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General discussion => Black Powder Shooting => Topic started by: Al Lapp on January 11, 2011, 09:43:59 PM

Title: Wood ramrods
Post by: Al Lapp on January 11, 2011, 09:43:59 PM
I broke my ramrod at the range on sunday. Had a heck of a time getting the slivers out of my hand. So I need to make myself a new rod. Seeing as the only place I seem to be able to find hickory is track, I visited our local Home Depot and picked up some doweling that appears to look like mahogany. My question is could I use this to make a new ramrod, or should I try to find some hickory? I made myself a range rod out of drill rod with a brass muzzleguard. But that is awkward to carry on the trail. Any help would be appreciated.

Also I looked up ramrods in the search but didn't come up with the information I needed.     Al
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Levy on January 11, 2011, 10:01:36 PM
Try to stick with Hickory.  I bought some dowels that were Ramin wood and they broke too easily.

James Levy
 
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: LynnC on January 11, 2011, 10:14:34 PM
Agreed - ramin makes a poor RR
I make my own rods from hickory tool handles by splitting and scraping.  That way I can taper them and leave a swell at the business end.  Lota work but not impossible. .
I think it was Dennis Glazner selling hickory RR blanks a while back.
You got options........Lynn
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Black Hand on January 11, 2011, 10:42:25 PM
I broke my ramrod at the range on sunday. Had a heck of a time getting the slivers out of my hand. So I need to make myself a new rod. Seeing as the only place I seem to be able to find hickory is track, I visited our local Home Depot and picked up some doweling that appears to look like mahogany. My question is could I use this to make a new ramrod, or should I try to find some hickory? I made myself a range rod out of drill rod with a brass muzzleguard. But that is awkward to carry on the trail. Any help would be appreciated.

Also I looked up ramrods in the search but didn't come up with the information I needed.     Al

Either buy a hickory ramrod from a reputable source or make you own from a hickory plank purchased at your local lumber store.  I fear that using the unknown wooden dowel as a ramrod may result in additional and perhaps worse damage to you.....
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Dave K on January 11, 2011, 11:11:10 PM
You need a new hunting rod for the gun, but you need a new rod for the range. Many of the companies handle range rods. Don't forget the muzzle guide as well. On the hunting rod, be sure to pin the ferrules, on as well as glue them.  IMHO a range rod is just as important as the gun. You don't need a rod if you don't have a gun. If you have a gun, how are you going to clean it and shoot it?
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: SCLoyalist on January 12, 2011, 12:16:47 AM
There's a product called the 'virtually indestructable ramrod'.   It's a wooden exterior with a steel rod for a core, brass or steel tips on each end, and can be ordered tapered to desired length and diameter for your thimbles.    http://www.periodramrod.com/

If you can't find a blank suitable to make your own, you might look at this as a substitute.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: smylee grouch on January 12, 2011, 03:02:13 AM
I think The Log Cabin Shop used to sell blank hickory ramrods.   Gary
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Buckscoshooter on January 12, 2011, 03:17:05 AM
Good info guys. Yelp, I too have broken dowled ramrods and it is hard to fing Hickory close by when ya need it as well.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Roger Fisher on January 12, 2011, 03:21:56 AM
I have seen the snapped/splintered wood rod more than a couple of times.  That is another reason that I put a wood rod down the bore only when I must.

The wood rod described with the metal center is a good one, I use one in my smoothy.  But;;;; They break also if you get too wild and crazy with it.  I broke the outside layer of wood during a Seneca run more than a couple of yrs ago at Union County Pa. I suppose I was too excited and got tooo strong since I was doing well till about 3/4 of the way through.  That finished that bit of fun.  

The rod got shorter and the use of epoxy at the critical area enabled me to continue it's use til now. :D
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: hanshi on January 12, 2011, 03:27:58 AM
Yep, hickory for the woods and a good range rod for practice.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: bob in the woods on January 12, 2011, 03:40:38 AM
I use ash,split and tapered. Same as used for snowshoes. Haven't broken one yet.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Simon on January 12, 2011, 04:10:51 AM
I broke my ramrod at the range on sunday. Had a heck of a time getting the slivers out of my hand. So I need to make myself a new rod. Seeing as the only place I seem to be able to find hickory is track, I visited our local Home Depot and picked up some doweling that appears to look like mahogany. My question is could I use this to make a new ramrod, or should I try to find some hickory? I made myself a range rod out of drill rod with a brass muzzleguard. But that is awkward to carry on the trail. Any help would be appreciated.

Also I looked up ramrods in the search but didn't come up with the information I needed.     Al

I ordered some from an ad in Muzzleloader mag.  Call days 573- 547-4540.  A 10 piece minimum at $3.00 each.  He combined sizes for me in the 10 minimum.  When I received them they were better than I expected.  There is very little run out,  most  had none.  They are slightly over size and need to be sanded.  I will order again.


