldn't expect the density to be much concern, but as already stated, stay away from synthetic fibers

I use old felt hats I pick up from yard sales/flee markets etc. Just make sure they are 100% wool is all.

If the wad seems too flimsy just add more bees wax/ gulf wax to the mix next time... as has been stated, they mostly just carry the lube. Any 'scrubbing' action provided by the felt itself seems to just be an incidental bonus...

I use Durofelts soaked with a blend of lamb's tallow and bee's wax. I use the 3/8" hollow punch.

Imho, if you're interested in the most accurate loads, I think the cream of wheat type filler, and top dressed lube is your best bet.

When I used wads I punched my own out of cork matting using a hollow punch and lubed the balls before seating. Now i just use wheat bran and continue to lube the balls. Being a fellow UK resident I found it difficult to source Durofelt and cream of wheat so I substituted. I must say I prefer a filler to wadding.

Hi Ryan
I spoke to these guys a few years ago, looking for felt wads for a BP shotgun http://www.britishfelt.com/felt-products/industrial-felt/. The list prices are very high but they may have off cuts etc. I didn't pursue it as I stopped going BP clay busting but they may be able to help.

Tim

I have used both methods.
If shooting paper for score, I would load with the filler and top-dress the lube. If I had intentions to leave the revolver loaded for an extended time, I would also use this method. I don't like the idea of oil against the powder. However, I've never had a problem.

When I am in the field, woods bumming or whatever, I have a leather belt pouch with 2 dozen balls, 2 dozen lube wads, caps, and small bottle of powder. .45acp casing for a measure.

Personally, I can't stand using plain crisco, it's very slippery and melts really easily and you can barely hold onto the gun after using it. Mixed with beeswax it should be okay.

Cooldill said:

I use Durofelts soaked with a blend of lamb's tallow and bee's wax. I use the 3/8" hollow punch.

Click to expand...

These are for .36, Navy caliber.

I've used the 7/16" for .44, (.4375) and they work okay, but probably would be better if it was .451" or .450"

I've used felt from various web sources and different hardness ratings. As post #10 says their just a lube carrier and filler. Wads recovered from down range show little burn or deformation evidence, and if one wanted to go to the trouble, reusable if recovered from a grassy area. Also the 50/50 mixture mentioned often, of beeswax and Crisco, works well for me. I have found, perhaps its the Florida heat, the lube will develop a rancid smell after a few months, so I mix only what I need and make a limited run of wads also. I also use pills in black powder cartridges, but find them too messy to use over the ball, first shot and the lube has been partially melted on adjoining chambers resulting in lube being deposited on out side surfaces.

OK, this is heresy, and I'm a cheapskate. I make my own square wads out of regular soft 100% wool felt.

Durafelt is expensive regardless of shipping costs, and I couldn't find any old felt hats. So, I went to a fabric store and bought a square yard of regular undyed 100% wool felt to give it a try. Trying to punch that stuff was a disaster because it never cut clean, and was tedious and difficult. So, I took my paper cutter, the table top kind, and cut a bunch of 1/2inch squares.

Lubed them up with my mix of tallow/beeswax/paraffin (Gatafeo's mix I think). They shove into the .44 cylinder just fine and never had a problem. I challenge anybody to find a fault with this method.