Percussion Cap Metal Material Preferences

[Darth-Vang]

Hello to all, I have a percussion cap maker tool that can make percussion caps from aluminum cans. Was wondering if aluminum sheets or brass sheets was better? And how about the thicknesses of the sheet of either one? And does anyone make a custom capper? The cappers I have won’t function with the homemade caps should look for one to fit for those caps.

 

[arcticap]

Hello to all, I have a percussion cap maker tool that can make percussion caps from aluminum cans. Was wondering if aluminum sheets or brass sheets was better? And how about the thicknesses of the sheet of either one?

TheOutlawkid highly recommended the roll of copper sheet from Hobby Lobby that has a thickness of .005/ 32 gauge.
He also said that the brass sheet is stiffer. --->>> https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/no-caps.880010/page-2#post-11757445

And does anyone make a custom capper? The cappers I have won’t function with the homemade caps should look for one to fit for those caps.

I don't know if these will work or not, but Traditions used to make 2 cappers, a field capper and a hunting capper, that were made from a rubber sheet and had holes that fit the percussion caps.
They are still for sale on eBay.
The reason why they may work is because they stretch over the top of the cap to hold it in place by a friction fit.
I located them by entering the words - rubber capper - into the eBay search box.
You can probably make one yourself using a leather punch to make holes in a piece of rubber or leather. Tire inner tubes are quite thick and flexible.

1. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rubber-Fie...768462?hash=item2f0e43834e:g:fdoAAOSwO7hZ~JEj

2. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Traditions...309806?hash=item3d0135d36e:g:3fYAAOSwHnFVra8I

TC made a similar Star 7 Capper made from flexible plastic that is based on a friction fit. But whether it will work depends on the size of your caps.

3. https://www.opticsplanet.com/thompson-center-star-7-round-cappers-7015.html

There's another type of star shaped capper that's sold on eBay that is made with a 3D printer.
The fingers have splits that slightly expand to hold and release the caps.
But that would also need to be tried to see if they fit.
These star cappers work by stripping the caps off the holders whereas the rubber cappers can be peeled away from the cap after it's placed on the nipple.

4. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Capper-for...hDarwoV3BBEV2b&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851

Title: Capper for Muzzleloaders - Percussion Cap Holder - Black Powder Capper
Seller: ooolek
eBay item number: 254171684088
There's close up photos on the eBay auction page.
There's 2 videos listed showing its use.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

I would think that the plastic star type capper arcticap shows above could be drilled out and then might fit the OP's caps.

 

[gtrgy888]

Aluminum foil homemade caps would be ideal, but fragile, volatile, and unreliable compared to the brass ones. And the fulminate of mercury you can make at home is toxic, corrosive, degrades over time faster, and is easier to accidentally set off than modern lead styphnate caps. For reliability of ignition and safety, it looks like the hard brass caps are here to stay, along with cap jams.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I was told to use an aluminum soda can.... <shrug>

LD

 

[Darth-Vang]

Update: Okay, so I bought some copper foil in .005” thick. I punch them out using the cap maker and I notice how difficult it was to extract the sheet out of the die, unlike the aluminum cans, I just whack it with the mallet and pull it out easy with no effort. I notice articap’s post said 32 gauge. I look at the ones I bought and it says 36 gauge. Guess I should of double checked here first before buying it? Is that why 32 gauge was preferred cause of the problems I’m going through right now?

 

[arcticap]

Update: Okay, so I bought some copper foil in .005” thick. I punch them out using the cap maker and I notice how difficult it was to extract the sheet out of the die, unlike the aluminum cans, I just whack it with the mallet and pull it out easy with no effort. I notice articap’s post said 32 gauge. I look at the ones I bought and it says 36 gauge. Guess I should of double checked here first before buying it? Is that why 32 gauge was preferred cause of the problems I’m going through right now?

That's the correct stuff that TheOutlawkid specified, but he should have said 36 gauge and not 32.
32 gauge would be thicker and not .005" .
Decimal to gauge chart. --->>> https://www.mittlerbros.com/media/pdffile/gauge_chart.pdf

I recall him saying that the copper sheet can be reused to re-make caps more than once.

 

[Darth-Vang]

I posted a picture of the finished products. Looks pretty neat. Was thinking of getting a custom die set from Corbin mfg. to make the factory looking percussion caps so it’ll function in the cappers. It’ll be fun. Since I have a swaging press already I might as well. And noticed that the chart shows 36 gauge to be at .004” and the 35 gauge shows .005” thick. I took out my caliper to measure the thickness on the copper foil and it is spot on. Thank god I got the right gauge. And what hole paper puncher size would be appropriate for punching paper discs so I can glue on top of the chemicals from falling off?

 

[Lyle]

I was told to use an aluminum soda can.... <shrug>

LD

I use pop cans. They work ok for me. Why buy something when you can get it for free.