I'd like to make a wooden cleaning rod. But how?

[Wayne Smith]

Track of the Wolf has muzzle loader rod supplies, including rods of varying diameters and ends.

[country gent]

Brass tubing can be purchased online by ID OD wall thickness at online metals .com.. In 12" lengths.

[elmacgyver0]

Here's what I have so far. Im happy with it, but I would like some brass or copper sleeves where the rods meet to make it meatier and abit more solid. The wood is pretty thin around the edges.
I had an old cleaning rod that came in a big Winchester kit that the handle broke off, so I jsut cut the male and female parts off and inserted them into the dowels. The big problem was drilling center in that small of pieces of round stock but I managed with a weird bubba setup and a drill press...

Shell casings? 9mm, .32acp etc.

[Winger Ed.]

[QUOTEShell casings? 9mm, .32acp etc.[/QUOTE]

I wish I'd thought of that!

[Baltimoreed]

If I were going to make a wood covered cleaning rod I would start with 2 pieces of oak slat. I’d use my mini mill or drill press to router 1/2 the thickness [plus a little for the epoxy] of a steel gi 3 piece cleaning rod section into both pieces. The wood would hide the female end but expose the male end. The grooved slats would be epoxied together with the rod inside then I’d turn it down to the dia that I wanted. I’d make a male and female end to fit on my lathe’s head and tailstock [I think that’s what they’re called]. Would give you the look of wood with the strength of steel. It also would give me an excuse to buy a wood lathe.

[Kev18]

[QUOTEShell casings? 9mm, .32acp etc.

I wish I'd thought of that![/QUOTE]

I thought of it, but I dont have any that fit sadly. that would of been the best option.

[JimB..]

I bough them at the dollar store. So lets assume the worst possible.

I’m afraid so, the stain really soaks into end grain, so the dark areas are where the grain is not running straight down the dowel. You’ve already noted that cleaning rods are no longer made from wood, a broken dowel in a barrel is often miserable to remove.

I’d go get a piece of straight grained oak and split off some bits by battoning with a knife and mallet, then shave them round with a knife, drawknife or handplane. It easiest to cut the pieces a little long so you can hold then in a vise for shaping.

[M-Tecs]

screw in archery inserts would be closer in size.

https://www.3riversarchery.com/buy/a...dapters&isort=

[C-dubb]

If I were making this I would not use a wood dowel, instead I would rive it out of a piece of green oak or hickory.
If you are not familiar with riving, it is the process of splitting the piece out of a log so it follows the grain. Then you use a spoke shave and/or draw knife to form it. Much stronger than a dowel.
This is how the small spindles are made on a Windsor chair and probably how cleaning rods were made back in the day.
Now you've got me thinking.

[Kev18]

If I were making this I would not use a wood dowel, instead I would rive it out of a piece of green oak or hickory.
If you are not familiar with riving, it is the process of splitting the piece out of a log so it follows the grain. Then you use a spoke shave and/or draw knife to form it. Much stronger than a dowel.
This is how the small spindles are made on a Windsor chair and probably how cleaning rods were made back in the day.
Now you've got me thinking.

I know. This was just supposed to be an easy project. Something fun and fast. Turned out to be more complicated than I thought. Still fun though!