patch cutter

I would possibly like to cut my own patches. Where to get a round patch cutting tool? Looked at the wolf and Dixie and didn't see anything.

Pre-cut patches need not be round. I have excellent accuracy using pre-cut square patches made for .016 pillow ticking. Once washed to remove the "sizing" the fabric can be torn into strips then stacked five or more thick to be cut into squares. The lines on the pillow ticking material helps to get them all the right size. Square patches are a little easier to center over the muzzle than round nes, at least for me. One inch square works great for both my .45 and .50 caliber muzzle loaders. Inch and a quarter for .54 and .58.

Good advise. If ya just gotta have a circle I hear Ohio Ramrod (member here) makes a dandy punch!

Get some hole saw blades. I get them at a used tool store for a buck each. I have several cutters for different size patches.

Mount the size you want in the arbor without a drill bit. You may need to use a piece of 1/4" rod. Spin it up in your drill and grind the teeth off with a bench grinder. Go slow and don't burn the edge. Next, grind a nice bevel. Finish up with a stone. I also do this in a lathe using a Dremil tool for the final edge. Please be careful and don't cut yourself!

To use the cutter run it in the drill press at a slow speed. I fold my cloth for several layers at a time. Use a piece of wood to protect the cutter's edge.

Jedediah starr trading co has them. But they,re expensive 45 caliber is $58. Hopes this helps.

+1 on square patches. My patch cutter looks like a scissors...

Mushka,
Hey you checked the right places, but I think you must have searched with a name the company did not recognize. Dixie and Track both have them. Use Wad Punch for the cutter search name. I tried to get Dixie's link, but failed, so you get a mini photo
Hope this helps.
Flintlocklar :grin:
https://flic.kr/p/JU4mch] [/url]Screen Shot 2018-05-10 at 9.11.36 PM by Larry(Omaha)

Scota4570 said:

Get some hole saw blades. I get them at a used tool store for a buck each. I have several cutters for different size patches.

Mount the size you want in the arbor without a drill bit. You may need to use a piece of 1/4" rod. Spin it up in your drill and grind the teeth off with a bench grinder. Go slow and don't burn the edge. Next, grind a nice bevel. Finish up with a stone. I also do this in a lathe using a Dremil tool for the final edge. Please be careful and don't cut yourself!

To use the cutter run it in the drill press at a slow speed. I fold my cloth for several layers at a time. Use a piece of wood to protect the cutter's edge.

Click to expand...

I made my own drill press cutter, but the next one will be made using a hole saw...Easy peasy... :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

Do a general search using the words "arch punch"

What with all's been said and done, my patch cutter will probably be scissors. Thanks everybody for the responses.

mushka said:

What with all's been said and done, my patch cutter will probably be scissors. Thanks everybody for the responses.

Click to expand...

A punch is fine if you plan on sitting down and cutting say a thousand at a time, and don't plan on cutting patches for a long time, but myself, I can use scissors and in about 30 min. cut enough that will probably last me 3 months.

Jimbo47 said:

mushka said:

What with all's been said and done, my patch cutter will probably be scissors. Thanks everybody for the responses.

Click to expand...

A punch is fine if you plan on sitting down and cutting say a thousand at a time, and don't plan on cutting patches for a long time, but myself, I can use scissors and in about 30 min. cut enough that will probably last me 3 months.

Click to expand...

Yeppers. Goes fast. I am fortunate to have a very large pair of antique tailors sissors that do the job neatly and quickly. But, have to confess :redface: , for shooting I cut at muzzle. But my cleaning patches are cut by myself from baby blanket flannel.

I use a drill press cutter.. it's easy, fast and they all come out exactly the same.

cleaning patches I use a scissors...

You can also shoot square patches .....If that's your thing.

I have been cutting patches with hole saws for years. As said before, cut teeth off, grind the edge sharp. Cut drill bit off so nothing is in cutter. Put in drill press, set on high speed. Put wood down and fold cloth about 20 times. Hold tight and push down real slow. You can do this about 3-4 times before you have to stop drill press to clean out patches. You can make enough for all year in 1/2 hour. Works great. Eldo

That's been my patch cutter for nigh on 53 years.

Just a humble opinion but if someone wants to make a patch cutter out of a hole saw and they have guns of several different calibers, one saw size will work.

Mathematically, a .45 would use a patch that is about 1 3/16 in diameter.
A .50 would use a patch that is a bit over 1 1/4 inches and a .54 would use a patch that is a bit over 1 3/8 inches.

With a 1 1/4 inch saw only being about 1/16 inches larger than the size for a .45 and about 1/8 inch smaller than a .54 patch, it can easily work for both.

Remember, those differences are the difference in diameters so the radial difference from the center of the bore to the edge of the patch is only 1/2 of those values.
That makes the error for the 1 1/4 inch diameter patch when using it on a .54 caliber gun only about 1/16" of an inch.

In any case, the 1 1/4 inch patch is going to be at least 1/4" larger than the octagon on the barrel so the error will never be noticed by you or the round ball. :grin:

I got scissors. Been working great for close to 60 years.

the company that makes a good quality Arch punch is called Osborne. I have found the sizes I need on e-bay. Many times you can find new and unused units.

Push the ball flush into a wood loading block or muzzle and use a sheath or folding knife to slice it flush. And it's ALWAYS the perfect size and properly centered.

No "cutter" necessary other that your knife. ;-)

That still works too.