Homemade cleaning patches??

Uncle Ben · April 1, 2008, 03:01 PM

Does anyone use old T shirt cutouts or anything similar instead of store-bought patches? Just wondering if there are any good alternatives to save a few bucks, or whether I should just stick with the real stuff...

Thanks.

Kreyzhorse · April 1, 2008, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Does anyone use old T shirt cutouts or anything similar instead of store-bought patches?

For years old t-shirts cut into squares were all I used to clean my guns with. I mostly use store bought patches now but will still whip out an old t-shirt if the mood strikes.

Uncle Ben · April 1, 2008, 04:47 PM

I guess that's all I needed to know

Thanks!

Bailey Boat · April 1, 2008, 05:18 PM

I go to the local fabric store and buy cotton flannel by the yard. It's usually about 2.00 per yard and is about 40" wide. I then purchased one of the circular roller cutters for cloth (9.99) and can cut them any size I want. I shoot mainly shotguns so I have a special size for each of the 4 gages. Same principal would work for rifles and handguns, a size for whatever caliber you shoot......

teeroux · April 1, 2008, 05:28 PM

i just recently bought a pack of gun patches made from cut up cloth.

so im am sure cutting up old cloth is fine

JWT · April 1, 2008, 05:31 PM

I buy a bundle of cheap terry cloth towels from Cosco and cut them up to use for cleaning my shotguns. They work much better than the patches offered commercially and are significantly cheaper.

sholling · April 1, 2008, 06:41 PM

For my rifles I buy Butch's patches.

Martyn4802 · April 2, 2008, 05:23 AM

I buy 100% cotton flannel by the yard at the fabric store and cut patches from it. Works much better than old "T" short material.

Martyn

Jack Reevez · April 2, 2008, 09:13 AM

Uncle Ben..

Old cotton t-shirts work great.
I use a strong tissue paper to saturate with solvent to clean the bores. Afterwards i use old cotton t shirt rags ( and patches made of it) to clean and they work great. Just make sure they are clean before using them to clean ur firearms.

Uncle Ben · April 2, 2008, 09:20 AM

Great ideas everybody. Thanks for the input.

kamerer · April 2, 2008, 05:45 PM

Quality paper towels work fine, too - like Bounty brand. I tear them up into small pieces to thread into the bore loop, or end of the jag. I use them for 95% of the cleaning then finish with a cloth patch for a final thorough scrub. they work just as well as most patches, and better than some.

Inspector3711 · April 3, 2008, 04:04 PM

Walmart has t-shirt remnants in a camo plastic bag for 2 bucks or so... Big bag for the $... Some random sizing going on so have some scissors...

SpikeHead · April 3, 2008, 09:18 PM

I routinely relegate old T-shirts to the cleaning kit box once the arms give way. Sit happily in front of the TV cuttin' up cloth into various sizes. I've gotten very good at estimating the perfect sized patch for my various calibers.

whitefish · April 15, 2008, 09:12 PM

I've tried using cut up t-shirts in my rifles but they don't seem to have the necessary elasticity - they just ended up getting crammed in the barrel when I use a spear jag. The blue shop towels, however, seem to work okay.

I use shop towel for patches in my 12 and 20ga with no problems.

Anyone know what material Hoppes, Gunslick, Outers etc. use for commercial patches. I'd like to buy in bulk and cut up my own.

TheManHimself · April 17, 2008, 09:52 AM

The patches I buy are just scraps of t-shirt material and they seem to work better than the Hoppes, Outers, etc type of patches - more absorbent and less apt to tear.

rekoyl · April 21, 2008, 10:44 AM

I ran out one evening so I snatched a roll of my wife's leg waxing material.

I'm not sure what it costs though so it might not be an economical solution. I usually use old bed sheets.

DonR101395 · April 21, 2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

I usually use old bed sheets.

Same here, along with recycled t-shirts. My wife finds me sheets for $.50 at the Goodwill.

**JohnKSa** · April 21, 2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Quality paper towels work fine, too - like Bounty brand.

