flintlock picks?

[Jakob]

As I'm inching ever closer to finishing my flintlock, I have, after reading here, become aware that my flintlock pick and brush that I bought ages ago, is way too thick for the white lightining vent line I have installed.
 What does the group normally recommend for picks? I have some welding tip 'brushes' (really just twisted wires) in various sizes...will they do?

[bluenoser]

Welding tip brushes are amongst the worst things you could use.  They are like little files and will enlarge your vent.  a piece of brass or soft steel wire with a somewhat rounded tip would be much better. A piece of soft steel wire hammered or filed into a long taper also works well.  I am sure others will suggest equally suitable options.
Congrats on joining the flint crowd.

[smokinbuck]

Cheapest way to go is a paper clip. Straighten part of it and the rest is a handle.

[recurve]

a heavy-duty paperclip does a great job, soft metal does not harm liner and stiff to cleanout fouling. you can mount in a handle with hot melt glue , wood antler.

[smylee grouch]

Or a piece of suitable coper wire

[Eric Laird]

I find that a short piece of 12ga copper wire works well for me. Strip off the insulation and pound it into a tapered shape with a square cross section. About 3 minutes work with a hammer and hard, flat surface. If you want, you can "clean it up" by draw filing the flats. I taper it enough to fit in the touch hole a ways, and the edges on the square shape do a good job of cleaning fouling. Since it's copper, it doesn't harm the touch hole. After a bit of use, the softer copper will have rounded a bit from contact with the touch hole - it's a simple matter to clean it up again with draw filing. I bend a little loop in the back end and tie it to my horn strap.

[Jakob]

Thanks! I'm glad I asked!

[A Scanlan]

As a fly tier I have found a small "pick" used in making certain flies to work very well.  It has a small plastic handle, nice tip and small size.  Available at your local sports store that carried such material.

[whetrock]

If you are going to use a pick that is square in cross section, then only use one made of something softer than your liner, such as copper (as Eric L suggested). A square pick made of steel is just a reamer. It will enlarge the hole. On my guns I only use picks that are round in cross section. Steel or copper. Just slightly smaller than the hole. A pick is a primarily a pushing tool. It should be able to be able to go all the way into the bore without binding.

[oldways]

 Heavy sewing needles also work, you can glue them into cork ,wood or deer antler.

[Habu]

Having learned long ago that attention to detail drastically reduces misfires, I always load with a feather or pick in the touch hole.  Pick a feather with a shaft a little smaller than the touch hole, trim the barbs to ~1/8" on both sides, and try to not lose it.  My usual source is the latest starling or sparrow to land on the 25 yard target frame. 

I still carry a metal pick.  I don't think the source matters, as much as it matters that you have one when you need it.  The pick attached to my bag was originally a piece of K-wire (used to pin bones together after surgery): stainless steel, about .059" diameter.  Before I got that I was solidly in the large paperclip camp. 

[Woodpecker]

I use a bulb syringe instead of a pick. Developed the habit with percussion to make sure nipples were clear without wasting caps and it works for the flintlock as well.

[Scota4570]

Music wire works great.  I get it from hobby shops or Ace hardware.  It is marketed  by K&S Metals.  It is spring stock of various diameters. 

[Stoner creek]

Whatever will fit in the touch hole! Another long winded unnecessary thread! How complicated can this be?
 I’m going to start asking goober questions just to see how many “expert” replies I can get.
It’s roughly a 1/16” diameter hole in a barrel boys!
Geez

[whetrock]

Whatever will fit in the touch hole! Another long winded unnecessary thread! How complicated can this be?
 I’m going to start asking goober questions just to see how many “expert” replies I can get.
It’s roughly a 1/16” diameter hole in a barrel boys!
Geez

I'm sure some questions seem unnecessary to guys who have been at this a while. But some guys on here are just getting started. "Picks" is a simple topic, but guys just starting don't know what picks are for or what to use or how to make them. And they get mixed info from other sources. For example, a quick search for "flintlock picks" on eBay will show you 6 or so listing for picks that are absolutely useless, and some that will actually do damage to a gun. And some of those listings have sold dozens and dozens of the things to guys who didn't know the answer to questions like this one here.

So I'm glad to see even basic questions. And glad to see solid answers.


 

[bluenoser]

Well said whetrock.
I believe the OP's thoughts concerning the use of oxy acetylene tip cleaners is, in itself, proof of the value of such threads.  And, yes, they do sometimes run on.

[Stoner creek]

Some of us remember the time when there were no electronic devices to stare at and if we had a question, we somehow how figured it out on our own. A great part of the learning experience. These forums are helpful but often a question gets answered by true experts AND well intentioned “experts” who are only proficient at tapping a keyboard. I’m going to start posting simpletons questions.

[whetrock]

I remember those days.
You have a lot of experience and knowledge to share, Wayne, so I'm sure even your "simpleton" questions will be useful to a lot of guys.

[Daniel Coats]

Wayne's right just about anything that will fit into the vent using gentle fingertip pressure will work just fine. Any adult handling a firearm probably knows without being told not to be aggressive enough to cause major damage.

[bluenoser]

This thread appears to have taken a detour and I do believe some well-experienced members are overlooking the obvious.
Yes, we did have to figure things out on our own - with the occasional failure and risk of damage due to a lack of knowledge and absence of guidance.  At the risk of harping on a point but addressing Daniel's comment, a welding tip cleaner will fit nicely in a flash hole.  That does not make it a suitable vent pick - even when used gently.
Isn't it nice that we now have forums such as this, where the less experienced amongst us can benefit from the guidance of those who have been there and done that.

[smylee grouch]

Gee wiz, I have read it here many times ( there is no such thing as a dumb question ).

[Daniel Coats]

Not trying to start a fight but have you actually used a welding tip cleaner for a vent cleaning tool? I have and did for almost the entire decade of the 1970s. Did I ever notice the slightest damage?  No.  Would it be my first choice today?  No.  Am I recommending it? No.

There's just a heck of a lot of other things that will fail first when you shoot enough for the type of vent pick to make a difference.

Now we can be friends again! 

[bluenoser]

Not to argue, but the question deserves an answer.  I have not used a welding tip cleaner to clean a vent, but do use them on a regular basis - as recently as yesterday.  Having seen first hand what they can do to a welding tip, I would never use one to clean a vent.
A lively discussion should never be a reason to end a friendship

[Stoner creek]

I’ve never used a brush on a flintlock either. 46 years and never saw any reason to. I’m certain that there are some brush experts out there who will opine!!

[Daryl]

I'd estimate I use a vent pick once every 3 or 4 times shooting one of my flinters.
It just doesn't happen unless I have a flash in the pan - which is rare - at that point, I
put more prime in the pan and tip the rifle sideways, and tap on the breech with my short starter.
a bit of powder dribbles into the breech.
She goes off after that, perfectly.