1851 Navy & beginner

Back when I was a kid we used to make improvised muzzle loaders, that used the lightning compound from cigarette matches as a "charge" for shooting BBs. One box was enough for a 7 mm (0.28") BB to shoot thru a 1,5 mm (0.059") steel plate with authority. My buttocks received soo much "attention" from my late grandfather's belt (we destroyed so many fine ball bearings in the quest for BBs) that I still cringe when I think about it.

P.S. You know, just sayin'...

I used to make an improvised muzzle loader using a steel pipe a rock, paper for wadding, and a firecracker as propellant.

whughett said:

Lyman has been making these little gunsmith hammers for decades. This one is part of my black powder range kit. One end of the punch, stored in the hammer handle, has been filed down to fit thru the nipple hole in the cylinder, in case of a dry ball or just to unload an unfired chamber. The other end has been formed to use as a wedge punch. Brass, Nylon and steel hammer heads. The punch is soft brass. I also keep one in the center fire range kit.

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That rod is small enough to go through the nipple recess when the nipple is removed?

I keep a nail for that as I've had to push a load out before.

I would think so.
I use a tool I fashioned from hard wood. From time to time I have to take the pocket knife and a bit of sand paper to reshape it. Has lasted for about 8 years so far.

I also used soft pine and was always replacing them. Switched to oak and then to a very hard wood from the Philippines. I don't recall what the proper name is but it is very dark and heavy. I got it when I was stationed there in the early 70's.

rodwha said:

That rod is small enough to go through the nipple recess when the nipple is removed?

I keep a nail for that as I've had to push a load out before.

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Yes, I chucked it into the drill press and filed it down to fit. The other end is small enough to fit thru the wedge slot.

whughett said:

Yes, I chucked it into the drill press and filed it down to fit. The other end is small enough to fit thru the wedge slot.

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Wow! So your mallet must be fairly small too. Nice! I'd guess mine is a bit larger and not multifunctional.

Nothing synthetic as it will melt.

Do you have a second hand store that might sell old felt hats? I read of people finding them cheap and punching them from those.

Or maybe a fabric store?

Ours are 1/8 inch (3.175 mm) and medium (as opposed to hard or soft).

I buy mine from a private vendor here.

I'm not sure if medium is even necessary. Maybe soft or hard work just as well. And maybe thinner would also work.

I've considered 1/16 inch felt as filler. But then I figured I could order a new conical mold with a longer bullet to take up that extra space. In hunting heavier usually is better.

1861 said:

THANKS SO MUCH.
We have many second hands stores, I already searched for old felt hats, nothing yet. I searched for felts in fabric stores, nothing yet. But I still haven't visited them all.

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Online maybe?

1861 said:

THANKS SO MUCH.
So which one - WOOL or COTTON?
We have many second hands stores, I already searched for old felt hats, nothing yet. I searched for felts in fabric stores, nothing yet. But I still haven't visited them all.

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I checked our Durofelt.Com web site, so many of us blackpowder shooters buy felt thru them that they have special sizes available. The international shipping is steep though, one could buy a lot of wonder wads for that cost alone.

When you install the wedge again note that it sure as blazes does not need to be that tight. Just a tap with a screwdriver handle is all I use and they've never come loose. Or a lighter tap with a plastic headed mallet.

As long as we're discussing just about everything we can on these guns and accessories we may as well open up the can of worms concerning the fit of the arbor to the hole in the barrel. By rights the end of the arbor should seat against the bottom of the hole in the barrel. But on too many Italian replicas this is not the case. You can read a great discussion about why it's a good thing and some different methods by different folks about it in THIS THREAD.

Arbor fit should bring this thread to the 20 page mark with questions/answers alone. Not a bad thing. Great link BC. When in doubt, send her to Goons.

1861 said:

THANKS SO MUCH.
So which one - WOOL or COTTON?
We have many second hands stores, I already searched for old felt hats, nothing yet. I searched for felts in fabric stores, nothing yet. But I still haven't visited them all.

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100% Wool.
Read this thread.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/do-it-yourself-felt-wad-making.561415/#post-6938296

+

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/found-proper-felt-to-make-wads.123266/

I'd be tempted to try a wool blanket, except most wool blankets these days are blended with poly material. Duro-Felt is 1 state south of my house so it looks like I'll be ordering from them.

Seems this the thickness to get:
http://www.durofelt.com/image_26.html

1861, wool felt is used in making toys and all sorts of adornments, or for industrial use, like insulation and etc. So, some hobby stores, art supply stores, well equipped stores for construction supplies, or just the good old Internet will be your first bet. 3mm thickness will work just fine. But, whichever felt you buy, first take some small quantity and test it - burn it with a cigarette lighter. If its 100% wool it will become charred, without any melting at all and with distinctive smell - like burned hair.
Or, you could get ready lubed Wonder Wads from Westernguns.fr - the price is high though. https://www.westernguns.fr/chargeme.../1498-bourres-en-feutre-cal36-lubrifiees.html

Yes, unfortunately they charge a hefty sum no matter what your package is. Usually, German and UK vendors charge less for shipping - around 10-15 Euros.
This German shop http://stifters-gunflints.de/shop/main.php has all sorts of goodies (like some very good aftermarket nipples), but does not take credit card payment. Maybe he will accept a PayPal transaction if you ask. Bellow is my correspondence with them so you can have a clue what to expect:

Dear Boris,
I am not prepared to use credit cards.
I will send a proforma invoice with IBAN/BIC and will ship your order on receipt of your money transfer to my bank account.
Order from Bulgaria
You can order in the Onlineshop without LOGIN.
The shipping costs are for packages with 1 kg weight 14,00 Euro, each additional kg costs 1 Euro more.
For: ORDER / Order form
Fill out the order form with your address and telephone number
Click on Country in DEUTSCHLAND
In the ADDRESS VALUE field, type Bulgaria
Read and click on the buttons AGB and WIDERRUFSRECHT (GTC and Right of Revocation, terms of delivery and payment)
(Terms of use and right of rescission)
Click "KOSTENPFLICHTIG BESTELLEN“ (Order).

Mit freundlichen Grüßen.
Günter Stifter

I misspoke about the type of felt needed. It is not medium but hard. This is where I and many others buy our felt from. She does ship to Europe so maybe it's worth comparing prices:

http://durofelt.com/image_26.html

Shipping and Handling, I'm beginning to think a large part of these suppliers profit comes from that.

whughett said:

Shipping and Handling, I'm beginning to think a large part of these suppliers' profit comes from that.

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I agree! Not only in this industry for parts, but in other industries for parts. I was a mechanic for a commercial laundry in Alaska many years ago and the same thing was true then.