Yup, that's mostly what I use. Not so great for small-bore rifles, but it's really all you need for most pistol cleaning.

sureshots · April 21, 2008, 06:00 PM

Good ones work great. Cut strips then fold to get proper fit. Really will absorb excess solvent and oil. Glad to see I'm not the only one using these johnKSA and Kamerer.

capbuster · April 21, 2008, 06:23 PM

over the years I have used old bed sheets that my wife had decided to discard.broke down and bought a cheap pair of scissors to whittle the sheets down to size. you all take care.

Inspector3711 · April 22, 2008, 10:25 PM

The trick is to get your neighbors tshirt off the clothes line... Much cheaper! Crap.. I hope he isn't a member....

macmuffy · April 22, 2008, 11:22 PM

Inspetor, I'll be in my hide waiting next laundry day. You belong to me now!

Does anybody know to cook Inspectors? Boiled, fried or stewed?

.

smiljko · April 23, 2008, 03:15 AM

I use pure cotton wool-just wrap it around the cleaning rod

b.thomas · April 23, 2008, 05:48 AM

Any type of cloth that will fit down the bore will work fine......even paper towels in a pinch with shotguns.

Inspector3711 · April 23, 2008, 11:03 PM

50 cal? Thats right.... Tampax baby! They need longer strings on them thangs

Dang! I knew I'd get busted swiping laundry

April 1, 2008, 03:01 PM	#1
Uncle Ben Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 400	Homemade cleaning patches?? Does anyone use old T shirt cutouts or anything similar instead of store-bought patches? Just wondering if there are any good alternatives to save a few bucks, or whether I should just stick with the real stuff... Thanks. __________________ Lazy + Complacent = DISARMED *FIGHT to keep your guns & join the NRA. Contact your representatives about 2A issues at www.capwiz.com/nra/dbq/officials and to be kept up to date on the current issues visit www.nraila.org

April 1, 2008, 06:41 PM	#7
sholling Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 1999 Location: Hemet (middle of nowhere) California Posts: 4,261	For my rifles I buy Butch's patches. __________________ Proud Life Member: National Rifle Association, California Rifle & Pistol Association, and the Second Amendment Foundation. Annual Member: Revolutionary War Veterans Association (Project Appleseed) and the Madison Society.

April 2, 2008, 05:23 AM	#8
Martyn4802 Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2007 Location: Grayling, Michigan Posts: 737	I buy 100% cotton flannel by the yard at the fabric store and cut patches from it. Works much better than old "T" short material. Martyn __________________ US Army Retired NRA Benefactor Life Member JPFO

April 3, 2008, 04:04 PM	#12
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	Walmart has t-shirt remnants in a camo plastic bag for 2 bucks or so... Big bag for the $... Some random sizing going on so have some scissors... __________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Llama (5/15/01, The Seattle Times) "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." George Orwell

April 3, 2008, 09:18 PM	#13
SpikeHead Member Join Date: September 24, 2007 Location: Rhode Island, USA Posts: 33	Glad you asked this question. I routinely relegate old T-shirts to the cleaning kit box once the arms give way. Sit happily in front of the TV cuttin' up cloth into various sizes. I've gotten very good at estimating the perfect sized patch for my various calibers. __________________ Would have occupied Waziristan and Northwest Frontier Province from the start. NRA member since 2005.

April 1, 2008, 04:47 PM	#3
Uncle Ben Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 400	I guess that's all I needed to know Thanks!

April 1, 2008, 05:18 PM	#4
Bailey Boat Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2006 Location: NC Posts: 365	I go to the local fabric store and buy cotton flannel by the yard. It's usually about 2.00 per yard and is about 40" wide. I then purchased one of the circular roller cutters for cloth (9.99) and can cut them any size I want. I shoot mainly shotguns so I have a special size for each of the 4 gages. Same principal would work for rifles and handguns, a size for whatever caliber you shoot......

