Thimbles for iron mounted VA rifle

[J Shingler]

Working on this latest build. A 54 cal 46" swamped barrel walnut stocked iron mounted Virginia rifle.  I am working on the thimbles and am wondering how thick of steel stock those that have made these used.  Made a few trial pc last night and two out of the three came out ok but seem pretty thin. This stock is .032 I am thinking that these need thickened up just a tad. Not sure if .062 is too thick to bend easily? I see 18 GA is .047 that would be in between. Your thoughts?

[rich pierce]

Working on this latest build. A 54 cal 46" swamped barrel walnut stocked iron mounted Virginia rifle.  I am working on the thimbles and am wondering how thick of steel stock those that have made these used.  Made a few trial pc last night and two out of the three came out ok but seem pretty thin. This stock is .032 I am thinking that these need thickened up just a tad. Not sure if .062 is too thick to bend easily? I see 18 GA is .047 that would be in between. Your thoughts?

For me, .062 would be only for heavily sculpted brass thimbles. On the original late iron-mounted longrifles I have, thimbles are quite thin, no more than 0.032”.

[Daniel Coats]

I use .032 for thimbles. It seems to stiffen up considerably once formed. I've also been heating and quenching afterwards which might be part of it.

[J Shingler]

Thank you Daniel and Rich. I will finish a couple of these up and see how they do. Thanks for the advise.

[smart dog]

Hi Jeff,
If you click on the link below and scroll down, I show how I make steel pipes from 0.032" steel sheet.
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=52636.0

The decorative ribs on the ends also really help to stiffen and strengthen the pipes.

dave

[parve]

For what it is worth, the steel ramrod pipes I bought from Track for my first rifle are made from 0.032" steel.

[J Shingler]

Hi Jeff,
If you click on the link below and scroll down, I show how I make steel pipes from 0.032" steel sheet.
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=52636.0

The decorative ribs on the ends also really help to stiffen and strengthen the pipes.

dave

Dave, I really like that forming tool. Thank you for the instructions. I am going to look into that one.
Jeff

[oldtravler61]

  Dave Keck (?) at Knob Mountain Muzzle loader has a form set that is
 very handy.  Just a thought

[StevenV]

Jeff I used .040 sheet steel from Dixon's for these pipes. Some pics with "finish" before rubbing back. Some pics with finished look after rusting and rubbing back. Steve
I'll post pics tomorrow when server is up.

[Dennis Glazener]

I have used empty propane gas bottles to make SMR thimbles. Mostly use left over sheet metal from leftover patch panels from 57 Chevy restoration. Both worked fine.
Dennis

[bluenoser]

I too raid the scrap bin for the majority of my metal needs, but never considered propane bottles.  I would have thought the metal a little thick.  Please expand.  Are we talking 20 pounders or 1 pounders?  How thick is the steel and how easy is it to work?  That got me to thinking about the empty CO2 cylinders in the scrap bin.

[J Shingler]

Well here is the efforts of last night.  Took the idea from Dave. Smart Dog. Made the Grove in the steel bar in the picture and rounded over the nose on a chisle. Pretty slick! Great Idea Dave.

[Daniel Coats]

Dang Jeff I really like how those turned out!!