Here's a couple of pics of an improvement to a Dewey cleaning rod. This particular .22 rod would not rotate with just a cleaning patch on it. There was too much friction in the handle. I took it apart cleaned, lubricated, adjusted, but still was never satisfied with its action. If you ever take one apart, you will see how cheaply they are made. Dewey uses the term "bearings" very loosely. Cripe, for what we pay for them ($23.00 +), we should be getting real ball thrust bearings. I'll bet that ordered in volume, the bearings would be only pennies apiece.

I checked through a few bearing distributor catalogs, but couldn't find anything small enough to fit inside the stock handle. Time to get to work - and hang the time. I had recently purchased a Palmgren rotary table off eBay, so this endeavor would be a good learning exercise. Between the lathe and the drill press, this is what I came up with. The balls are .0625 inch (1/16")in diameter and the bearing outside diameter is .420 inch. It is just a brass cage with two end plates and it works very well.

A little additional work had to be done to square up a fillet in the rod handle, so there is more to this than just dropping in bearings. A bearing set was installed on each end of the of the handle. Now the rod is a real pleasure to use - and does not aggravate me.

Long ago ('60s/'70s) , the Dewey company was noted for producing exceedingly high quality products for the shooter. But they were sold out to someone else.