Author Topic: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)  (Read 22113 times)

holzwurm

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Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« on: September 22, 2008, 08:10:52 PM »
We all have our own ideas how to handle breech plugs but I came across this one at Friendship recently.

My friend Dick Miller [of Bowling Green MI] & I share space behind the Gunmakers Hall at Friendship for the June & Sept. shoots.  I've been pleasantly surprised how often we exchange building tips/ideas such as magic markers, buring wedge slots through stocks, thick & thin super glue and that activator for small cracks and chips, and so forth. This trip he showed me a breech plug wrench he made from a 19th century adjustable wrench. These things are cheap and easy to find (I found a pile of them in the flea market for $4 each).

Silver solder soft brass liners on the jaws



Dressed off, the wrench jaws are loose enough to grip a breech plug nicly

« Last Edit: January 14, 2020, 06:56:13 AM by rich pierce »

Offline Darrin McDonal

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Re: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2008, 04:49:44 PM »
Now thats slick!!! Best part,-its adjustable which is the draw back to someother common methods. I would pesonally bevel the brass shims to be close to the angle of the BP. Thanks. I love these tidbits
Darrin
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Owner of Frontier Flintlocks

Offline T*O*F

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Re: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2008, 07:51:24 PM »
I believe that a monkey wrench with no teeth is called a stilson wrench.  They have smooth jaws.  I've used one for years to remove breechplugs.  I never bothered soldering brass into the jaws.  I just insert pieces of brass to take up the slack.  A 12" crescent wrench works just as well.
Dave Kanger

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Offline Elnathan

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Re: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2008, 12:58:24 AM »
That is actually about what the folkd at Rice Barrel Co. use, save that it is a newer one ground smooth and they don't bother with the brass, if I recall correctly. I have been looking for a large adjustable wrench for just that purpose, but so far the only one I have found was $80, at a fleamarket!
A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition -  Rudyard Kipling

Offline Dale Halterman

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Re: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2008, 03:13:14 PM »
I have been using a similar wrench - what I grew up calling a monkey wrench - for the last few years. It is heavier than the one pictured and has wooden handles. The jaws are slightly "sprung" from heavy use so they are not parallel and they fit a breechplug almost perfectly. You can pick them up at flea markets and yard sales around here for a few dollars.

I used to pad the jaws with scraps of aluminum flashing, but don't bother anymore.

El, I may have a spare in one of my junk boxes, would you like me to look? BTW, where in North Carolina are you? The company I work for does consulting specializing in casinos, and I flew into Asheville and drove to Harrah's Cherokee a few weeks ago. Beautiful country, reminds me of the eastern panhandle of West Virginia where my father grew up.

Dale H
« Last Edit: September 27, 2008, 03:14:03 PM by Dale H »

don getz

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Re: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2008, 04:06:04 PM »
For many years all we ever used in the shop was a large open end adjustable wrench.  We had pieces of brass bent into a "U" shape that we slipped over the bolster of the plug...worked fine..........Don

Offline Elnathan

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Re: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2008, 01:25:49 AM »
I have been using a similar wrench - what I grew up calling a monkey wrench - for the last few years. It is heavier than the one pictured and has wooden handles. The jaws are slightly "sprung" from heavy use so they are not parallel and they fit a breechplug almost perfectly. You can pick them up at flea markets and yard sales around here for a few dollars.

I used to pad the jaws with scraps of aluminum flashing, but don't bother anymore.

El, I may have a spare in one of my junk boxes, would you like me to look? BTW, where in North Carolina are you? The company I work for does consulting specializing in casinos, and I flew into Asheville and drove to Harrah's Cherokee a few weeks ago. Beautiful country, reminds me of the eastern panhandle of West Virginia where my father grew up.

Dale H

Sorry to reply so late, Sure, I would be interested if you have one over 12". I am in Fairview, a few miles south of Asheville - a couple miles from Rice Barrels. Thanks.
A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition -  Rudyard Kipling

ole one shot

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Re: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« Reply #7 on: August 13, 2014, 03:51:44 AM »
 12'' crescent for install and a 14''stilson for breaking the old ones with a little help of kroil has never failed in 40 years.

Offline Hungry Horse

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Re: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« Reply #8 on: August 13, 2014, 04:26:49 AM »
 Since the picture seems to have been deleted, I can only guess at what the wrench you describe actually looks like. I have a couple of adjustable wrenches, with smooth jaws, that I use to put the twists in my blacksmithed goods. They are called a Ford wrench, out here on the west coast, and sun of a gun, if one of mine doesn't have Ford embossed on it. The other has Sears Roebuck embossed on it. I was told the Ford marked one came with a new model T back in the day.

                  Hungry Horse

Offline Virginiarifleman

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Re: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« Reply #9 on: September 26, 2014, 04:03:39 AM »
The Ford water meter company also makes such a wrench for use on brass fittings.

omark

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Re: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« Reply #10 on: September 26, 2014, 05:27:50 AM »
I'm pretty certain the original ford wrench came in a tool set for the cars.       Mark

Offline WadePatton

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Re: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« Reply #11 on: September 26, 2014, 05:47:25 AM »
After mudging up tang/lug of my first one with parallel jaws, i ground the jaws of an adjustable wrench (Crescent) to fit the tapers of the breech plug lug.  Might not match all plugs, but can be modified again if necessary.
Hold to the Wind

jamesthomas

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Re: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« Reply #12 on: September 27, 2014, 01:29:18 AM »
12'' crescent for install and a 14''stilson for breaking the old ones with a little help of kroil has never failed in 40 years.

 Man Oneshot you sure went back in time for this one!, though it is a good Topic  :)

John A. Stein

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Re: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« Reply #13 on: September 27, 2014, 05:12:43 AM »
 T*O*F   You got it backwards. A Stilson wrench,(AKA Pipe wrench) has teeth and the bottom jaw is swiveled so those teeth will bite. If you live in an old house take a look at the plumbing. The monkey wrench has smooth and is designed so the jaws stay parallel. FWIW 

Offline Robby

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Re: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« Reply #14 on: September 27, 2014, 03:49:12 PM »
Being left handed, I was lucky to find one as such.
Robby
« Last Edit: January 14, 2020, 06:56:38 AM by rich pierce »
molon labe
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jamesthomas

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Re: Breech plug wrench (cheap & easy)
« Reply #15 on: September 28, 2014, 03:33:46 AM »
 Robby, that's a very nice looking monkey wrench you have there "thumbs up". If I'm unable to go shooting tomorrow (80% chance of rain an Thunder storms for down here tomorrow) I'll hit our local big Flea market that operates on Sat.  an Sun. and see if I can find one, Might find some U an V gouges also.