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Pillow Ticking

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George C

40 Cal.
Joined
Dec 2, 2017
Messages
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I am going to purchase some pillow Ticking 100% cotton I am going to take my caliper with me to measure it. My concern is if I measure it and it falls in between .010 and .015 and I have read that I should wash it before using will the washing change the thickness and if so by how much.
 
I find it doesn't change much after washing.

I can make the material any thickness just by how I measure with my calipers.

The only way I can get a consistent reading is to squeeze the jaws of my caliper as tightly as I can between my thumb and first finger. If I use the thumb adjustment on the bottom of the caliper I can get readings all over the place.

I have a Starret caliper that is very precise.
 
I used my calipers to measure patches I bought from two different makers and they measure correctly so I am pretty sure I will get a correct reading at the store. My concern was the shrinkage after washing.
 
The fabric does "fluff" after washing and drying so a light pressure measurement will change, But the "crushed" measurement stays the same.
"Crushed" is when the fabric is pressed tightly in caliper or micrometer jaws, it's that measurement that more closely mimics what happens when fabric is used as patch between a lead ball and the bore of the rifle.
Guy's will argue that a caliper measures differently then a micrometer,, and they're right, it's about the amount of fabric that's in wide jaws vs a small round micrometer.
But it doesn't matter because your measurement only applies to you. You are comparing fabric for your use. Whether the measurement is .010-.011-.016 or .020 with the tool your using,, it only affects your use of the fabric.
Your use of your tool is the only thing that matters, as long as you use it the same way all the time.
Get it?
So yeah, fluffy soft measurement changes after washing, crushed doesn't.
 
Buy a small piece of different thickness - wash them and then give them a try (lube first) - pick the one that gives you the best accuracy with ease of loading.
 
I agree mostly with what was said.Measure the same exact way every time. Only thing for me is, accurate does not load easy. Good and tight is not "easy".
 
I measure fabric same as Eric does. You'll find mattress ticking thicker than pillow ticking. My preferred fabric is cotton canvas duck. It's tight weaved and tough and measures .022" crushed with calipers. Never had it burn, char or tear.
 
You know they say you aren't supposed to see light through the ticking or drill. At JoAnns, I saw dots of light through the weave of both types of real cotton ticking and #40 cotton drill on the shelf.

Not sure what people mean by that.
 
I recently purchased a yard of the blue stripe PT from JoAnn Fabrics and it's running .018 which works ideal for me as I bought 1000 of .50 cal balls that are .487". Using a .020 patch with my 487's feels too tight in my bore especially after a few shots.
 
Smokey Plainsman said:
You know they say you aren't supposed to see light through the ticking or drill. At JoAnns, I saw dots of light through the weave of both types of real cotton ticking and #40 cotton drill on the shelf.

Not sure what people mean by that.



:idunno: You got me, too. :hmm:
 
roadclam; look at what you just said, and you'll see why your load gets real tight. 50 cal.-.018 patch ,487 ball ?
 

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