Short statrer......

alscalls · February 10, 2010, 06:27:27 PM

Made another short starter for a friend today.......... Pear and Deer Antler......

Comments welcome.......

John_NY · February 10, 2010, 06:48:14 PM

Looks nice Al. Is that the natural color of that wood?

John

alscalls · February 10, 2010, 06:50:17 PM

Yup just Boiled lindseed Oil and then acrylic.....this was part of a stump though and It has a darker color than the limbs.

HaMeR · February 10, 2010, 06:58:40 PM

That's cool.

coyote101 · February 10, 2010, 07:04:22 PM

Looks good Al.

Pat

Yotehntr · February 11, 2010, 12:13:22 AM

Looks great all...which end do you blow in?

Todd Rahm · February 11, 2010, 12:45:00 AM

What is it?

Hawks Feather · February 11, 2010, 08:14:07 AM

Quote from: Todd Rahm on February 11, 2010, 12:45:00 AM
What is it?

Ball starter. Used to push the ball into the end of a muzzleloader barrel. It makes it much easier and is a great way to keep from breaking the ramrod when starting a ball.

Al,

The use of antler is a great idea. I don't plan to use it cause I hate the smell of it, but still a great idea.

Jerry

alscalls · February 11, 2010, 08:35:48 AM

Quote from: Todd Rahm on February 11, 2010, 12:45:00 AM
What is it?

Its a tool that goes into a possibles bag to use when loading a Front Stuffer, Smoke pole, or old school rifle......
I know........It wouldnt work well on a shelf.....

But thats a whole nother Pro Staff....

vvarmitr · February 11, 2010, 08:36:26 AM

Hey Al did that stump wood seem more dense or harder?

Never saw one w/ two sticks on it. Cool idea.

slagmaker · February 11, 2010, 08:48:44 AM

Nice job put my personaly prefrense is a short brass stater button and a long shover. Not sure I would like the longer starter. BUT hey what do I know. Everything I got now loads from the back end.

alscalls · February 11, 2010, 09:40:25 AM

Yes VV the stump wood seemed more dense and the pear wood puts me in mind of the density of dogwood..........witch my ball paddle is made from and I like it as it seems to never split.

the deer antler has been center drilled to match the shape of a ball and has been used on a .50 and a .58 cal and works very well.
The length is perfect in combination with this concave as it holds in place very well.

My short starter has been this long for more than 20 years and I will never again use a short one.

Hawks Feather · February 11, 2010, 11:03:36 AM

The shorter of the two rods on the starter is used to get the patch and ball below the end of the barrel. Mine are usually shorter since I am somewhat "old school" which can probably be read as was shooting black powder before Al was born. At that time there were not pre-cut patches and if there were most people could not afford them. You would grease the patch material, usually cut into strips, put the bullet on top, use the short starter to get the bullet below the end of the barrel, use a knife to cut off the patch material on the outside, use the longer rod on the starter to get the patch and ball seated deeper, and then use the ramrod to push it down on the powder. Usually the patching used was pretty thick and it was anything but nice to get it started. Without the starter tool you had a really hard time.

Just some history for those that don't shoot muzzle loaders or shoot sabots out of their muzzle loaders and not meant to take away from this thread.

Jerry

Jimmie in Ky · February 11, 2010, 12:48:53 PM

Another piece of history for Al on the dogwood. It was used for machinery parts and wear plates because of it's tendencies . It weears extremely smooth and is long lasting in those aplications. It was even used for gears in some machinery.

Many woods were used in diferent aplications because of their properties and growth habit. Elm was a prime wood for wagon wheel hubs because it was less likely to split. Hickory for spokes for its elesticity and shock absorption.

Lots of interesting facts about this stuff we use for calls out there. Jimmie

HaMeR · February 11, 2010, 01:48:03 PM

I'm with ya on that post Jerry!!

I was only about 8 or so when Dad started shooting BP. It seems he tried everything from tee shirts to flannel shirts to blue jeans. He ended up with the blue jeans for patches. I can still smell that old rotten egg GOEX powder.

Back on topic. I still like those starters you make Al. If you ever have an extra I'll take it. I lost mine the year before last & have been to cheap to replace it.

Todd Rahm · February 11, 2010, 04:16:11 PM

Ok, I see now.

alscalls · February 11, 2010, 08:44:45 PM

Quote from: HaMeR on February 11, 2010, 01:48:03 PM
I'm with ya on that post Jerry!! I was only about 8 or so when Dad started shooting BP. It seems he tried everything from tee shirts to flannel shirts to blue jeans. He ended up with the blue jeans for patches. I can still smell that old rotten egg GOEX powder.

Back on topic. I still like those starters you make Al. If you ever have an extra I'll take it. I lost mine the year before last & have been to cheap to replace it.

You are on the list.......

Hawks Feather · February 11, 2010, 09:54:27 PM

Glen,

You are ON the list. But Al didn't say what list. The normal assumption is the starter list, but it doesn't say that - only that you are on the list.

Jerry

alscalls · February 11, 2010, 10:02:31 PM

Quote from: Hawks Feather on February 11, 2010, 09:54:27 PM
Glen,

You are ON the list. But Al didn't say what list. The normal assumption is the starter list, but it doesn't say that - only that you are on the list.

Jerry

HaMeR · February 12, 2010, 07:16:13 AM

I see that.

Thanks Al.

No hurry here. I aint had a starter in quite some time & deer season is still a couple months away here.