Mel
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Dphariss on January 12, 2011, 06:57:04 AM
I broke my ramrod at the range on sunday. Had a heck of a time getting the slivers out of my hand. So I need to make myself a new rod. Seeing as the only place I seem to be able to find hickory is track, I visited our local Home Depot and picked up some doweling that appears to look like mahogany. My question is could I use this to make a new ramrod, or should I try to find some hickory? I made myself a range rod out of drill rod with a brass muzzleguard. But that is awkward to carry on the trail. Any help would be appreciated.

Also I looked up ramrods in the search but didn't come up with the information I needed.     Al

You will likely need to buy 8-12 to get 2-3 that have straight grain long enough for a rifle.
The ramrod MUST be straight grained or you end up with pieces stuck in your hand. I learned this the hard way over 40 years ago.
Have not had it happen since. But I am very careful of grain flow.

Dan
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: RonT on January 12, 2011, 05:20:20 PM
You may find one good stick of Ramin out of 10 inspected, probably not.   Speaking as a primitive/Traditional archer, I've made many arrows out of other than Port Orford Cedar, and a few self bows out of other than Osage Orange.  Ramin is the lower end of the frindge.
Now, speaking of ramrods...Hickory is the best choice due to practicality and availability.  Red Elm, hackberry, Ash, Oak also will make a decent Ramrod.  I prefer Hickory, splitting my own out of staves.
When I follow the grain, which is reasonably straight, I get no runout on the finished rod except for the "swell" that I like to put on one end.  Any crookedness is removed with a heat gun and a pair of cotten gloves by counter bending against the bend.  It ain't rocket science.
Cheers,
R
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: LynnC on January 12, 2011, 07:50:59 PM
I've seen hackberry mentioned on two diff threads on RRs.  The hackberry here in the south is a very brittle tree known for breaking or splitting in storms.  Would not consider it a RR wood.  Maybe we're talkin different trees........Lynn
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: RonT on January 12, 2011, 08:24:54 PM
Most likely the same.   How does it break?  Straight across or splinter?  If splinter (follow the grain) then I stand pat.   I've made a few selfbows out if it and have yet to see it shear straight across.  Following the grain (no runout) is the key in either case. 
Repeat the word "decent".  A serviceable RR can be made out of those mentioned. Repeat the word "serviceable".  Hickory just simply splits so nice (follows the grain) and can be heat straightened to get the grain to look like a set of railroad tracks. 
I wouldn't use Ramin on a bet.
Cheers,
R
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: doug on January 12, 2011, 08:52:24 PM
I broke my ramrod at the range on sunday. Had a heck of a time getting the slivers out of my hand.

     If you push the ball down in a series of short taps so that your hand is never more than 6" or so from the muzzle, you should avoid getting splinters in your hand.  I have heard some horrific stories of people driving wooden rods through their hand when they were pushing with their hand a couple of feet from the muzzle. 
     Home Depot sells oak doweling unless I am mistaken and it should work ok. 

cheers Doug
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Al Lapp on January 12, 2011, 11:30:38 PM
Problem solved, Thanks for the great replies. I will definately go with hickory. Also Doug it was the last less than a foot to go when it broke. The broken end is less than 5 inches long
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: LynnC on January 13, 2011, 07:44:12 AM
Hi Ron - our hackberry snaps off similar to the ramin

For everyones futher study is a pretty good artical in Muzzle Blasts online - vol 2 no. 1 - just google "Ramrod Rights and Wrongs"
Table 1 is a comparison of many different woods one might try as a RR
At any rate its an interesting read ;)
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Daryl on January 14, 2011, 06:45:42 PM
Did the British not use Greenheart, and Purple Heart?   Both are somewhat similar to Ramin in grain structure, I fear, but I also think,  considerably stronger.

A good hickory rod is an incredible rod and give the least abrasion in my test with various materials on a chunk of barrel steel.  Nylon was in second place. Fiberglass was like using a fine file.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: VAshooter on January 20, 2011, 06:47:02 PM
Track of the Wolf has hickory ramrod blanks and Wayne Dunlap has hickory blanks as well.

Back when I was in the Navy I hand selected and bought about 20 really nice hickory blanks from Wayne but when I got back from a cruise I found my wife had used them to stake up the tomatoes in the garden. She still doesn't understand why I was angry.

VAshooter  aka  Doug
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Roger Fisher on January 20, 2011, 07:01:57 PM
Track of the Wolf has hickory ramrod blanks and Wayne Dunlap has hickory blanks as well.

Back when I was in the Navy I hand selected and bought about 20 really nice hickory blanks from Wayne but when I got back from a cruise I found my wife had used them to stake up the tomatoes in the garden. She still doesn't understand why I was angry.

VAshooter  aka  Doug
Almost as bad as when a certain young blonde gal decided to 'help' by wiping //down alllll the rifles and guns in the 'attic' w/a rag wet with clorox...... ::) :

Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: VAshooter on January 20, 2011, 10:24:15 PM
Roger,

That clorox really gets the mildew off them old rifles.

