SWT, you got a great idea with giving the rod to a machinist! i did the same...

for the life of me, i couldnt find a non-breakable rod tapped 10-32 on BOTH ends....everything i use is 10-32....with my longer jag on, its PERFECT sized...and i can take it off and put any of my accessories on it(brush, patch puller, ball screw, whatever...) and the other end i can screw on my T starter for cleaning or pulling balls....

i pull alot of balls...i like to pull my load pretty much daily just to ensure i got a fresh charge the next day...no questions or wondering if it will go off...hated cleaning just because i fired 1 shot to empty the gun...so i started pulling my balls...

my setup works great!