What cleaning Patch?

[Bzcraig]

I am curious what you all use for cleaning patches. I'm having a hard time believing you are buying patches cause buying just doesn't seem to sit well with most of us. For me, when the 'tightly whities' for heading for the trash they first make a stop at the reloading/cleaning bench.

[uscra112]

I've been cutting up old T-shirts for years.

[Calamity Jake]

I buy white flanel and or unbleached muzzlin at the fabric store and cut my own with a pizza cutter type tool made for fabric.

[Bzcraig]

I've been cutting up old T-shirts for years.

Yup, t shirts make a stop at my bench too

[Rich Cronk]

I use paper towels for patches, and they work very well for me.

[sljacob]

old white cotton pillow cases.

[WILCO]

I inherited a lot of patches, plus I bought a bag of sliced up cotton ones too. Pretty much a lifetime supply I reckon..................

[wgr]

t-shirts ,socks,pillow cases, sheets. about any thing cotton i use it.

[Bent Ramrod]

White cotton gym socks, after they have worn out. Wash 'em, cut all the seams, open the tube and cut to size needed. Best absorbent material ever made.

[TXGunNut]

Yes, I buy patches. Rag bag is getting full, patches seem to be going up. I already use old underwear and socks for rags, guess there's no reason not to use them for patches. Thanks for the tip!

[bear67]

Never have enough cotton rags for my shops. Back 30+ years ago when we were shooting lots of trap and skeet and the kids were competing in 4-H trap and skeet, I took a piece of stainless tubing and made a cutter that fits on an arbor press that will cut a stack of round 12ga patches out of any cotton available--even ragged drawers which are plentiful around my homestead. I usually cut 6 at a time with a piece of EDPM on the anvil of the press.
New project could be to make a cutter for ..45, .38, .30 and see what I can do. I don't guess patches need to be round, but that is what I learned with.

[Mk42gunner]

Old t-shirts work for me too. It just seems wrong to pay several dollars for few hundred patches.

Robert

[Boyscout]

One yard of light colored flannel on sale at the local fabric store, throw it in the wash and cut it up into appropriate sizes in front of the television. Only ones I don't make are for my OTIS cleaning kit.

[btroj]

I have been buying mine for years. Use about 5 dollars of patches per year. Not worth worrying over that expense.

[454PB]

Yup, old cotton T-shirts and a pair of electric scissors.

[repawn]

White flannel from the fabric shop - I usually buy a few yards - Joann fabrics always has 50% off coupons on fabric.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

T- shirts

[shooter2]

My newest rifle has a Shilen bbl at $400. I only use butch's.

[Ed Barrett]

I use old flannel sheets. One king size sheet keeps me busy for a year or so. I cut it into 1 foot squares and keep a few on the bench and in the range bag with a scissors and cut them to size as I need them.

[FLINTNFIRE]

Old sheets , hickory shirts when they are threadbare , about any cotton rag or old worn out clothing.

[Driver man]

Old towels and tea towels. Worn out sheets .etc.

[41 mag fan]

Been buying the cotton/flannel patches for years. I'm like btroj, just can't seem to justify saving old clothes to make patches, when I might spend $5-15/yr. Old clothes do get reused though, in the shop for casting, wiping guns off ect ect.

[shdwlkr]

pillow ticking material, old jeans, old flannel shirts
The pillow ticking is used also with muzzle loaders I buy maybe 10 plus yards lasts a very long time
If you don't know what pillow ticking is go to Joann's the ladies there know and your wife if she sews most likely know

[Boerrancher]

Years ago Dad and I each bought a life time of cleaning patches at a gun show. They were the Mil Surp 30 cal patches which I cut down for the smaller stuff. Since Dad passed on, I now have his lifetime supply as well. For my Muzzleloaders I use paper towels as patches after the first initial scrub with a cloth one.

Best wishes,

Joe

[PbHurler]

I have been buying mine for years. Use about 5 dollars of patches per year. Not worth worrying over that expense.

Me too, a drop in the bucket compared to most other things.

[fouronesix]

Old tee shirts. The problem is I don't wear them out fast enough to keep up with my needs for cleaning patches. For serious work, I buy 100% cotton two-sided, light weight flannel by the yard, then cut into caliber specific size squares.

[Kull]

I buy patches, cotton flannel ones Brownells sells. Old t-shirts and other garments get used for shop rags. Besides that I go through patches faster than I wear out clothes anyway.

[snuffy]

Here's frugal for you! As a diabetic, I have to use an alcohol swab before injecting insulin. Those swabs, once the alcky dries off make a perfect 22 cal patch!

Otherwise, I buy butches patches. They're the best. As for using old "T"s or other rags, you don't always have the same thickness. As for making round patches, consider the waste as opposed to cutting them square.

[429421Cowboy]

Yep, old tees or jockys is what i use! But lately i have discovered that the blue shop towels actually make really good patches for shotguns or pistols, they can tear in a tight rifle bore.

[Friends call me Pac]

I picked up a sheet from Goodwill last fall and cut it up into .22, 30 & .50 patches with a pizza cutter looking cloth cutter. I have not even put a dent in my supply yet. Most of the sheet isn't even cut up yet. I really like them better than the ones I buy packaged because I use a tight fitting jag and the store bought ones (patches) tear way to easy for my liking.

[plmitch]

I have been buying mine for years. Use about 5 dollars of patches per year. Not worth worrying over that expense.

Yes Sir, worth every penny spent to buy them pre made.

[jcwit]

While the cost doesn't effect how I live, I subscribe to the old adage of 'A penny saved is a penny earned'. This may be why I have nothing I pay interest on as in loans. And yes it does make a difference, so maybe it does make a difference in how much disposable cash I have available.

As far as what fabric I use for patches, normally its older worn out flannel or cotton shirts. Going to have to try the alcohol pad idea also.

[km101]

t-shirts ,socks,pillow cases, sheets. about any thing cotton i use it.

Yep, same here. Reuse and recycle!

[ryan28]

I shoot black powder quite a bit, and use a tight patch. I have been buying "Butches" and they work good. Problem with cutting your own is no two are the same size, so you have to fiddle around with different size jags.
Some shooters wash and reuse patches, but I think I would need my own washing machine for that, wife would not be impressed!

[Copper75]

I buy the 12ga patches sold by the Southern Bloomer Co and then cut them to the size I need. They're cheap and 100% cotton. Paid about $8 for a big bag that's lasted me about 5 years. They sell em at Wally world and academy and gun shows.

[L Ross]

I was gifted a bunch of unused white cotton flannel milk filter bags. My wife is a quilter and has a rotary cutter, a self sealing cutting matt with a measuring grid. I just tell her what size I need and minutes later hundreds of patches. Of course this is the same gal that shot frontier cartridge in CAS and shot a buffalo with her C. Sharps 1885 in 40-65 loaded with home cast and BP. She understands the whys and hows of cleaning patches.

Duke

[Friends call me Pac]

I folded the sheet into 4 layers and laid it on a self sealing mat on a table. Using a yard stick I cut straight lines and ended up with 5"x5", 3"x3" & 1"x1" patches. Pretty quick and easy to do. In less than 30 minutes I had a quart bag full of each size.

[Bzcraig]

I shoot black powder quite a bit, and use a tight patch. I have been buying "Butches" and they work good. Problem with cutting your own is no two are the same size, so you have to fiddle around with different size jags.
Some shooters wash and reuse patches, but I think I would need my own washing machine for that, wife would not be impressed!

If my wife knew everything I have put in 'her' washing machine, I would have to buy her another one. Only thing is I don't know where she would put it cause I will still be using mine. :kidding: