Paper Patch Cutting toolset-with photos

[Frank Savage]

Alway I was of that opinion, that lazyness is the most powerfull mother and moving force of development. See it on myself. Having faceplanted myself into bullet shape search and moldmaking in furious battle to make one pretty old beauty shoot its very first version of original ammo (after 125+ years), I quickly found out that usual "find a ruler of apropriate width or use paper cutter, then position your template according to marks" is absolutely no-go option when you want to make small test batch of four nose shapes, three diameters and several bullet weight (read lenght), so in total at least 14 different PP templates needed, when I dropped combos I just didn´t like or were technicaly nonsensual. Add two differnet lenghts for one bullet dry vs. wet patching and count up. Not speaking about possibility to easy return to one particular anytime in the future.
So I made myself two easily adjustable jigs-one for strip cutting, one for lenght cutting:



The sliders and ruler on the strip cutter are pretty straightforward and self-explaining. Accomodates anything between 0,5"-1,7" width, albeit I´m not sure if I want to patch 22LR bullets nor shooting a beast where 1,7" patch width would be realy needed. Accepts untrimed Legal size of paper.


The angle&lenght cutter allows lenghts for cals. from .200 to .520 right now and easy to adapt both ways for more if needed, due to two positions for the slider retainer bolt.
Just stack the strips against the rest, push them as to cut first angle, ram them against the stop, cut to lenght and so on. Want again patches I´m short of? Take one, or sample made from sth thicker, rest it against the stops or ruler, set up the sliders and here we go.





Slightly tapered bullet shank, or wanna put the paper a bit onto the ogive for slump purposes and dont want overlap? Adjust the excenter as to make one side a tad shorter.




For padding, I used a heavyweight PVC flooring. A self-healing cutting pad would be better, but I hadn´t any availible and since you don´t press much on the pp cutting, no big need for it. Padding is glued on the strip cutter, on the lenght cutter is held by ruler rest retaing bolts, as well as by the slider.
The wood is better of hard, long-grained kind, or there will occur marring of the angled slider lower corners and inconsistent pp lenghts. A piece of brass bolted as to create the face of the slider will solve this, as well as allow for even more carelessnes at setting up the strip stack for next cut. Probably will do that.

Best time-saving devices I ever made for my shooting yet.
Frankly, I´m pretty surprised that I haven´t ever seen sth similar mentioned anywhere. So may be helpful for you.

Regards

Edit: wrong second picture

[Kenny Wasserburger]

Wow what a beauty! Way cool Frank, you are one handy fella.

Kenny W.

[Tombstone 71]

Frank, What a work of art, thank you for posting that.

Tim

[Don McDowell]

^^^^ Wow what they said x3

[Gunlaker]

That's a lot classier than my setup :-)

[bobw]

Frank your tool set is functional art and of the highest quality. bobw

[Dan Cash]

Exquisite concept and execution. Reminiscent of the best grade rosewood and brass carpenter tools of the 19th century.

[Dave Roelle]

Outstanding in both design and execution--------WELL DONE SIR

Dave

[Frank Savage]

Thanks for kind words, it have some flaws but not of the main technical kind seems to me. Realy enjoy it, with a bit of holding the tongue to right side one can easily and readily change the strip width easily just by placing two bullets against the stop and setting the ruler accordingly, as well as no problem to make only 3 patches for some purpose. Then being able to readily duplicate what was ever made on it pretty exactly.
Yep, alwas much liked the old tools, both wooden or metal, with obvious irregularities and small flaws everywhere, but very good to perfect in the overall long haul for intended purpose, as well as in desired functionality and handy-ability. These have some flaws in the last mentioned parameter, as the ruler handles should have a tad different profile and placement for more convenient leading of a cutter of more stubby proportions along the cut and easier hold-down of the stack. The next will be beter :-)

[Lumpy Grits]

Beautiful workmanship.
You should start sell'n them to support your hobby......
That's a HINT.
Gary