April 1, 2008, 05:28 PM	#5
teeroux Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2006 Posts: 1,512	i just recently bought a pack of gun patches made from cut up cloth. so im am sure cutting up old cloth is fine

April 1, 2008, 05:31 PM	#6
JWT Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2007 Location: Southern Arizona Posts: 3,888	I buy a bundle of cheap terry cloth towels from Cosco and cut them up to use for cleaning my shotguns. They work much better than the patches offered commercially and are significantly cheaper.

April 2, 2008, 09:13 AM	#9
Jack Reevez Member Join Date: April 2, 2008 Posts: 32	Uncle Ben.. Old cotton t-shirts work great. I use a strong tissue paper to saturate with solvent to clean the bores. Afterwards i use old cotton t shirt rags ( and patches made of it) to clean and they work great. Just make sure they are clean before using them to clean ur firearms.

April 2, 2008, 09:20 AM	#10
Uncle Ben Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 400	Great ideas everybody. Thanks for the input.

April 2, 2008, 05:45 PM	#11
kamerer Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2007 Location: Way west Posts: 481	Quality paper towels work fine, too - like Bounty brand. I tear them up into small pieces to thread into the bore loop, or end of the jag. I use them for 95% of the cleaning then finish with a cloth patch for a final thorough scrub. they work just as well as most patches, and better than some.

April 15, 2008, 09:12 PM	#14
whitefish Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 100	I've tried using cut up t-shirts in my rifles but they don't seem to have the necessary elasticity - they just ended up getting crammed in the barrel when I use a spear jag. The blue shop towels, however, seem to work okay. I use shop towel for patches in my 12 and 20ga with no problems. Anyone know what material Hoppes, Gunslick, Outers etc. use for commercial patches. I'd like to buy in bulk and cut up my own.

April 17, 2008, 09:52 AM	#15
TheManHimself Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2008 Posts: 730	The patches I buy are just scraps of t-shirt material and they seem to work better than the Hoppes, Outers, etc type of patches - more absorbent and less apt to tear.

April 21, 2008, 10:44 AM	#16
rekoyl Junior Member Join Date: April 3, 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 5	I ran out one evening so I snatched a roll of my wife's leg waxing material. I'm not sure what it costs though so it might not be an economical solution. I usually use old bed sheets.

April 21, 2008, 06:00 PM	#19
sureshots Senior Member Join Date: March 17, 2008 Location: Piedmont,NC Posts: 464	Paper Towels Good ones work great. Cut strips then fold to get proper fit. Really will absorb excess solvent and oil. Glad to see I'm not the only one using these johnKSA and Kamerer.

April 21, 2008, 06:23 PM	#20
capbuster Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 1999 Location: Bessemer,Alabama Posts: 302	over the years I have used old bed sheets that my wife had decided to discard.broke down and bought a cheap pair of scissors to whittle the sheets down to size. you all take care. __________________ cliff

April 22, 2008, 10:25 PM	#21
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	The trick is to get your neighbors tshirt off the clothes line... Much cheaper! Crap.. I hope he isn't a member.... __________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Llama (5/15/01, The Seattle Times) "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." George Orwell

April 22, 2008, 11:22 PM	#22
macmuffy Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Posts: 66	Inspetor, I'll be in my hide waiting next laundry day. You belong to me now! Does anybody know to cook Inspectors? Boiled, fried or stewed? . __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, "Holy crap. What a ride.!"

April 23, 2008, 03:15 AM	#23
smiljko Member Join Date: April 16, 2005 Location: Croatia Posts: 85	I use pure cotton wool-just wrap it around the cleaning rod

April 23, 2008, 05:48 AM	#24
b.thomas Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Posts: 461	Any type of cloth that will fit down the bore will work fine......even paper towels in a pinch with shotguns.

April 23, 2008, 11:03 PM	#25
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	50 cal? Thats right.... Tampax baby! They need longer strings on them thangs Dang! I knew I'd get busted swiping laundry __________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Llama (5/15/01, The Seattle Times) "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." George Orwell