Video - Making and shooting home made C&B revolver wads

duelist1954 · August 22, 2012, 09:11 AM

In this video I'll show cap and ball shooters how to save a lot of money by making their own lubricated felt cap & ball revolver wads. The video shows how I make my black powder lube, and how I make lubed cap and ball revolver wads. Then we'll load an Uberti 1860 Army revolver using our homemade wads and do some shooting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgNVPC2wmWI

brushhippie · August 22, 2012, 12:09 PM

Another great vid thanks Mike!

g.willikers · August 22, 2012, 02:42 PM

Ditto to that, and me, too.
Thick gasket paper, available from auto parts stores, seems to make pretty good wad material, too.

Doc Hoy · August 22, 2012, 04:10 PM

Another great video.

I make my wads out of felt from a 100% wool felt hat. It is not nearly as thick as 1/8...Maybe just over a 16th.

I am going to start using a recipe that is closer to yours for the lube too.

I am a devout tightwad so a hat for two bucks at the thrift store and a pound of beeswax here and there from keepers who don't want to filter their wax and hence just throw it away is right up my alley.

Whetstone70 · August 22, 2012, 08:15 PM

Thanks for the write up Been a decade since I shot any firearms for recreational or fun. And I am looking forward to getting back into the fun of black powder shooting.

Doc Hoy · August 23, 2012, 10:15 AM

Welcome to the forum, Whetstone.

noelf2 · August 23, 2012, 06:56 PM

I do much the same except I use the 50/50 beeswax and crisco. I punch the wads first, grab what I need, and soak them in a little lube in a dedicated empty tuna can.

Pahoo · August 24, 2012, 11:23 AM

If nothing else, you have given us the source of your materials which is really helpful. I use to get Lamb Tallow years ago and needed a new source. Might also add that I use these wads on my M/L rifles. ....

Mike, have you ever used any additives to reduce them getting rancid? Knowing how you shoot, yours don't get a chance to do so. We use to keep ours, in the refrigerator. ....

Once again, we thank you and;
Be Safe !!!

duelist1954 · August 24, 2012, 06:36 PM

I have about six pounds of lube in a tupperware-type tub with a tight lid that I store in my basement shop. I've never had a problem with it going rancid.

I use this lube for wads, greasing round ball patches, and to lube black powder cartridge bullets. So I do go through a lot of it, but when the tub gets low, I just brew a new batch and pour it in with the old stuff.

Doc Hoy · August 25, 2012, 02:21 AM

Two aspects of your 6:36 post.

It is good to know you use the same lube for cartridges, patches, wads and so forth.

Also, I agree about shelf life. I had some lube sealed for a very long time, several years. No problem.

g.willikers · August 25, 2012, 12:13 PM

Wha? Nobody uses spit anymore?

straightcut · August 25, 2012, 07:11 PM

Thank you for posting that video, Mike. I had ordered the felt a month or so ago and have a connection with a bee keeper, so I'm gathering the ingredients. Your video tutorial was most helpful!

Hawg Haggen · August 25, 2012, 07:45 PM

You can use papier mache egg cartons to make wads.

August 22, 2012, 09:11 AM	#1
duelist1954 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2011 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 381	Video - Making and shooting home made C&B revolver wads In this video I'll show cap and ball shooters how to save a lot of money by making their own lubricated felt cap & ball revolver wads. The video shows how I make my black powder lube, and how I make lubed cap and ball revolver wads. Then we'll load an Uberti 1860 Army revolver using our homemade wads and do some shooting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgNVPC2wmWI

August 22, 2012, 02:42 PM	#3
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 2,517	Ditto to that, and me, too. Thick gasket paper, available from auto parts stores, seems to make pretty good wad material, too. __________________ Lock the doors, they're coming in the windows.

August 22, 2012, 04:10 PM	#4
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 3,341	Mike, Another great video. I make my wads out of felt from a 100% wool felt hat. It is not nearly as thick as 1/8...Maybe just over a 16th. I am going to start using a recipe that is closer to yours for the lube too. I am a devout tightwad so a hat for two bucks at the thrift store and a pound of beeswax here and there from keepers who don't want to filter their wax and hence just throw it away is right up my alley. __________________ Doc My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. Thomas Jefferson

August 22, 2012, 08:15 PM	#5
Whetstone70 Junior Member Join Date: August 22, 2012 Location: Texas, Arizona Posts: 6	Good Information Thanks for the write up Been a decade since I shot any firearms for recreational or fun. And I am looking forward to getting back into the fun of black powder shooting. __________________ To all Fire,Police and Armed Services. Thank You OIF 05-06 08-09 OEF 10-11 VFW Life Member

August 23, 2012, 10:15 AM	#6
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 3,341	Welcome Welcome to the forum, Whetstone. __________________ Doc My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. Thomas Jefferson

August 22, 2012, 12:09 PM	#2
brushhippie Junior member Join Date: June 4, 2012 Posts: 70	Another great vid thanks Mike!

August 23, 2012, 06:56 PM	#7
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stafford, VA Posts: 1,318	I do much the same except I use the 50/50 beeswax and crisco. I punch the wads first, grab what I need, and soak them in a little lube in a dedicated empty tuna can. __________________ This message and signature were both made using 100% recycled electrons.

August 24, 2012, 11:23 AM	#8
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 4,390	Keep em coming !!! If nothing else, you have given us the source of your materials which is really helpful. I use to get Lamb Tallow years ago and needed a new source. Might also add that I use these wads on my M/L rifles. .... Mike, have you ever used any additives to reduce them getting rancid? Knowing how you shoot, yours don't get a chance to do so. We use to keep ours, in the refrigerator. .... Once again, we thank you and; Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

August 24, 2012, 06:36 PM	#9
duelist1954 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2011 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 381	I have about six pounds of lube in a tupperware-type tub with a tight lid that I store in my basement shop. I've never had a problem with it going rancid. I use this lube for wads, greasing round ball patches, and to lube black powder cartridge bullets. So I do go through a lot of it, but when the tub gets low, I just brew a new batch and pour it in with the old stuff.

August 25, 2012, 02:21 AM	#10
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 3,341	Duelist Two aspects of your 6:36 post. It is good to know you use the same lube for cartridges, patches, wads and so forth. Also, I agree about shelf life. I had some lube sealed for a very long time, several years. No problem. __________________ Doc My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. Thomas Jefferson

August 25, 2012, 12:13 PM	#11
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 2,517	Wha? Nobody uses spit anymore? __________________ Lock the doors, they're coming in the windows.

August 25, 2012, 07:11 PM	#12
straightcut Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: AZ Posts: 31	Thank you for posting that video, Mike. I had ordered the felt a month or so ago and have a connection with a bee keeper, so I'm gathering the ingredients. Your video tutorial was most helpful!

August 25, 2012, 07:45 PM	#13
Hawg Haggen Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 10,228	You can use papier mache egg cartons to make wads. __________________ http://blackpowdertimes.com/index.php