I have 4 Dewey, and love them!

Lot of opinions out there on wiping bores. They are easy to made. Buying rods I like stainless Dewey rods,  they are probably the best. Most times I use 5/16 inch Delrin for wiping rods, calibers between 32 & 45. Have also used 1/4 inch which will bend around a tang sight without lowering it. And some shooters want 3/8 inch for .45 calibers. 2nd the 3 foot length & 40 inches is nice too, keeps your knuckles from banging 

Have made rods out of hard wood 3/8 to 1/2 mostly shotguns and muzzleloaders Steel 1/4 inch drill rod too. Looking at .30 caliber WW2 surplus machine gun rods they appear to be drill rod. MG gun rod is the one I use for hard jobs. Stuck bullets mostly bushed out to bore size with painters tape.

Handles can be anything you like. The quick release fixtures shown fit battery screwdrivers and make quick work out of plastic wad residue on shotgun barrels. Thick rod stock I like to turn a simple jag in the rod stock. D&T for screw in fixtures or not depending 

It really depends on what you expect the rod to do. Smooth single shot barrel with cast bullets don’t need much wiping. Scrub copper out of a rough bore drill rod with a bore guide best.  Shotgun or handgun different requirements.

Note the rough looking bore brushes are used as a jag, roll a damp patch around,  bit of spring to the bristles made a good fit.  Short rods shown are chamber and cylinder wipers

Boats 

Thanks for all the ideas on a new cleaning rod.  I have sent 2 emails to Tipton with no answer!  I believe I will look a little closer at the Dewey rods.  I like the idea of the coated steel rods.
I have thought over the years of making my own from wood, but the availability of GOOD hardwood dowels does not exist any more.  The junk we have to choose from anymore is ok for short pieces for glue ups, but in the 36" length they are junk!

I Love my Tipton rods. Best rods I have ever owned.   
I did accidentally break the tip off my 44 inch 22 cal rod, but
MY fault. 
That being said, second choice, I like Parker Hale rods.
Used one exclusively for cleaning my Service rifles. 
Third, the Deweys.I have several. Good quality, but I don't like the Male threaded end. I have to use adaptor to use most jags and brushes
For wiping my BPCR rifles, I mfg and use my delrin rods in 5/16 x 48 inch or 3/8x 48, threaded Both ends 8-32 female for most jags and brushes.  Use them for cleaning the BP rifles also
beltfed/arnie

I use both the Dewey and Delron rods.
Dewey when I need a stiff rod which is needed to punch out years of accumulated lead or hardened grease preservative in some antique rifles I buy.
Of coarse the Delrin flexible rod is definitely needed for a quick wipe of a BP rifle or needed on receivers with curved top falling block.