Making a mop (or two)

[Evil Dog]

Have sent off my check for a 1/3rd scale 6 pounder barrel from Gray-Star... a 1" bore.  This will be my first actual cannon so naturally am quite curious about a number of things.... fortunately I have found most of the answers by looking at various threads on this board.

When it comes to making a mop though I haven't seen any discussion of using one of those mini-paint rollers.  Was down at the local hardware store and found replacement rollers that are just a shade over an inch in diameter and will fit quite nicely on a 3/4" dowel.  Is there any reason NOT to make a mops this way?

[Double D]

If it works do it.

The only reason to not do it  is f it didn't work...got it?

[kck]

You have to be sure the material they are made from will not make static  electricity ,some of the synthetic fibers will make sparks,which could ignite unburned powder in the barrel. I hope ya have a good time with the 1/3 scale cannon.I still am thinking about getting one.

[Calamity Jane]

I made my 1" mops from scrap (being inherently CHEAP).

I got some 1/2" dowel, some sheet foam from an old sofa cushion, and an old terrycloth towel.

I glued 1 wrap of foam to the end of the dowel with contact cement and cut/sewed a piece of towel to make a "sock" (closed on one end). The sock fits over the foam and is secured with a piece of string. To wash, just cut the string and slip the sock off.

It works really good. It is soft enough to swab the bore easily.

Did I mention it's CHEAP? :mrgreen:

[Cat Whisperer]

For 155mm howizters we had a bucket of water and a 12x12x6" sponge afixed to the end of a 1"x4' aluminum tubing.  Tubes were hot, dried out very fast.

[Evil Dog]

Starting to get a little fancy.... just for the fun on it.  Found some 3/4" oak dowel at the local hardware store to make the various implements out of.  Then at the local welding supply place I picked up some of those brass ferrels used when repairing gas welding hose.... a 3/4" outside diameter and look quite nice when the oak dowel has been turned down to accept them.  Also bought one with a 1/2" outside diameter using it to line the hole in my linstock that the smouldering cotton rope goes through... might keep me from burning the wood should I forget about having the rope lit.