Author Topic: Cleaning patches the cheap way (Read 958 times)

lilabner · « **on:** March 09, 2006, 10:56:40 AM »

The other day, I was shopping for cleaning patches at my local discount store. Noticed that the price was the same for rifle patches and for 12 gauge shotgun patches (Hoppes) and that there were the same number of patches in all the blister packs. So, I bought some 12 ga. and took them home. Cut in fourths, they are good for .22 and .243 calibers. Cut in thirds and doubled, they are good for .270 cal. and cut in half and doubled, they fit well for .30 cal. and 8mm. (all fits made with the appropriate caliber cleaning jags) I didn't try any other calibers but am sure it can be figured out. So, you don't need to buy and store all the various caliber patches unless you prefer to and there is a $ saving if you don't mind a little scissor work.
Can anyone provide info. on where to buy bulk patching material? That is better yet but I've lost my local source of supply.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2006, 11:32:01 AM »

If you're into cutting your own patches, a cutting pad and rotary cutter from a fabric store work much better than scissors. I used to make all my own patches from bulk diaper material from a fabric store, that's what I used to cut em. I ran across a case of milsurp patches about 10yrs ago at a garage sale and haven't needed to cut any since!!

Tim

mountainview · « **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2006, 05:01:46 AM »

Head to the local Walmart or fabric store and get a couple yards of cotton flannel. Scissoring it into sections is a bit of a pain but that rotary cutter idear sounds like the ticket.

dave375hh · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2006, 06:58:41 AM »

I use what they call"double flocked cotton flannel" with a Fiskers rotery cutter. I have a 2' by 3' nylon cutting board mounted on one bench and cut them on there. I usually cut four layers at a time so I get a bunch of patches in a hurry. The nylon is a great place to work on guns without marring them also.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2006, 07:15:57 AM »

Dave, I'd have to buy my own cutting board to do that, don't think the wife would like me to put "her" board in "my" shop!!! :lol:

Tim

Don Fischer · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2006, 06:00:49 PM »

I use what is commonly refered to as old t-shirt's, a rotary cutter I stole from my ex and a piece of plywood to cut on.

jvs · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2006, 03:49:37 AM »

I have been cutting up my old shirts for cleaning patches for a long time. And if my old shirts are woven tight enough and are about .012 thick I shoot them out of my Flintlock.

jro45 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2006, 05:38:06 AM »

Sounds like good ideas. When I ran out of old T shirts. I started buying cleaning patches at this indoor range by the bag full, but they weren't cheap. Even tho they lasted a couple years and I shoot alot at least twice a week sometimes three times a week.

dave375hh · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2006, 02:32:12 AM »

Tim,
I lucked into this piece when the FDA told the packing plants they were not allowed to use the nylon anymore. I got a piece that was being taken out of a local plant. Mine is over kill like I said it's 2' by 3' but it's also 1 1/4" thick. WalMart sells smaller ones that are 12X18". I used these for years untill I got the big piece, and they are cheap.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2006, 05:57:13 AM »

My wife's cutting pad sounds like the Walmart type, it's ¼" thick and 2'x3', so it makes a nice large cutting area for lots of patches, I also used it for cutting shooting patches for my flintlocks. The pad is ruled on all 4 sides so it makes it easy to use "my" 4' steel ruler as a guide to lay on the fabric and run the rotary cutter along it the full width of the fabric. As someone else mentioned, 4 or 5 layers of fabric can be cut in one motion!! :wink:

Thx

Tim

lilabner · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2006, 06:51:42 AM »

Great ideas and thanks to all!

lilabner · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2006, 06:58:06 AM »

Great ideas and thanks to all!

anweis · « **Reply #12 on:** March 21, 2006, 06:07:47 AM »

Quote from: lilabner

Can anyone provide info. on where to buy bulk patching material? That is better yet but I've lost my local source of supply.

That is what old T-shirts are for.