Traditional Muzzleloading on the Cheap

Member’s General Interest => Good Stuff! => Topic started by: Hawken50 on December 31, 2009, 01:24:23 AM

Title: Gasket punches
Post by: Hawken50 on December 31, 2009, 01:24:23 AM
 dntn Just got a set of hollow punches from harbour freight from half inch down.Very good quality,using them to make felt wads for my 50 hawken and my 1860 army.Only like 8.00 bucks.Ya can get em at the store or online.
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: Stumblin Wolf on December 31, 2009, 03:19:01 AM
somehow "harbor freight" and "very good quality" just don't seem right in the same sentence! ROFL blah chrrs
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: Dryball on December 31, 2009, 03:25:02 AM
I have a set also, and they are good quality.

DB
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: Red Badger on December 31, 2009, 03:50:50 AM
Anyone have an item or stock number on these?
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: Hawken50 on December 31, 2009, 03:56:18 AM
 [hmm] HARBOURFREIGHT.COM...9 piece hollow punch set.Item#3838-1vga.$5.99 plus shipping.
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: Hawken50 on December 31, 2009, 04:09:12 AM
 ROFL That aint nutin,my felt i get at a.c.moore craft shop.12x9 sheet for 3.99.Mrs Hawken always looks fer stuff i can use in any store she goes to....now if i can jest get her ta shoot bigun da hawken..lol
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: Red Badger on December 31, 2009, 04:27:32 AM
thanks hawken50!  I'll be checking for a set when I go into Harbor freight next month...
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: hank-aye on December 31, 2009, 04:36:14 AM
Quote from: Stumblin Wolf on December 31, 2009, 03:19:01 AM
somehow "harbor freight" and "very good quality" just don't seem right in the same sentence! ROFL blah chrrs

Yep, kindda like Military Intelligence...what cya call one o dem oxi-mor-ons.
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: chiefs50 on January 09, 2010, 06:49:42 PM
Despite misgivings, I picked up a set of these punches on sale about six months ago.  In my experience "Made in China"  usually means junk but, for the price, I thought I'd take chance.  I haven't used them too much yet and am wondering how they are holding up for those who use them quite a bit.

Mike
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: Pete Stines on April 26, 2010, 04:49:37 PM
Aoid the set of larger punches from American Science & Surplus and Leather Unlimited. Both sets are Poor quality and dull. Won't cut squat  pnic
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: Ironwood on April 26, 2010, 05:07:30 PM
I have a set of those punches.  Couple of them need some serious sharpening.  But they do a good job once you get them sharp.  I've been looking for a set that goes from 1/2" up.  Maybe I should check out American Science and Surplus.  :D 
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: NAULTRICK1 on April 26, 2010, 06:23:46 PM
 [hmm] Has anybody ever tried to use two hammers(one a ball peen) and a hole drilled in bar stock,---put your material over the hole, place the round head of the ball peen on the material and strike it smartly with a heavier hammer. Have used it to knock out bolt holes in gasket material and to make wads. Works in a pinch and you can make the hole any size according to what drills you have. USE SAFETY GLASSES PLEASE where the hammers strike each other may chip! Just an Idea an old rig pig uses-necessity is the mother of invention.
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: Razor on April 27, 2010, 02:47:25 AM
That's spiffy idea there NAULTRICK1...but, how's about using a plastic dead-blow hammer fer hittin' instead ??
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: NAULTRICK1 on April 27, 2010, 08:54:33 AM
 [hmm] I don't know if there's enough force, but then when I used them, originally it was for 1/4 inch gasket material so we needed a good whack, I suppose a heavy enough hammer out of plastic would work as long as it is heavier than the ball peen, otherwise the ball peen absorbs all the impact and you have to hit it numerous times which can lead to the material being punched moving and you get double cut edges. One other thing - you have to feel through the material with the ball of the ball peen until your seated squarely in the whole. We used to change gaskets on Drawworks on the rigs in the arctic in about 1-1 1/2 hours, thats about 30 to 40- 1/2 inch holes. Little circles of red gasket material all over the place- it was just a natural progression to use something I'd learnt to other things.
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: Hanshi on April 27, 2010, 05:58:45 PM
I already had (lucky break) a 5/8" (.62) punch lying around and bought the HF punch set for my rifle calibers.  For felt, leather & cardboard they work just fine.  Recently I got another set of punches that has a handle with interchangeable cutters going up to 1-1/4".  I don't recall off hand where the latter set came from and would have to check.
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: Ironwood on April 27, 2010, 10:02:08 PM
Some of those larger punches would really help me when making holsters..
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: voyageur1688 on April 28, 2010, 11:50:49 PM
 You can do the samew thing with a piece of pipe that has the same inner diameter that you need for your patches. Just grind or file the out edge sharp and ya got it.
Costs less than the pre-made ones from HF or any other source.
Voy
Title: Re: Gasket punches
Post by: sean drake on April 29, 2010, 12:44:50 AM
Quote from: voyageur1688 on April 28, 2010, 11:50:49 PM
You can do the samew thing with a piece of pipe that has the same inner diameter that you need for your patches. Just grind or file the out edge sharp and ya got it.
Costs less than the pre-made ones from HF or any other source.
Voy
I make buttons frome old leather belts the same way with a pice of pipe with the same id.as what I want just sharpen the od with a grinder and u got a leather punch