14.75 oz Denim source?

[WadePatton]

What i'm using is from cutting off brand-new pants*.  Advertised as 14.75oz.

Works great, but haven't been able to "shop up" any by that designation online.  I suppose I must find local fabric supplier. 

OR do you fellas (or gals) know of a source for such? 

No i never seem to find a micrometer or calipers when i'm thinking on this.  But i have learned to double the thickness and divide by 2 in order to get more repeatable measurements. 


*You just can't buy heavy-duty short pants, so I convert heavy-duty, double-fronted logger jeans into shorts (domestic-made).  I grew weary of wearing out "pre-washed" medium-duty jean shorts.  Hence my supply of heavy denim, but then i only need so many pairs.

[hanshi]

Joann's always seems to have several thicknesses of denim on hand.

[WadePatton]

Seems to or really does?   


Well you can't specify 14.75 over the web and get any results.  And it's 40 minutes one-way, if traffic agrees with you.  Seems that 8 or 9 oz stretchy denim is all the rage these days. 

If i go to that town, I'll try the the old-skool stores first.  But was hoping to let UPS/USPS do the driving.

@!*%?& i just blew 10 minutes muddling through their online (again)...simply not organized for man-brains.

[rhbrink]

My experience with Jo-Anns and Hancock fabrics with the denim is that it is at best 10 oz. I have been lately buying heavy duck from BigDuckCanvas.com. A lot cheaper but you do have mail order it but it only takes a couple of days from placing an order and it will be delivered at your door step.

I have ordered two different types one is what they call 10.10 oz Army Duck which measures about .018 to .020 depending on how you measure. I tend to really crank a "mike" down much as a patch would be compressed into the rifling and I load tight!

The other is Big Duck #12 which is a heavier double knapped canvas and is really tough and it measure several thousandths thicker than the Army.

RB

[SCLoyalist]

Onlinefabricstore.net lists 14 oz/sq yd  upholstery denim.

[moleeyes36]

I just bought some heavy weight cotton pillow ticking at Jo-Ann's that after washing 3 times to remove the sizing, measured compressed in a micrometer at .021 thousandths.  I've also bought cotton canvas that after washing measures, compressed, at .024 thousandths.  I don't know what thickness you're after or what 14 ounce denim measures when measured the same way.  However it may be in the same neighborhood. 

Mole Eyes

[WadePatton]

Onlinefabricstore.net lists 14 oz/sq yd  upholstery denim.

Great!  I'll go find my calipers just for proper reference.  

I started with a 9 or 10oz denim but it started blowing as the powder charge went up.  Was afraid the heavier wouldn't load, but it did and doesn't blow.

Measures .0305" by calipers squeezed tight.  (later) Or measured differently .0205"  So nevermind my math until i get a better measurement (mic).

[Daryl]

Measuring cloth is difficult to come up with numbers that are comparable to someone else's measurements.

I have 3 sets of dial calipers now, one set of vernier calipers and a Mitutoyo mic. Those instruments give me 5 different measurements, spread out in .001" increments on any piece of cloth I want to measure.

If I can find 100% denim in 8, 10 and 12 ounce, I am happy as the 12 is for the .69 and the 10 shoots in everything else. The 8 will work in the tight combinations I use in the .32 and .40 with bore sized balls(or larger).
No mallets, no hammers needed.

The 12 ounce is used for both the .684" and .675" balls in that rifle. I average it at .030" with calipers and .025", cranked down, with the mic.

That rifle has a .690" bore, .010" rifling, so .690" + .010" + .010" = .710", groove to groove.

With the .684" ball and the 12 ounce denim, mic'd- that combination measures - .734".  If you use my compressed caliper's measurements, it's .744".  Yes - it's snug - no mallets, no hammers and been using the same hickory rod since 1986.

If you can find 12 ounce, Wade, I think it will do.

[WadePatton]

Well also, when measuring bore I do prefer the pin gauges, but that I can't check over .500" dangit.  I've only checked one other bbl so far, and found my .30 is actually .303" at the muzzle.

[gwill]

By chance was the .30 barrel made by Mr. Burton?

[WadePatton]

Certainly, and i have no idea what he did to the innards, but trust that it'll work fine when i get it mounted and balanced.

It's 46"/A, and should be wearing Walnut in short order.

---

And by the Colerain reference (not actual measurement) I find .016 as rifling depth.  Which--assuming .540 bore plus .016x2 is .572.  So I have .001 slop in my fit?  Not really as radius rifling is only full-depth right at the center.  Works really good. 

[gwill]

Thanks Wade. I noticed his comment about a .003" tapered bore for ease of loading on his website. I have a .32 barrel from him that I'm looking forward to using. But I've got to finish a .40 southern mountain rifle first.

[Roger B]

Just walked out of joanne's. They have 7, 10, 11, 11.5, and 12 oz 100% cotton denim.  Nothing heavier. I have to hammer in the 12 oz, so im going to try some 10oz. The trick is that the had 4 10oz bolts, and all were a different weave. I got what appeared to be the tightest.
Roger b.

[WadePatton]

Walked out on JoAnn?

poor gal.

 

Yeah, i gotta get my booty to a store with those funny bolts.

There may not be a 14.75 available in the wild.  That's the number both my jeans makers claim they use.  I did try my next lesser denim and it was great until it started blowing as the charge went up.  Nothing but "14.75" since then. 

I has micrometer somewhere! 

[Roger B]

You might look at 12 oz and find one with a tighter weave than the stuff you are using.  That might hold up better.  I've also heard of guys using a wad underneath the patched ball in order to keep a patch together.  How much powder are you using?
Roger B.

[oldways]

WADE don't know if this well help, but i bought 10 oz bull denim papyrus its 100 % cotton and mics at .025 Th's compressed its .020 Th's. I use it in a 50 cal. green mountain straight 7/8" by 42"long barrel. purchased at Joann's

[WadePatton]

The heavier stuff has been fine, and wipes the bbl clean enough for continuous shooting-with spit.

Loading 80FF right now, haven't fully developed the rifle yet, but it's hunting accurate at 80 for sure.  2 for 2 on large whiteys.  I plink with 60.

I think the lighter stuff started blowing at 70 or 75.  I have plenty to get me into Spring. 

Beginning to look like the weight of the cloth isn't much of an indicator for our purposes.

Thanks for all the replies.

_Found the Micrometer_  by the ratchet: .034, twisted up snug: .028, over-tightened: .021, way-overtightened (distorting the frame likely): .015.  clear as mud!  So I'll just have to measure and "feel" materials side by side when shopping, and knowing that new material gets a bit softer when prepped. Once again: Shoot and See!