Try a Semisane Flush Rod

One of the projects I've had in the back of my mind was to make a flush rod that would ease the cleaning of a muzzle loader bore. I wanted a rod that would pump water our of the end, but still allow mounting a brush or cotton swab on the end of the rod. Well, I've succeeded in making one that works darn well.

Here's what I did.

I went to my local Ace Hardware and bought the following six items.





The items are as follows (left to right / top row first):

10 ft of 3/8” OD x 1/4” ID Vinyl Tubing @ $0.29 per foot - $2.90
5/16” OD x ½” Length Threaded Aluminum Spacer w/10-32 Thread - $0.65
1/4” HB x 1/4” MPT Hose Barb - $1.79
1/2” x 1/4” MPT Hose Barb - $2.99
3/4” x 1/2” Hose Adapter - $3.99
11/32” x .014 x 36” Brass Tube - $4.99
TOTAL: $17.31 plus tax

Here's a close up of the smaller parts.



The key part is the 10-32 threaded aluminum spacer. It's a slip fit into the brass tube.




I used a fine tooth hack saw to cut four channels into the side of the spacer - as deep as I could go without impacting the integrity of the threads. This is what it looked like after the cuts.




Then I mixed up a dab of two-part epoxy on a piece of aluminum foil.




And used the epoxy to glue the spacer into one end of the rod - leaving it stick out of the end about 1/16". After the epoxy was partially dry, I used a small wire to assure the four cut channels were clear and not filled up with epoxy.




I used a little more epoxy to secure the hose barb to the other end of the tube.




Then I attached the vinyl tubing.



This set-up allows water to flow out of the end of the rod with a brush or cotton mop attached.



This is what a low pressure water flow looks like with no brush or mop attached. It's a great way to flush the face of the breech. I either put a patch over the nipple and lower the hammer to block water flow, or remove the nipple and install my Zerk fitting flush tube to channel the water away from the lock and stock. (Zerk flush tube is here: http://www.huntingnet.com//forum/tm.aspx?m=3378512 )



If you block the threaded hole with a short 10-32 round head bolt you get a flow like this (really flushed the grooves).




Put on a brush and you get this.




Put on a cotton mop and you get this.




This is what it looks like flushing the barrel of my New Englander with the cotton mop on the end.




So, what do you think. Is it worth $18 and an hour of your time?

So, what do you think. Is it worth $18 and an hour of your time?

Click to expand...

No, cleaning a muzzleloader ain't rocket science and I'm not sure why some need to make such a project out of it. :v

Very interesting idea.

You should build and market them.

:thumbsup:

HD

"So, what do you think. Is it worth $18 and an hour of your time? "

No, I find the simple method I have used for over 30 years works fine, a wet patch followed by a dry after letting the barrel sit for a while and soak while I clean the lock...it looks like one might get the scope wet that would not be a good thing...........scope? what forum am I on? did I get lost somehow? I better retrace my steps.

I would have used a compression fitting for the upper end of the tube but that would add another buck to the price. Ingenious! Now you just need to rig a foot controlled flow interrupter so you can easily turn off the water before removing the rod from the gun to avoid overspray. Maybe bore out a wooden handle that would slip over the rod and epoxy it in place so you have a good grip on it. I have a simplified flush tube I attach to a hand pump connected to a one gallon bottle. I fill one bottle with hot soapy water and one with rinse water. Your tube system would eliminate having to remove my flush tube and use the cleaning rod and then switching back to the flush rod. Great tinkering :thumbsup:

That's not a scope, thats a Rifle hanger mounted on the fence to hold the rifle while cleaning :rotf: Another thought, I have a proctology appointment coming up, you think that could save me from drinking that god awful drain cleaner?

Ghettogun said:

That's not a scope, thats a Rifle hanger mounted on the fence to hold the rifle while cleaning :rotf: Another thought, I have a proctology appointment coming up, you think that could save me from drinking that god awful drain cleaner?

Click to expand...

:haha: :haha: Actually Gettogun, it's not a scope - it's a remote extension of my right eyeball which doesn't work all that well without the extension.

Some of the fun of shooting MLs is making our own stuff. :thumbsup:

I dunno, Semi. I think that with a hooked breech firearm like that one, taking the barrel off and sticking it in a coffee can filled with soapy water would actually be easier. Also, a ramrod, pushing that water down the barrel and in and out the nipple hole cleans the patent breech.

In use, does your rod make a mess with water going everywhere?

GW

Bet some company has some thing like it for sale in less han a year. Larry

No mess at all Wiskers, so long as you block the nipple with a patch and the hammer down (or install the Zerk fitting flush tube), and position the gun with the bore tilted downward. Check the flow of water running out of the bore in the picture of the New Englander.

It really works amazingly well. I sometimes come back from the range with three or four dirty guns. This sucker will reduce clean-up time significantly. Not all of my guns have a hooked breech.

Thanks, nice to see what talented individuals are capable of.

Wonder if there is an an application for flintlocks with a touch of modification?

Again, thanks for sharing your idea.

RDE

Wonder if there is an an application for flintlocks with a touch of modification?

Click to expand...

Hey Richard, if you can find a Zerk fitting with the same threads as your touch hole liner you could make a Zerk flush tube that would work. An alternative would be a piece of brass tubing about six inches long threaded the same as the liner. Just screw it in to direct water away from the gun.

I would recommend pinning the 10-32 spacer in place so you don't lose a brush down the bore.

HD

Huntin Dawg said:

Very interesting idea.

You should build and market them.

:thumbsup:

HD

Click to expand...

DITTO! Put it in a kit and sell it for $29 - $39
Maybe brand it through a name-brand company!

I like tinkering with stuff, and I salute your creativity and 'tinkerability".

For me personally, I believe its simpler to just pump flush the bore, breech, and vent with a cleaning patch on a jag but that's just me.

But if that works for you that's great, and you'll probably enjoy the fact that you built it every time you use it.
:thumbsup:

I don't know if it was worth it, but I sure do like it! :thumbsup:

Richard Eames said:

Thanks, nice to see what talented individuals are capable of.

Wonder if there is an an application for flintlocks with a touch of modification?

Again, thanks for sharing your idea.

RDE

Click to expand...

Yep, thanks for sharing. :applause:

Had a buddy build one about 2 months ago all most like that. We used one of the garden sprayers (trigger type) to control the water flow. It works but I will stick with the old tried and true methods to clean my guns. Don't have a garden hose in the desert or on top of a mountain.
Nice idea you are thinking more than a lot of people now days.
Fox :thumbsup:

Ghettogun said:

That's not a scope, thats a Rifle hanger mounted on the fence to hold the rifle while cleaning :rotf: Another thought, I have a proctology appointment coming up, you think that could save me from drinking that god awful drain cleaner?

Click to expand...

I'll guarantee if you use the bristle brush followed by the cotton mop you'll be Squeaky Clean and nary a trace of hemorrhoids.
:rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :blah: :v

Very Ingenious! You have too much free time on your hands.