Home made wads

Mutton Tallow is best. Does not go rancid. Try vegetable shortening in place of the tallow.

You can use extra virgin olive oil to mix it with the beeswax - try 50/50 mix, melting it in a water bath. If the beeswax is not filtered, it will have all kinds of rubbish in it - dead bees and etc. You can easily filter the melted wax by pouring in thru a cheap pair of thin pantyhose (yes, pantyhose!) to act as a filter. You can also lubricate your wads with a 50/50 mix of paraffin wax and liquid paraffin (white mineral oil), again melted in a water bath. Those two are the most basic recipes that should do you good with wads.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/how-to-best-use-a-cap-and-ball-revolver.65820/


https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/do-it-yourself-felt-wad-making.643854/page-2


https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?search/28544419/&q=Wad+making&o=relevance&c[node]=12

Mizar said:

You can use extra virgin olive oil to mix it with the beeswax - try 50/50 mix,

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DITTO, and it won't go rancid either. I have some bullet lube for conical rifle bullets that is 50/50 plus I have some that is 25/75 beeswax to olive oil for lubing patches for round ball in rifles...., lasts for years.
LD

Be careful melting your beeswax. It is very flammable. Use a double boiler to reduce the risk of ignition.

IronHand

I use a 50/50 mix of Beeswax and Paraffin Wax with a few ounces of Olive Oil added.

I use candle remnants mixed with olive oil. Melt the candle leftovers in a microwave and mix in the olive oil. You should end up with a fairly stiff paste. I use the leftovers from jar candles my wife buys to destink the bathroom. You can pour the melted mixture on to your wads. I use it right out of the jar as an over bullet lube. Works good so far.

I went back and read the thread on this and was shocked to see the priced on the Duro-Felt had doubled in price. Nice going guys...when you increased the demand the price went up. And yes, as others have said, the Crisco based lube will go rancid if you make a bunch of lubed wads then let them sit for years. PEE-EW

Do-It-Yourself Felt Wad Making

The only thing I could add is that I found the cheap 11mm punch make great patches for the 44 cal cap guns. I use the same homemade bullet lube to melt and pour over the wads. Then squeeze them to distribute the lube.

But Noz, isn't 11 mm wad undersized for .45 (.44 cal)?

Forget the double boiler, I believe that's a hold over from the pre-microwave era.
You can nuke your lube formula in the microwave. I did try the double boil method. Seemed like lots of extra work and potential for a mess.

I tried a mixture of Gulfwax, Beeswax, and Crisco in a Ball Caning Jar.
No flames in the Micro-wave.


Here's my go at it:
http://1858remington.com/discuss/index.php/topic,11514.0.html





Tools and materials used:
Battery powered electric drill set on lowest speed.

Hollow Punch Set - 7/16 inch bit from Harbor Freight - Item# 67030
https://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-hollow-punch-set-67030.html

1/8" Off-White Hard Felt material for WADS - Item # FM18H-1
http://www.durofelt.com/image_26.html

Cheap cutting board bought at Walmart for this purpose for under $3.00.

As you can see in the 2nd picture, the 7/16 inch punch is perfect for .44 cal Cap & Ball revolvers.

Note I started with another 7/16 inch punch that requires a hammer. The Drill bit type of punch is way easier and way faster.

My cats love the scrap perforated pieces of wool felt. Perfect cat toys.

drobs said:

View attachment 790111

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My Black and Decker screw gun is older than yours! Do you have the little gel pads on the left side? 14.4v?

Tighten up those holes, you can get a bunch more wads out of that material.

swathdiver said:

My Black and Decker screw gun is older than yours! Do you have the little gel pads on the left side? 14.4v?

Tighten up those holes, you can get a bunch more wads out of that material.

Click to expand...

I have whole collection of battery operated tools to include a chainsaw. Have a Stihl chainsaw too but the electric is significantly lighter and easier to use for little stuff. Not sure on the pads.
I'd try my cheap bench top drill press but would need to either clean the heck out of it or figure out some sort of work surface to clamp to it.