wad punch question

[iron brigade]

Hi Gents,
i just bought a .44 wad punch for my cap n ball. question is what do i use under the material? so i don't ruin my punch. 2x4 maybe or????

[bob208]

i turn the end down to fit in a drill press. spin it in the drill press hold material on a pice of plywood and cut them out the punch will last a lot longer and you don't have all the beating and banging.

[iron brigade]

thats a good idea! :) thanks Bob

[Hellgate]

Ditto Bob's suggestion. I clamp a small piece of hardwood (1X2 or 1X4) in the drill press vise to punch the felt wads out on. I also hog out the step on the inside of the punch so when it fills with wads they can work their way up the inside of the punch and not get hung up on the ledge. I used a Dremel grinder to smooth the channel inside the punch. Otherwise the punch fills and the wads either back out or suddenly fling all over the work bench. With a smoother channel they still fling out of the punch but you can catch it just before and push them out the top with a copper wire or similar non dulling probe.

[Chicken Thief]

I use an old cutting board (HDPE)
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm153/Chickenthief/Skydning/Til%20andre/R0010907.jpg

[PanaDP]

I use an old cutting board (HDPE)
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm153/Chickenthief/Skydning/Til%20andre/R0010907.jpg

Same thing I do. I got a cutting board at ikea for $2 or something similar. It doesn't seem to dull things too quickly.

[sharps4590]

If you can find it a piece of industrial belting makes a great backboard. I found mine in a junk yard a loooong time ago. Punches are still sharp after all these years.

[Nobade]

I use a chunk of Delrin, but pretty much the same deal as the HDPE.

[iron brigade]

all good idea's, thanks guy's.

now for the next question:
how do i go about lubing these things? throw 'em in a baggy with some olive oil or ????

[405]

Wads in a bag with your choice of lube/oil will work. I wouldn't lube too many at one time because most vegetable oils will turn rancid in time. Crisco is handy and works. It's a little stiffer and won't run into the powder when loaded quite as quickly as oil. I use a home made stiffer lube about the consistency of Crisco but it doesn't turn rancid like Crisco or other veg oil based products. I put felt wads in a flat bottom pan along with a small amount of lube. Heat with low heat until all lube is melted. Let cool. Remove wads and store in a plastic bag.

[iron brigade]

ok, thanks. i'm a cw skirmisher and was using beeswax/crisco mix but was so messy at the range. i have used wonder wads in the past but i like to make my own stuff plus save some $$$$.

[405]

ok, thanks. i'm a cw skirmisher and was using beeswax/crisco mix but was so messy at the range. i have used wonder wads in the past but i like to make my own stuff plus save some $$$$.

Exactly. The Crisco + beeswax will work fine and the wax can be adjusted so the lube won't get so runny when it warms up. The wonder wads work well but they are a little pricey and who doesn't want to make this stuff for own use and the reenactment activities beginning about now going thru the summer.

[shotman]

lead ingot or muffin ingot when it gets cut bad heat with a torch and have new again

[Nobade]

I lube 'em with Pearl Lube (soy flakes, toilet bowl ring, crisco) in a tuna fish can on my coffee mug warmer. Just put the wads in the melted lube, let 'em soak a little while and remove with tweezers. Dry on wax paper. Gatofeo lube works well too - 1 part mutton tallow, 1 part Gulf canning wax, 1/2 part beeswax. Neither of these lubes go rancid, and both work very well. Gatofeo lube probably the best.

[iron brigade]

hello all,
thought i would follow up on how the 1860 shot with the felt wads i prepared. to say the least- i'm impressed. 6 shots into 1.7 inches at 25 yards off a rest. i do believe the wads tighten groups.
the load:
24 grs 3fff goex
50/40/10 beeswax/crisco/oliveoil mix
.454 home cast ball
win bp #11 cap
i put a higher sight on this pistol last year because it shot 10 inches high now it shoots dead center. thanks to jb weld. reckon i'm ready for competition.
thanks to all who replied with help and imput

[sharps4590]

That's good shooting iron!!! Congrats on the load too!

[fliintlock555]

A late note I punch out duro felt on the end grain of a 6 inch piece of 4x4.
Cutting with the grain will not dull punch like punching cross grain.