Making ball bags, stopper size?

[sumoj275]

hello there
Plan on making some ball bags but I am not sure what size the stoppers should be for them.  I will be making them for my .45, 50, 54, and 62 cal.  Do you guys know what is the best way to go about it?  Should I make the spout a but bigger for the caliber?
Thanks

[Red Badger]

When I make a new bag I form the sout about 5 mm larger than the diamater of the ball I use... I make a wooden dowel to size and form the spout around it... then make the stopper out of that dowel....

[tallbear]

Traditionally the stoppers on probably 90-95% of original ball bags are of what are known as a clothespin style stopper.The reason for this is that the balls rolling around in the bag won't drive out the stopper.The hole size should be slightly over the ball size.I make the shaft of the stopper .300 under the hole size and the end of the closes pins style stopper .100 over the hole size.Here are some pics,you can see how the stopper locks in the back of the spout.

Mitch Yates

[sumoj275]

Thank you so much!

[c-wiseman]

Tallbear, that dark colored rough spot at the beginning of the split in the stopper (just below the middle fringe in the picture), is that a wedge of some kind to help spread the stopper end apart?

chris

[tallbear]

Chris
I think that must be a piece of fuzz from the piece of wool blanket that I use to apply wax with.Once the stopper is finished with spar varnish I wax them to ease their function.

I have seen originals with a piece glued in like that to increase tension as the plugs got older and worn.

Mitch

[c-wiseman]

Thanks for the info Tallbear

Chris

[sumoj275]

Thanks again Tall Bear

[bull frog]

Great looking spout and stoppers.

[tallbear]

Glad to help!!!!

Mitch Yates