VAshooter
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: frogwalking on January 21, 2011, 05:14:48 AM
I have had good luck with Hickory rods from Dixie.  So far they seem to be better quality that what I have received from TOW.  I still always order a couple or three so I can select the best one to use.  If you truly stuck a broken one in your hand, then you understand why the extra expense is worth while. 

I plan on buying an old Fro and cut a good straight hickory to make my own splits.  I did this once when I was a young lad.  I have time now, but not so much energy.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Hawken62_flint on January 22, 2011, 12:33:25 AM
Cain's Outdoor in WV has hickory rods that I believe come from a mill in PA.  They will ship via UPS and the rods are rather reasonable.  The will even pin whatever tip you want on them. Visit them at www.cainsoutdoor.com or call 304-375-7842.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: rfcbuf on January 22, 2011, 10:05:14 PM
Why not use an aluminum rod? Not authentic for time period but they work. With a little work they can also be tapered with a file for use in the ferrules.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Roger Fisher on January 22, 2011, 10:42:03 PM
Why not use an aluminum rod? Not authentic for time period but they work. With a little work they can also be tapered with a file for use in the ferrules.
I have one U can have ;D  Used it way back and using oiled patches my hands (etc) got so dirty with bp and gound in crud it was a time consuming session to get even partly clean, so I pensioned it off and the same with the oiled patching.

That rod is/was not very smooth and might even rank up/down there with fiberglass as a bore ruiner, don't really know...or care ::)
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Daryl on January 22, 2011, 10:50:22 PM
Aluminum will turn your hands black by itself - it needs no fouling on it to do so.  The aluminum itself comes off onto your hands, and is thought to be a prime contributor of Altzheimer's disease. Coatings only last so-long, then it's aluminum again.

If you want to do a simple test, take any material in a rod-shaped form, and stroke it (sawing motion), straight foreward and backward about 40 times, across a corner on an octagonal barrel stub- or a bottom corner on your gun's barrel and see what impression you make.  I did this with a variety of materials, and found normal hickory was the least abrasive, while nylon was a close second.  The various steels were worse by a considerable margin and fiberglass the worse - almost like using a find file.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: northmn on January 23, 2011, 01:11:38 AM
I have used ramin ramrods with no problem but the technique is important.  I also only use the rifle rod out in the woods adn use a brass loading rod or a combination of two shotgun rods of the same brand screwed together to get a 40+ inch reach.  Barrel protector sleeves or funnels are also used.  The rifle rod is a very neglected rod for the target shooters and very important for a hunter as I do not carry an extra loading rod out in the field.  I also use a tapered rod that may be 7/16 for 50 cals and above and taper it down to 3/8 by the entry thimble.

DP
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Daryl on January 23, 2011, 06:20:39 AM
We shoot most weekends, on the trail, 40 to 80 shots is normal. Most guys use only their gun's hickory rod, like LB, Taylor and Ross, but the odd time, I'll take along a range rod.  I can't be bothered with muzzle protectors and still do OK, even at long range so my muzles aren't worn too badly. Only my .69 shows any rod wear at the muzzle.  It has probably had 5 times as many shots through it as any other gun I have, maybe more times as many shots and rubbing wear can be seen in the bottoms of the grooves and land corners at the crown - but it's still shooting those 1 to 1 1/2" groups at 100 meters off a single front bag, so the muzzle wear from it's hickory rifle rod (original still being used), or the nylon cleaning rod I use must not be causing as much damage as we imagine.

Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: David R. Pennington on February 01, 2011, 12:41:31 AM
Hickory is the traditional favorite because of its tough and flexible attributes. I have made them from scratch out of hickory trees but it is a lot of work. The thing about wood is it is not mass produced to exacting standards like wonder rods or some such. That is it's beauty and it's fault. If you make rods out of a nice straight grain four foot log you can split out the blanks and make sure you get grain that runs the length of the rod. You will get some nice rods, a lot of exercise and piles of kindling.

I made me a couple tools to turn ramrods by hand (5/16 & 3/8) sort of on the principle of an old fashioned pencil sharpener. I made a bit to drill a long tapered hole in a block of wood and fitted a blade in it on a skewed angle. I clamp this in my vise and get a split of hickory roughed out to sort of round and work a short piece through my cutter by hand. Then I chuck it (the ramrod blank) in my drill and slowly pull it through and watch the shavings curl up on the floor . I stop short and finish the last few inches by hand for a tapered rod.

I also soak my rods in kerosine in a copper pipe with a cap on one end to lubriccate them, I don't know if this really helps but it sounds good.

