Ramrod

[rmatt]

How do you guys taper ramrods?

[Black Hand]

I use a small plane, scrapers and sandpaper.

[Dave Marsh]

I use this.  Scroll down to ramrod scraper.

https://thosmachine.wordpress.com/

Dave

[smylee grouch]

I use one of Acer's tools.

[Pukka Bundook]

Plane and scraper , bit of sandpaper, just like Black Hand.

R.

[gusd]

I use one of tom's tools.
what strong bear said.
Gus

[BJH]

I use one of Toms scrapeing  tools. It's the nicest tool I've found for the job. BJH

[P.W.Berkuta]

I use everything already said AND a pair of scissors opened up to about 60 degrees and clamped into a vise with the pointy ends facing up like a "Vee". I then lay the ramrod into the "Vee" and pull it through as many times as it takes - then sand if it needs it.

[Flint62Smoothie]

I use that small, hardened grooved-edge tool to taper ends of the rod that go into the stock.

But for my long 44” -54” early French ramrods w/ the large ~1/2” bulb prior to tapering to 3/8” rod or
smaller, I use the Mike Lea tool.

[Fiftyfour]

My method is going to sound crude but there is a reason why I did it the way I did.
I drilled 3 holes thru a piece of 1/4 steel plate. The holes were 7/16",   13\32" and 3/8".
I put the plate in vice.  I wanted to try a piece of sugar maple to see if it would work so I ripped a piece
That had somewhat straight grain to a about 7/16 x 7/16 x 39 " as the barrel is 36".
I then sharpened one end.  Using a 2 pound hammer I drove it all the way thru the large hole.
Then drove it about half way thru the middle hole and last drove it thru the small hole the length
Of the ram rod hole in the stock. The I cleaned it up with a block plane scraper and sand paper and cut it to final length.
I broke a few doing this but I am pretty confident I won't break this rod by ramming a ball down the barrel.
This method did leave some marks in the rod but is used in my trade gun. There is no brass on this rod.

[jerrywh]

 I do mine on a belt sander.

[Nate McKenzie]

Rod in an electric drill spinning on a 6in. belt sander.

[oldtravler61]

  Nate can't beat the ole Tennessee mountain lathe as H.H. calls it. Works like a charm....

[Ky-Flinter]

How about this?

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=43633.msg426546#msg426546

-Ron

[Turtle]

 I took a piece of app.14 ga sheet metal and cut several different width tapered slots with round bottoms on the edge. The slots are app 1'in deep and you control the ramrod diameter by going deeper as necessary. I pull the ramrod through the slot and rotate it every stroke to keep it round. If you start with a smaller slot at one end, you can transition to larger at the other. Works slick and fast.

[flehto]

The RRs for my builds are of 2 styles..... tapped brass fittings on both ends and a brass fitting on one end and the other end  has a larger tapered end w/o a brass fitting. .... a  7/16" dia RR. is req'd.  Both styles have a slightly tapered length that that goes into the lower forestock......usually .010  under the 3/8" dia.

The versatile tool that does all of the above is from Buchele's "Recreating the American Longrifle" and is shown below.....the straight lengths leading to the 3/8" dia are angled so larger dia. stock can enter.....Fred

 

[rmatt]

Thanks for all the replies. Gives me a lot to consider.

[Scota4570]

Being a contrarian by nature I sometimes part with traditions and go with practical.  I do not taper ramrods. 

I drill ramrod holes that properly fit the ramrod.   I want the ramrod as strong a possible so I don't thin it down.  That allows me to make a two sided ramrod.  Maybe the exposed end is a brass tube and wedge and the other end is a brass end threaded 10-32.  I have also done them with a 10-32 on one end and an 8-32 on the other.   Sometimes I make an integral jag.

[WKevinD]

If I am making a rod with a 1/2" end tapering to 3/8" or 5/16" for a fowler or larger caliber rifle I us a Lee Valley dowel jig
http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=52401&cat=1,180,42288,52401  and finish with one of Toms scrapers

Kevin