DIY Wads for Revolvers

[daboyleroy]

Durafelt Is used to make under collars for suit coats. It is 100% wool and can be found in different thickness. If you know anyone that makes suits they should have some, scrap pieces and cheap. Pool table felt is the same product. I purchase my wad material from Hobby Lobby in the fabric area. It is the same weight/thickness and is 100% cotton, works great when used with homemade lube. In a pinch I have used HL bed ticking ( punches out good) and used 2 plies and lube as 2 ply. Ticking comes in 2 stripe colors ..red and blue. Got punch from Harbor Freight.

 

[J-Bar]

... but find them too messy to use over the ball, first shot and the lube has been partially melted on adjoining chambers resulting in lube being deposited on out side surfaces.

Well, yeah, "messy" on the outside surfaces is what you want. I don't really worry about the fouling in the barrel because the next ball will scrape it out. I want the barrel/cylinder gap surfaces and arbor to stay nice and gooey, though. And putting the lube in front of the ball does that very well.

The only time I have had a problem with insufficient lube was while shooting black powder .38 Special cartridges in a rather long barreled rifle. The bullets did not carry sufficient lube to the end of the barrel and the bullets were key holing on distant targets. But I have never had that problem with any percussion revolver. (I no longer own that rifle by the way, for that reason.)

 

[rodwha]

Well, yeah, "messy" on the outside surfaces is what you want. I don't really worry about the fouling in the barrel because the next ball will scrape it out. I want the barrel/cylinder gap surfaces and arbor to stay nice and gooey, though. And putting the lube in front of the ball does that very well.

The only time I have had a problem with insufficient lube was while shooting black powder .38 Special cartridges in a rather long barreled rifle. The bullets did not carry sufficient lube to the end of the barrel and the bullets were key holing on distant targets. But I have never had that problem with any percussion revolver. (I no longer own that rifle by the way, for that reason.)

When I designed my cap n ball boolits I gave them a smaller lube groove as I didn't see the need for a cavernous one with a 7.5" barrel and it would only take up powder capacity (which I later found didn't matter as the accurate loads leave space anyway). But I've been eyeing a Remington revolving carbine...

 

[DD4lifeusmc]

yeah customs rules really suck when ordering find an old felt cowboy hat that is the type of felt you be looking for. lots of fabric shops stock it or can get it.
Then a hollow punch about 7/16 in diameter will cut good sized tight fitting wads

or you can punch wads from a breakfast cereal box. put that over the powder then the lube pill.
Lots of options pick one that works good for you.

 

[eccentricjackal]

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions.

While this post was up, I may have found a possible source for the exact stuff, I am awaiting an email response from them, if it is the correct stuff I will post it here for any other UK shooters!

If it isn't, I am happy to just use normal felt since a few of you have reassured me that it is only a transport method for the lube, and not vitally important how dense it is!

I will be trying out some of the other options you have suggested too, they definitely look interesting.

Thanks again,

Ryan

 

[rdstrain49]

Hi all,

I've been looking into making wads instead of paying £5.50 per hundred (plus shipping), and found the only suggestion on felt to be Durofelt, which by all accounts is perfect... if you live in the US...

Unfortunately overseas shipping removes the money saving from it unless I buy in huge quantities.

So my question; would any normal 1/8 inch wool felt do the job or is the firm grade essential? - the only British companies i have found that specify density are specialist engineering companies and charge a small fortune for the stuff...

Thanks for any help!

Ryan

ej; If you have a second hand store nearby, try old mens or ladies hats. You should be able to buy them cheap. Just be sure to test them first to be sure they are natural material and not synthetic. BTW, remember, cut the wads from the hats, don't try to ram the entire hat down the bore.

 

[robhof]

You might also try a Govt. surplus store or 2nd hand store. When I went into the USAF, I was issued a wool overcoat, label said 100% wool felt, very heavy and within 4 yrs they were considered obsolete, was over 10 yrs worth of wads there. Just be sure to check the label, and I have used felt samples from an Ausie firm on Ebay, they are very soft but I make the lube a bit stiffer with extra wax and they shoot just fine.

 

[robhof]

OohRah, I soak the felt in the lube before cutting the wads, much easier, I also save the scraps to use in my .75 cannon as wadding material.

 

[Noz]

I punch my wads before waxing. I use durofelt or old hats and for 44 cal I use a cheap 11mm punch.

 

[44 Dave]

I lube then punch, the scraps are wonderful fire starters. All Winter long I have to start a fire in the kitchen cook stove for breakfast.

 

[rodinal220]

Gatofeo No. 1 Lubricant is the Bees Knees for felt wads.

 

[Ironhand54]

I use a mix of Beeswax and Murphys oil soap. When heated it is liquid, at room temperature it's hard.

My method is to get the lube hot. Punch the first wad and drop it in the lube. Punch the second wad, drop it and flip the first. Punch the third, drop it, flip #2, pull #1 out with tweezers and lay on wax paper. After cooling peel off and use.

Any 100% wool felt will work. If you are worried about it being too thin use 2 wads.

Ironhand

 

[orpington]

A good mixture for lubricant for wars is 2 parts tallow, 2 parts paraffin, 1 part beeswax.