Also I never grab the rod more than 3-4 inches from the muzzle. The only rod I ever broke was one that came with one of those cheap imported kits that had a dowel rod rammer of questionable lineage.   
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: dickert54cal on February 01, 2011, 04:47:36 AM
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=740645&categoryId=0&parentCategoryId=0&subCategoryId=0&indexId=0&itemGUID=c46f371eac1070581203d0d6616e8d0d&WTz_l=SBC%3BBRcms196%3Bcat104491980&destination=/checkout/basket.jsp
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Daryl on February 01, 2011, 04:51:36 AM
I see Taylor will have to adjust his prices accordingly. ;D
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: valongrifles on February 01, 2011, 05:35:30 AM
David, Can we see a couple of pics of the cutter and such?
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Leatherbelly on February 01, 2011, 09:06:49 PM
  I really like a tapered hickory ramrod. Every rifle/gun I own has one. Brass tip on
 the small tapered end. Three reasons,1) Function, I don't have to swap ends to ram the ball down,this makes loading quicker. 2)The thick taper near the muzzle helps hold the ramrod in place by slightly binding it on the first pipe and 3), looks. I like the looks of them. It fills that little carved gap under the muzzle, and when walking through thick underbrush, no brush etc. get jammed between said RR and forend of the stock at the muzzle.
 I don't know if Daryls mentioned this or not, but on our trail near the start,Taylor donated a little "kit" for haha,..little "accidents".It has a range rod, and several ball pullers of various popular sizes and a worm.So if you dry ball, double ball or triple ball, you can go to this station and fix your problem.
 I  have never packed an extra rod with me. I rely on my hickory rod that goes with my gun. An extra rod  is just too much to pack.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Roger Fisher on February 01, 2011, 10:04:27 PM
  I really like a tapered hickory ramrod. Every rifle/gun I own has one. Brass tip on
 the small tapered end. Three reasons,1) Function, I don't have to swap ends to ram the ball down,this makes loading quicker. 2)The thick taper near the muzzle helps hold the ramrod in place by slightly binding it on the first pipe and 3), looks. I like the looks of them. It fills that little carved gap under the muzzle, and when walking through thick underbrush, no brush etc. get jammed between said RR and forend of the stock at the muzzle.
 I don't know if Daryls mentioned this or not, but on our trail near the start,Taylor donated a little "kit" for haha,..little "accidents".It has a range rod, and several ball pullers of various popular sizes and a worm.So if you dry ball, double ball or triple ball, you can go to this station and fix your problem.
 I  have never packed an extra rod with me. I rely on my hickory rod that goes with my gun. An extra rod  is just too much to pack.

Well now some folks get kinda weak and worn in their 'golden' yrs seems like.

  Woodswalks find me with one in the bore and one in the pipes... ;D
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Militant_Hillbilly on February 02, 2011, 01:50:47 AM
Anyone have any tips on the best ways of drilling and pinning the brass tip to the ramrod?
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: omark on February 02, 2011, 06:21:26 AM
Anyone have any tips on the best ways of drilling and pinning the brass tip to the ramrod?
i use a pipe cutter to mark the rod where i want to cut it down for the tip. then i cut it down with a pocket knife (proffesional tool). then cut a few small notches where its cut down. then i take a tap that will put shallow threads inside the tip. then i mix up some two tube pine pitch (epoxy). glue it together. after it dries i drill a small cross hole and insert a cut off nail, then peen the nail on an anvil.  havent lost a tip yet.   mark
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Kopfjaeger on February 21, 2011, 11:55:59 AM
Unbreakable Ramrods.  Thier wood with a metal core.




http://www.periodramrod.com/
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Don Getz on February 22, 2011, 05:04:02 PM
As Dave said above, use short strokes.    As you become older, this is kind of a normal thing to do........Don
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Roger Fisher on February 22, 2011, 05:59:14 PM
Unbreakable Ramrods.  Thier wood with a metal core.




http://www.periodramrod.com/
Wood with a steel core alright and I like mine; but not unbreakable. been there and done that.  Sure ruined a good string I had going on a Seneca "run/walk" :-[
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Roger Fisher on February 22, 2011, 06:00:12 PM
As Dave said above, use short strokes.    As you become older, this is kind of a normal thing to do........Don
;D ::)
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: rsells on February 22, 2011, 07:00:54 PM
I get my hickory ramrods from the same supplier as Simon.  I too searched to find a good source and started getting them from Steve Bailey at
573-547-4540 sbailey@brick.net.  I have been more than satisfied with the parts I get from Steve, and he pulled me out of the fire by shipping parts very quick when I let myself run out of 5/16 rods needed to complete a rifle for a show a couple weeks ago.
                                                                       Roger Sells
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: JCKelly on February 23, 2011, 03:29:04 AM
Whatever the wood it needs to be split, not turned on a lathe.

That is, the grain MUST run the long direction of the rod.
If the grain runs across the rod at some angle you may find it stuck in your hand.

Ash sounds good. Hickory traditional, wouldn't know which is better.
Maple horrible - have you noticed all the baseball bats that shatter these days? They switched from ash to the harder maple, to drive the ball further.

