ramrod

[old ugly]

the ramrod for my new gun
most of you have done this but i thought i would show my mornings work.
i fabricated both of the ends, threaded the back ramrod tip for a worm or jag, turned the wood and then pinned them on.
the distance between the barrel and ramrod channels is real tight at the front lock bolt so the ramrod needs to be skinnier at that point, the reason for the taper on the rod end.
i pin with copper from house wire, its easy to rivet over, easy to remove if you ever have to change an end and its free.
ou
tom

 

[thompson50]

Do you know how to put a stripe on the ramrod so it looks like a barber pole?

 

[old ugly]

Do you know how to put a stripe on the ramrod so it looks like a barber pole?

ive never done that. i know it has been discussed in this forum before. try the search and see what shows up.
ou

 

[old ugly]

haha! and it even fits!
ou

 

[thompson50]

Thanks, I’ll give that a try. Nice job

 

[Rifleman1776]

Good picture tutorial. It is a job many of us old timers have done many times. But, mine, sadly, are not as neat as yours. Ye are staying in the tradition of do it yerself.

 

[user 48679]

Do you know how to put a stripe on the ramrod so it looks like a barber pole?

On an un-finished wood RR, wrap some kerosene-soaked twine spirally around the wood, one end to the other.

Ensure that the spiral spacing is the pattern wanted, then light the twine - let it burn enough to char the spiral pattern into the wood, then pull the twine off.

Lightly wipe down the RR after it cools & apply a finish

I would respectfully suggest that anybody attempting this method first practice on a few sacrificial dowels or broomsticks. (don't ask how I know this)


Alternately, here's a thread that has suggestions for other methods:

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/burned-wooden-ramrod.43406/

 

[hanshi]

Hey, that was well done, both rod and photos.

 

[thompson50]

On an un-finished wood RR, wrap some kerosene-soaked twine spirally around the wood, one end to the other.

Ensure that the spiral spacing is the pattern wanted, then light the twine - let it burn enough to char the spiral pattern into the wood, then pull the twine off.

Lightly wipe down the RR after it cools & apply a finish

I would respectfully suggest that anybody attempting this method first practice on a few sacrificial dowels or broomsticks. (don't ask how I know this)


Alternately, here's a thread that has suggestions for other methods:

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/burned-wooden-ramrod.43406/

Thank you for the advice. Time to go to HD and burn up some dowels.

 

[ohio ramrod]

Nice how to post. I have been making ramrods for over thirty years and follow the same basic procedure except I add an exoxy glue to reinforce the wood ( or fiberglass),and use brass brads for the pins since I have brass brads on hand from my woodworking. The copper is a little easier to rivet and still should be plenty strong enough. As to the striping I use paint thinner instead of kerosene, it burns faster and has little smell.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Nice job

 

[PathfinderNC]

Cool !! Wasn't it dangerous pulling electric wiring out of your house to do that?

 

[old ugly]

Cool !! Wasn't it dangerous pulling electric wiring out of your house to do that?

it was the ground. all good.
ou

 

[The Crisco Kid]

# 12 wire?

 

[old ugly]

# 12 wire?

cut from #14-2

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

View attachment 67213

Well done, have a question though as I've done the same process, how do you keep the other end of the rod from flopping about while your addressing the chuck end?

 

[Sandy Jarrell]

Well done, have a question though as I've done the same process, how do you keep the other end of the rod from flopping about while your addressing the chuck end?

I use low speed and a collet chuck on my wood lathe.

 

[ord sgt]

Good looking job.
Then, there are the majority of folks that do not own a lathe and a mill and the skill to use them. I bought my ram rod tips and I used a file to trim the wood end to the slip fit size of the tip. After drilling the hole, I use a finish nail to secure the tip to the rod.

 

[Celticstoneman]

On an un-finished wood RR, wrap some kerosene-soaked twine spirally around the wood, one end to the other.

Ensure that the spiral spacing is the pattern wanted, then light the twine - let it burn enough to char the spiral pattern into the wood, then pull the twine off.

Lightly wipe down the RR after it cools & apply a finish

I would respectfully suggest that anybody attempting this method first practice on a few sacrificial dowels or broomsticks. (don't ask how I know this)


Alternately, here's a thread that has suggestions for other methods:

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/burned-wooden-ramrod.43406/

A friend taught me that method fifty two years ago in Harvey, Illinois.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Do you know how to put a stripe on the ramrod so it looks like a barber pole?

My first spiral, and others, have been burned in with just a plumbers propane solder torch. Holding the RR in one hand and torch in the other, you just start burning and turning. They do not come out perfectly symmetrical, but it works for me. It gives it the hand crafted look.