Author Topic: Tapering an Ebony Ramrod. (Read 7304 times)

pushboater · « **on:** March 29, 2017, 06:48:39 AM »

MidwayUSA has some great how to videos. This particular one shows Larry Potterfield making a tapered Ebony Ramrod for a Westley Richards muzzle loading shotgun. Never seen a ramrod tapered this way, but hey, it looks like it works great, and it's fast!

Capt. David

Old Ford2 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2017, 03:10:54 PM »

Great post!
Thank you!
Fred

Dave Marsh · « **Reply #2 on:** March 29, 2017, 03:37:09 PM »

They work great.

http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=52401&cat=1,180,42288,52401

Dave

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2017, 03:49:22 PM »

Quote from: Strong Bear on March 29, 2017, 03:37:09 PM

They work great.

http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=52401&cat=1,180,42288,52401

Dave

Thanks, I'll order them today. Something to look forward to, can't wait to play with them.

Tim C.

gusd · « **Reply #4 on:** March 29, 2017, 04:05:17 PM »

Great Video!
Brass cross pin holes should have slight countersink before being peened.
Gus

WestBranchSusquehanna · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2017, 06:15:11 PM »

Nifty little tool. Now it got me thinking of making my own ramrods. And I have a question: Has anyone ever make one out of curly stock? And if so, would it stand up and again if so, could you please post a picture.
Thanks,
Michael K.

FlintFan · « **Reply #6 on:** March 29, 2017, 06:54:42 PM »

I have the Lee Valley tool, and have actually made a few ebony ramrods using it. There is a learning curve to using it. Go slow, and make sure everything is running straight through the tool. The first time I used it, the stock while straight and square, ran out and I ruined a long section of it. Make sure your square blank is feeding in perfectly straight. Stop every so often and check to make sure it is not running out to one side while being fed into the shaver.

I actually ended up fitting the socket I was using to a simple ratchet wrench, and used that to turn it in by hand. I drove the wrench with my right hand, and used my left hand to make sure everything was going straight into the tool. Was slow, and probably not necessary, but worked. Just stressing the point that everything must be going straight and true.

conquerordie · « **Reply #7 on:** March 29, 2017, 07:02:20 PM »

Looks like I found a new way to taper a ramrod. I do something similar, but this is even easier.
Thanks for posting the video.
Greg

jerrywh · « **Reply #8 on:** March 29, 2017, 07:46:18 PM »

Dowel making tools have been around for hundreds of years., here is how to make one.

jerrywh · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2017, 01:49:36 AM »

I tapper mine on a belt sander lengthwise.

pushboater · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2017, 02:52:47 AM »

Pretty simple jig to make also. Gonna have to make me one.

Cody Tetachuk · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2017, 04:00:18 AM »

Likes the video but was very disappointed in the "making" of the wad puller. A wood screw is a very poor example of an early to mid 19th century wad puller (not even close actually). Would live to see a video on ow to make those.

smylee grouch · « **Reply #12 on:** March 31, 2017, 05:01:24 AM »

I have one of Acers tools and have had great luck with it.

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #13 on:** March 31, 2017, 05:23:13 AM »

In 2009 before I attended the Dixon's fayre, I spent a week visiting with my friends in and around Chatham NY. I had the pleasure of making an ebony rod for Acer's Jaeger...nice piece of wood. I used his scraping device and it worked super well.

gumboman · « **Reply #14 on:** March 31, 2017, 05:24:55 AM »

Where can we see Acer's tool?

smylee grouch · « **Reply #15 on:** March 31, 2017, 05:52:44 AM »

I think you could search the archives for ramrod scraper or some such or get in touch with Acer on this forum.

Ky-Flinter · « **Reply #16 on:** March 31, 2017, 03:43:44 PM »

Quote from: gumboman on March 31, 2017, 05:24:55 AM

Where can we see Acer's tool?

http://thosmachine.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/ramrod-scraper/

-Ron

Marcruger · « **Reply #17 on:** April 01, 2017, 07:31:38 PM »

Fascinating. I never realized Mr. Potterfield was a builder. I don't know why I didn't think that. I guess I thought of him more as a merchant with a talent for marketing.

He makes it look easy. I guess it is for someone with lots of lathe experience.

It gives me a greater appreciation for Dave Crisalli's work!

In looking at the ebony "pencil shavings", it makes me think those could be ground up and successfully mixed with black epoxy to make inclusion and worm hole filler material.

Best wishes to all. Marc

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #18 on:** April 01, 2017, 07:53:45 PM »

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/574/1

Cody: TOW sells the correct style of wad/ball puller screws. They work really well. I have a set of them in a waterproof plastic box screwed to a spruce tree at the start of our BP trail, together with a 54" stainless range rod with T handle, and it has been used successfully for many years for those who forget the powder before the ball.

Bill Raby · « **Reply #19 on:** April 03, 2017, 03:00:22 AM »

Who sells ebony about the right size and length to make into ramrods?

Cody Tetachuk · « **Reply #20 on:** April 04, 2017, 06:35:46 AM »

Thanks Taylor. Those are a lot better than a wood screw. I'ld rather figure out how to make my own though. Why spend a coupe bucks for one when you can make one in a few hours. LOL

wmrike · « **Reply #21 on:** April 04, 2017, 05:15:09 PM »

I have done ebony tips, but would not think ebony a good material for an entire rod. How well does it serve?

FlintFan · « **Reply #22 on:** April 04, 2017, 05:46:14 PM »

Quote from: wmrike on April 04, 2017, 05:15:09 PM

I have done ebony tips, but would not think ebony a good material for an entire rod. How well does it serve?

I have made many out of ebony, and in my opinion there is not another wood that even comes close to the durability of ebony. You would have to switch to metal or plastic/resin to find something that would resist breakage better. Flexing an ebony ramrod in your hands feels similar to flexing a tempered, spring steel rod. However, it has one major drawback...it's price, especially in boards long enough to use for ramrods.

Old Ford2 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 05, 2017, 02:44:47 PM »

Hi,
An iron wood dowel soaked in Fieberling"s ( spelling ) black or dark brown leather die will duplicate ebony at a lot cheaper cost and will not break either.
If you take a plastic plumbing tube , cap one end, partially fill the tube with die, put the ram rod in, fill the tube, leave it for a day, take it out polish it.
You will need plastic gloves, to handle and seal the rod, or your hands will look like you worked in a coal mine.
You can use straight grained hickory, but it is not as heavy as ebony or ironwood.
Good luck & keep your rod straight!
Fred

JBJ · « **Reply #24 on:** April 05, 2017, 08:10:11 PM »

Old Ford,
Are you referring to the American hornbeam (known as ironwood) or something like Ipe (also called ironwood)?
Ipe would be a great substitute for ebony (heavier, higher modules of rupture, and elastic modulus). It is used for decks and the 1 inch thick boards are "readily" available in multiple feet lengths. Color is dark brown and your staining method would be great. Ipe is some seriously strong and heavy wood!
J.B.

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Author Topic: Tapering an Ebony Ramrod. (Read 7304 times)

pushboater

pushboater