I began shooting old muzzle-loaders in 1954. Ramrods all worked fine, until . . in 2008 I took an otherwise decent Eye-talian rifle to the range. I think the rod was some odd hardwood, I'd guess maple, definintely turned, not split. Hadn't yet figured out how to load one of these new-fangled shallow groove rifles.
It was really hard to get that ramrod out of my palm. As I am unfamiliar with the procedure of wrapping a rifle around a tree I just took it home & made a new rod of something from Track. Probably it is no good either, as I can't say for sure which way the grain goes. Reading these posts about Ramin wood makes me want to get one of them thar hickory planks & start splitting.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Daryl on February 23, 2011, 03:59:50 AM
JC - Track sells dowled Hickory as well as Ramin.  The Hickory is 5 times the rod that Ramin makes, ie: break 5 Ramin rods for every Hickory rod.   Ramin breaks straight across the shaft - normally and quite easily. A little too long the stroke, slightly off centre and "crunch" - straight across at the muzzle. At least they usually don't break into sharp, tpered knives normally - but sometimes do.  Ramin starts to work OK at 7/16" and larger.

I've never had a split hickory rod - must be nice. Only one I've ever seen, is the one Dave Rase uses in his .28 cal. rifle.  I've been using bought hickory 9blanks) and rods for almost 40 years - they work great as long as you don't get carried away.(it happens)

A fellow comes to Helfey Creek rondy here in BC brings osme split-glued up shafts, like split bamboo fly rods in construction. I've a couple, but haven't made any up yet- must do that for my DR. It needs a good 3/8" rod. They are very flexible and tough too,just gudging by their feel.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Harnic on February 23, 2011, 09:03:35 AM
I bought 3 Hickory rods from Track last month.  1 is probably straight enough to use, the other 2 will get used as perches in my wife's bird cage.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Leatherbelly on February 23, 2011, 09:44:15 AM
Straighten them,Harry! ;D
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Canute Rex on February 23, 2011, 06:52:37 PM
The ramrod in my Isaac Haines style 50 cal flintlock is solid turned brass. The previous owner found the rifle too light in the muzzle - wandered a bit. The brass rammer gives the rifle a "bull barrel" feel. It also allows me to seat the ball uniformly each time by lifting the ramrod 8" out of the muzzle and letting it drop on the ball.

Admittedly, it has required me to build up the strength of my left arm. But no chance of splinters.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Daryl on February 23, 2011, 07:34:09 PM
I prefer a 5/16" steel rod in the Squirrel rifle. It's 38" 13/16" x .32 cal. barrel is too light with a wooden rod for good offhand shooting. I used the steel rod on Sunday's trail and missed only 2 targets, I think - for the whole trail. I did need a re-entry on the 100yard bunny, but whacked him second shot.  I do prefer a bit of barrel weight.
Taylor's new .62 Hawken holds VERY nicely with it's 36" barrel - around 11 weight with tapered hickory rod.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Harnic on February 24, 2011, 04:28:02 AM
Straighten them,Harry! ;D

How Roy?  Steam them, then hang them from the ceiling with a heavy weight from 1 end?
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Daryl on February 24, 2011, 04:54:12 AM
same way with arrows- roll them on a tble top, then rub the raised area with a boning tool of some sort. A smooth bone works.  :)
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Dphariss on February 24, 2011, 08:05:49 AM
Straighten them,Harry! ;D

Most are cross grained and this is poison in ramrod no matter how straight it is.

Dan
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Harnic on February 24, 2011, 01:00:55 PM


Most are cross grained and this is poison in ramrod no matter how straight it is.

Dan

You're right there Dan!  The grain in this scrap wood is all over the place!  The semi-straight one looks usable, the other 2 would end up sticking through a hand when they sheared off whilst trying to ram a tight ball/patch combo.  Track's ramrod supply seems pretty !@*%&@ poor this time.  I won't be trying them again!
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Birddog6 on February 24, 2011, 04:36:28 PM
I get my hickory ramrods from the same supplier as Simon.  I too searched to find a good source and started getting them from Steve Bailey at
573-547-4540 sbailey@brick.net.  I have been more than satisfied with the parts I get from Steve, and he pulled me out of the fire by shipping parts very quick when I let myself run out of 5/16 rods needed to complete a rifle for a show a couple weeks ago.
                                                                       Roger Sells

Same here.....  Steve Bailey is the ramrod man if you want quality hickory ramrods. I have bought over a hundred from him & they are simply the best hickory rods you will find.  I use to go to Friendship & sort thru hundreds of RR's trying to find 8-10 good ones, would many times come home with 0-3....... 
Not any more, I get them from Steve in bundles of 10 & all 10 of them will be good. Best rods I have seen in 30 years.

