Paper cards/wads for 45/70

[Dirty Brass]

I was wondering what people use to make the paper wads/cards for BP 45/70 loads. I know they can be purchased, but I figured I'd buy a punch and make my own, but not sure which material and/or thickness works best. Any suggestions from the veterans here would be appreciated 

[Ranch 13]

 Just run down to the local auto parts house and get some gasket material the thickness you want. Or you can use the paper milk cartons, tablet backs, cereal boxes etc. but for less than 20$ a thousand I don't believe its worth the time nor the effort, let alone the cost of a proper sized punch of decent quality.

[drcook]

those press mounted punches are good for punching paper wads to go in between either fiber or ldpe
wads. as Ranch13 said, with the price per 1000 being what it is, I don't bother punching out the thicker
wads. Nor do I want to prematurely dull my punch and have to pay to have it sharpened correctly. I like
having nice crisp edged paper wads and even cigarette paper wads that I put over the flash hole. I
even duplex 3F under my 1F in my 45-100 and 110 and use rolling paper to keep the grades separate
the press mounted punch cuts the rolling paper quite well, as long as it is sharp

bottom line, just go to BACO or one of the other sites and buy them

dc

[bear tooth billy]

I use LDPE from buffalo arms They have the punch and a plastic base to cut them on. I've cut
hundreds and haven't need to sharpen my punch. They also have the fiber sheets. I use a .030"
wad with a paper wad on top of that, I cut the paper out of a cabela's catalog (slick paper), so
the wad doesn't stick to the bullet


                  BTB

[Delmonico]

I bought a wad punch when I bought all my gear in 1995.  I cut wads from paper milk cartons and from that cheap craft felt.  I dip the felt wads in melted lube and drop them on waxed paper.  I sandwich them between two milk carton wads.  If you want to try this, use both wads.  Had a bit of trouble with fliers, found wads clear down on the backstop and any where in-between.

I don't worry about dulling it, I can sharpen it back up.

[Fox Creek Kid]

You guys have more time than I do evidently. For a measly $8.00 I can buy 1,000 wads from Circle Fly.

http://www.circlefly.com/html/products.html

[drcook]

we are talking about different kinds of punches. I have the kind that screw into a reloading press and
will cleanly punch .0015 thick rolling paper, even 1 sheet at a time. I could take the tool steel and stick it
up against a grinding wheel but choose not to take a chance of softening the punch by getting it too
hot.

everybody has their own technique and what works best for them, its all how you want to play the game

[Dirty Brass]

we are talking about different kinds of punches. I have the kind that screw into a reloading press and
will cleanly punch .0015 thick rolling paper, even 1 sheet at a time. I could take the tool steel and stick it
up against a grinding wheel but choose not to take a chance of softening the punch by getting it too
hot.

everybody has their own technique and what works best for them, its all how you want to play the game

Yup - well said. I like to try everything once. I have some punches for smaller diameter stuff that I inhereted from a relative. I think he used them for leather work and chair revovering work. I know they are cheap, and would probably end up buying some too, but being retired helps allow time for foolish endeavors.... 

Thanks for all the feedback - I have some gasket material laying around here, and we use cardboard milk cartons here too, so I'll take a stab at it. Besides, I need some for my 45 Colt loads too, so I'll invest a couple of hours into making some, and THEN I'll decide if it was worth the time and effort......(chuckle)

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

For .45's, I use a belted-magnum case, cut off at the shoulder.  I drill the primer pocket out to push the wads out.  It fits in my E-cheapo drill press.

[Grogan]

we are talking about different kinds of punches. I have the kind that screw into a reloading press and
will cleanly punch .0015 thick rolling paper, even 1 sheet at a time. I could take the tool steel and stick it
up against a grinding wheel but choose not to take a chance of softening the punch by getting it too
hot.

everybody has their own technique and what works best for them, its all how you want to play the game

I often use the Circle Fly ones myself.

But the press mounted punches like this work well for both fiber and felt wads.

You can really crank 'em out using a press.

(click pic to enlarge)

[Delmonico]

I could take the tool steel and stick it
up against a grinding wheel but choose not to take a chance of softening the punch by getting it too
hot.

I use a fine hand diamond stone and finish it with a Washita stone.  Secret like anything is not to let it really get dull.  But I can sharpen about anything, sissiors, straight razors and even the 4 foot blade for our buzz saw.   (Takes about an hour for that one with a dremal tool and mill file.)