another silly question...

[idahjo]

...what is 'tow' (don't mean 'Track Of the Wolf')and where do you get it ? :hmm:

 

[Claude Mathis]

1. the fiber of flax, hemp, or jute prepared for spinning by scutching.
2. the shorter, less desirable flax fibers separated from line fibers.

Used to clean the bore and to start fires with flint and steel.

 

[musketman]

1. the fiber of flax, hemp, or jute prepared for spinning by scutching.
2. the shorter, less desirable flax fibers separated from line fibers.

Used to clean the bore and to start fires with flint and steel.

Tow looks like this:

Sorry for the grainy picture, its the best image I could find...

TOW is also an acronym for Track of the wolf, wonder if you could get tow at TOW? :haha:

 

[Lone Carabiner]

Ever hear of a 'tow sack'? Made from this stuff.
From what I've read peices of this were used to scrub the bore in days of old, they did not have ready access to bore brushes/mops.
:thumbsup:

 

[Stony]

...what is 'tow' (don't mean 'Track Of the Wolf')and where do you get it ? :hmm:

You can get it at a lot of places but most come with bits and pieces of the plant still in it. You can get "clean" tow from Turkeyfoot Forge. Their web site is listed in the links and you want the bleached version. Smiling Fox forge also has "natural" clean tow available but is a bit more expensive. You will also need a good tow worm if you're going to use it for cleaning your gun. Again Smilling Fox has I believe the best worm for tow. How to use it? you ask again? Simple, twist off a small bit and wrap it around the worm. Get it wet and start scrubbing the barrel. If there's too much, unwind a bit and try again. When it gets dirty, rinse it out and keep scrubbing. When it comes out clean, so is your barrel. You don't need boiling hot water but it goes easier with warm water. Use another hank for drying the barrel. You can hang on to the wet tow, dry it out and use it again. Once you get to a point where it just seems to be as dirty as it's going to get (after rinsing it out), put it with your fire making kit. :thumbsup:

 

[Lone Carabiner]

Man you are really a 'tightwad'. A couple of tow sacks would likely last a mountain man his lifetime anyways but with your thriftyness one would do it. :thumbsup:

 

[Russianblood]

I bought some from Hemp Traders. 9 pounds of it!

 

[idahjo]

1. the fiber of flax, hemp, or jute prepared for spinning by scutching.
2. the shorter, less desirable flax fibers separated from line fibers.

Used to clean the bore and to start fires with flint and steel.

Tow looks like this:

Sorry for the grainy picture, its the best image I could find...

TOW is also an acronym for Track of the wolf, wonder if you could get tow at TOW? :haha:

"DAMN!" ...Musketman, sure hope that wasn't from someone 'counting coup' on you :hmm:

THANKS ALL :bow:

 

[Many Klatch]

I've been having the devil of a time lighting fires with Tow recently. I think there is a lot of fire treated tow out there. You'll know if you have some when you burn your fingers and still can't get the &*T$( stuff to light.

Many Klatch

 

[Wes/Tex]

Be sure to wash tow before you try makin' fire with it. Some is treated and some has a lot of oil from human handling. Usually put it in a mesh sack and toss it in with the regular washing. Wife doesn't use a bunch of add-ins so don't have to worry about it.

 

[idahjo]

O.K., I GIVE UP... WHERE ARE THE "LINKS" HERE

 

[Rebel]

Right here they are.
[url] http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/MLF_Links.php[/url]

 

[idahjo]

THANK YOU :bow:

 

[Rebel]

No problem. Hope that's what you wanted.

 

[CrackStock]

They cleverly hid it under:

Member Resources

up there at the top where us fleeahs that ain't too bright cain't see it. Took me two whole weeks of grousin before I figgered it out.

CS

 

[hawk]

You can get hemp "Tow" at any good plumbing supply they use it to seal pipe treads.
:hatsoff:

 

[Greenmtnboy]

You can get hemp "Tow" at any good plumbing supply they use it to seal pipe treads.
:hatsoff:

Is it un treated and how does it burn?

 

[paulvallandigham]

it is untreated. It burns well. Most of those who use it do not use it for tinder but use it for cleaning their rifles. Only after it has been used, washed and rinsed and dried does it go over to the pile kept for firestarting.