Keith Lisle

PS:  And the guy wanting instructions on installing the RR tips.  Email me at  Birddogsix@yahoo.com   .  Put  RR tip in the subject line.  I can email you the instructions in detail.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Daryl on February 24, 2011, 06:31:48 PM
There was someone on here selling rods a while back - Taylor bought a bunch - the ones I got were excellent - took a bit of sanding and slightly undersize, but nice whippy rods. Working one down from a larger size is easy with Tom's rod-shaver.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Harnic on February 25, 2011, 12:51:53 AM
same way with arrows- roll them on a tble top, then rub the raised area with a boning tool of some sort. A smooth bone works.  :)

I found a primitive archery site http://www.primitiveways.com/arrow_straightening.html that suggests using a soapstone tool for straightening shafts.  I just happen to have a good size chunk of soapstone I can make said tool from.  Looks perfect & soapstone being naturally slick shouldn't damage the shafts at all.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: FRJ on February 25, 2011, 04:53:10 AM
Why not  buy a hickory board at Lowe's and split it out and make your own? I'd use the same process that I use for a board bow and  look thru all the board till I find one with nice  straight grain and go from there. With all the complicated work that goes into making a rifle it should be simple to make  a RR. Frank
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Harnic on February 25, 2011, 06:56:47 AM
Why not  buy a hickory board at Lowe's and split it out and make your own? I'd use the same process that I use for a board bow and  look thru all the board till I find one with nice  straight grain and go from there. With all the complicated work that goes into making a rifle it should be simple to make  a RR. Frank

True enough Frank, but I'm really nit-picking here as I rarely use the rod on the rifle, preferring a stainless steel rod with a big ebony knob on the end.  It's just a bit awkward on the trail walks.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Daryl on February 25, 2011, 07:37:31 PM
FRJ - if the hardwood shop near you has enough boards in hickory, to paw through to get a plank of prospective ram-rods, GREAT.

You can actually rip (or split) them into square rods following the grain, then use Tom-Tom's tool to make a rod out of the square, very easily.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: doug on February 25, 2011, 07:59:15 PM
      Foolish question but what is the functional difference between oak and hickory when it comes to making ramrods?  Oak planks are a lot more common around here than hickory.

cheers Doug
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: David R. Pennington on February 26, 2011, 07:25:21 AM
Ramrods don"t need to be perfectly straight unless you're hung up on everything being perfecct, as our mass produced machine made society teaches us. If you split out a rod you probably won't get a perfecctly straight one but I like a little crook in one as it holds itself in the pipes better. I'll try to post a picture of my homemade ramrod turners as soon as I can figure out how to do it. I can split out a ramrod and hand hew a timber for a cabin but I am technichally challenged. You can persuade some of the really bad crooks out like some of the fellows said with steam, etc.., but all you have to do is soak them in water overnight and clamp them crooked just a little the opposite way till they dry.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Daryl on February 26, 2011, 01:37:46 PM
Doug - the early growth wood in hickory are the strongest 'glue' between growth rings of any NA wood.  Hickory's flexibility and resistance to breaking on a growth wood make is quite suitable for rods - and self bows which can have growth ring runnout on their backs and still not break.

Maple also has strong early growth wood, but is quite brittle in comparrison and consequently not good for ramrods.

 Ash and Oak have very weak growth wood lines(early growth) of all - being soft and punky, therefore split much more easily between growth rings, more like cedar. Elm might make a better ram rod than others, not as good as hickory, but better than maple, etc.  Bodark ie: Hedge Apple ie: Osage Orange might make a good 'heavy' rod in larger sizes.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: catman on February 26, 2011, 08:20:19 PM
Maybe it's just me but I have found that hickory from Tenn. is the best for making my ramrods.
Ark. hickory seems to be lighter in dense weight but does have more flex in compairison. My .02

I make a lot of Ark. hickory rods for friends, never any complaints but I do like that Tenn. hickory.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: omark on February 27, 2011, 06:42:13 AM
uuhhh,,,,,,,,(holding hand up in back of room),,,,,,,,whats a self bow??   mark
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: D. Taylor Sapergia on February 27, 2011, 07:16:09 AM
Omark, Daryl is referring to primitive archery tackle.  A self bow is made from one piece of wood alone, as opposed to a finger jointed or laminated bow.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: omark on February 27, 2011, 11:44:05 PM
i see, taylor, thank you very much.     mark
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: WadePatton on October 30, 2012, 06:38:13 AM
Doug - the early growth wood in hickory are the strongest 'glue' between growth rings of any NA wood.  Hickory's flexibility and resistance to breaking on a growth wood make is quite suitable for rods - and self bows which can have growth ring runnout on their backs and still not break.

Maple also has strong early growth wood, but is quite brittle in comparrison and consequently not good for ramrods.

 Ash and Oak have very weak growth wood lines(early growth) of all - being soft and punky, therefore split much more easily between growth rings, more like cedar. Elm might make a better ram rod than others, not as good as hickory, but better than maple, etc.  Bodark ie: Hedge Apple ie: Osage Orange might make a good 'heavy' rod in larger sizes.

bodock doesn't seem so heavy in small sections.  i'm certainly going to try it.  anyone try persimmon? it has a tight grain and density enough for striking things.  dogwood? any other tough/flexi/straight woods? 

sweetgum (liquidambar styraciflua) might work if sawn out and turned-it's certainly not going to split out.  it was used in slab form for wooden wheels BITD because it won't split*.  If it's tough enough--I'll be trying that one too (i have one crowding my house).



*if you've had it on a woodsplitter you'll know how it tears and twists and shears moreso than splits.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Daryl on October 30, 2012, 04:25:46 PM
Taylor has made a couple rods from Osage Orange (Bodarc)  These turned out into amazingly nice rods.  The rods were fair size, tapered.  I do not know if Osage would make a good 3/8" or 5/16" rod.  Sure makes a nice stick bow, though.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Tim Hamblen on October 30, 2012, 04:36:19 PM
Some thoughts on wood for ramrods. If you can find it , use some hophornbeam, or in the local vernacular"Ironwood". Now across the country Ironwood might be several different woods but here in Indiana, it's hophornbeam. We also have American Hornbeam, but finding a straight grain piece id @!*% near impossible. Some of the older Friendship attendees might remember Don Walp who used to sset up inside the gate where Roger now holds court.Don sold great wood and also sold hophornbeam ramrods. He used to promote them by grabbing a 4 footer and bending it till the ends touched. Good stuff. I have a 7 foot log I have been drying for about 8 years and hopoe to work some rods out of it this Winter. Hophornbeam does not get very big, this log is about 8" in diameter.
  Osage Orange or Hedge Apple. I've built dozens of bows from osage. Great stuff. If I remember right the specific gravity of osage is .96 and hickory .72-.75. Osage is heavier but in two ramrods you'd have to measure the difference with a gram scale. Very little added weight. The Peter Alexander video and book mentions osage and he wonderded why you do not see it much in old originals. Easy answer. Osage is native to OK and TX and there was none here in the East until the Germans brought it here to make hedgerows.I had some very straight grained osage that I had laid back for bows and made a ramrod from it for a .54 flinter I built. Good stuff.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: VAshooter on October 30, 2012, 05:37:58 PM
I got some good straight hickory blanks from Wayne Dunlap this spring. He advertises in Muzzle Blasts and always has hickory in stock.

Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: wilkie on October 30, 2012, 05:50:29 PM
Iv'e used the fiberglass driveway marker rods as range rods and epoxied shell caseings on the ends that were threaded to hold brushes and jags or other things.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Daryl on October 30, 2012, 06:07:24 PM
Seems to me, the English used to use Green Heart for rods - ram and fishing.  The rod in Taylor's 15 bore  caplock Manton is just such a wood, I think, as-is the rod in our friend Len's,  H. Wahl 11 bore heavy folwer. Very fine grained dense wood.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: WadePatton on October 30, 2012, 06:39:28 PM
Great on the Hophornbeam.  It's listed as a TN species but I've not identified any yet.  While Osage, Daryl we call it Bodock and Hedgeapple too, doesn't grow much here on the Highland Rim, it's beyond plentiful and treated as a nuisance down in the Nashville Basin (most of mid-TN and just 2 miles away, 400' down).  Nearly anyone will let you take all you want.  I've handled a good bit of it.  Burns green, don't ask how i know.
 
I'll collect some 48" sections soon enough.

Also, reading around i find that Sweetgum has an "interlocking" grain pattern.  I'll be sawing that out too.  

duh, look for the tree with "hops"

(http://discovercadescove.net/images/lg_eastern_hophornbeam.jpg)
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Roger Fisher on October 30, 2012, 08:18:36 PM
Those steel centered wood rods mentioned earlier are okay and I use one in/with my smoothie.  The claim that they can't be broken in normal use is a bit of a stretch.  I was on a timed woodsrun at Union Co Pa (okay it was a few years ago) and had a good run going all I did was squeeze the bugger and she split away from the center (ruined my time alright) I did squeeze the snot out of it being all excited and such.   Good ol super glue fixed it and still being used...  Normal use ???  I was a bit stronger then than now. ::)
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: flintlock on October 31, 2012, 02:54:50 AM
Very early in my muzzleloading carrier I learned that one of the easiest ways to break a ramrod is to grip the rod with your thumb pointing upwards alongside the rod! It's very easy to end up putting a bending motion on the rod with your thumb. Instead, wrap your thumb around the rod. It's much harder to exert a serious bending motion on the rod with your thumb in this position.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: WadePatton on October 31, 2012, 03:58:11 AM
So i'm cuttin' all these tops up for firewood, nearly all oak at this location...and then a piece of _not_ oak goes on the splitter, i thought it was elm as the bark was gone...but when it started wadding and tearing, i knew that i'd lopped off some sweetgum.  It was from the pond cleanout.  So now I have some pieces of sweetgum to play with.    i get the impression that it may be too bendy. 

the hunt for Ostrya virginiana continues-and now that i've seen the hops-like flower, I KNOW there's some in these woods as i've seen that before.

plus i'm going to bust out a bunch of hickory and osage as well. 
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Tim Hamblen on October 31, 2012, 04:02:13 AM
Wade, we have a good amount of hophornbeam on our farm. In several years I have not seen the "hops" on any of them. Don't know why. It's easier to look for the bark. Once you spy one they are very easy to find. Another trick I learned while making bows with it is to see if the bark "spirals" as it goes up the tree. If so the grain will be spiral too. Look for bark running up fairly straight.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Daryl on October 31, 2012, 07:28:18 PM
 American Hornbeam and Hophornbeam are both included under the moniker of Ironwoods.  I've never seen the flowers or hops, but we did have a lot of ironwood back in Ontario.  Tough to break when green, it should make good ramrods or bows if designed correctly.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: WadePatton on November 01, 2012, 07:46:30 AM
hey thanks for the hoplessness note.  i've more motivation now, so i'll figger it out.  just found my pawpaw patch last year... 

Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: elilongknife on November 09, 2012, 08:29:29 AM
I have hickory rods w/8/32 brass tips installed, that have been soaking in linseed oil/kerosene for over 20 years. Mostly 3/8ths w/some 5/16ths; 40" long. $15.00 plus shipping.
Elilongknife@aol.com
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Hungry Horse on November 09, 2012, 09:50:46 PM
Eli;

  This is the first time I've heard of soaking ramrods since the old Buckskin Report days. We soak ours ( straight Hickory) in boiled linseed oil, and turpentine, for about a month. They are much more flexible than unsoaked rods.
 I quit using a "range" rod because it trains you to do all the things you shouldn't do with a wooden rod. When concentrating on your target, your repetitive memory will just take over, and you you will be gripping the rod too high, making too long a stroke, and not paying attention to how far to one side or the other you are bending the rod. This is all a formula for a rod sticking out of your paw.

                    Hungry Horse
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: D. Taylor Sapergia on November 10, 2012, 01:14:50 AM
HH you and I agree on that.  I always use the rod I built for the rifle.  I do not note undue wear at the muzzle and don't break rods, even with .005" undersized balls and .020 + patches.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Keb on November 10, 2012, 02:17:06 AM
I've made rods out of hedge, ash & hickory. I've made them from broom handles, shovel handles and post hole digger handles, some as long as 6 foot. Osage is by far  the best ram rod material I've come across.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: zambezi on October 24, 2013, 05:15:36 AM
There was someone on here selling rods a while back - Taylor bought a bunch - the ones I got were excellent - took a bit of sanding and slightly undersize, but nice whippy rods. Working one down from a larger size is easy with Tom's rod-shaver.
Where do you get Tom's rod-shaver?
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: WadePatton on October 24, 2013, 06:27:01 AM
There was someone on here selling rods a while back - Taylor bought a bunch - the ones I got were excellent - took a bit of sanding and slightly undersize, but nice whippy rods. Working one down from a larger size is easy with Tom's rod-shaver.
Where do you get Tom's rod-shaver?
I think that reference is to Tom a/k/a Acer Saccharum ...hold that thought.

Here is: http://thosmachine.wordpress.com/

or you make one, or make it square and cut the corners and make it round.  Great fun on a long winter night.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: zambezi on October 25, 2013, 01:53:35 AM
Thanks very much for the information.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: WadePatton on October 26, 2013, 07:00:36 AM
Going direct to the source.   8)  (Pignut Hickory)

(https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/960210_10201358946787939_260707048_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Dan'l 1946 on October 26, 2013, 05:44:25 PM
  Looks like you're gonna need a bigger axe! 
                                                       Dan
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: Dr. Tim-Boone on November 04, 2013, 05:58:47 AM
TNT!!
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: James on November 05, 2013, 02:50:10 PM
Wade, I will offer the suggestion to find hickory trees in the 6-8" diameter range as the amount of sapwood is so much greater. I realize many non-sapwood rods are made and sold, however, when making your own you will end up with a significantly more flexible rod if it is made from hickory sapwood.
Title: Re: Wood ramrods
Post by: WadePatton on November 05, 2013, 05:49:45 PM
No big deal splitting that hickory out.  It's much straighter/clearer than the one I've already split out.  I saved this from the burn/firewood/rot pile.  It's a non-marketable log "extra". 

Certainly not cost-efficient (timewise) but I like the result of my work with shorter pieces. Plus, zero shipping costs.

Can't get the local with the Ironwood to let me come get it or see it yet.  I'll cut some of that when i learn to identify it. 

Bodock is the next one I'll be trying, but I have to go down to the flatlands to find it. ;)