Fireproof tow

[spudnut]

Im making some fire resistant tow by soaking it in a borax solution for use as wadding in a smoothbore,hope to cut down on possible brush fires.
Will it cause rusting and do you think it will interfere with using the tow for cleaning the bore wet?
and NO I wont be using it for fire starting, I use jute for that.

 

[Zonie]

As I understand it, Borax is a rather mild base so it shouldn't cause any rusting in a steel barrel.

It may be harmful to your eyes so be careful not to get any of it in them.

 

[Dewey]

Sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Borax) is a salt.

It does buffer in the alkaline range (~ pH 8), and is a cation exchanger (will bind calcium and magnesium ions in hard water, releasing sodium ions).

Soluble ionic compounds (electrolytes, forming ions) can speed up the electrochemical oxidation process (rusting).

In some alkaline solutions, a layer of iron (III) hydroxide can form, which limits the corrosion but do you want that ?

I would shoot the treated tow, but clean with untreated tow. It's not important at first (there are a lot of ions to remove!), but after that you don't want to add ions.

 

[necchi]

for use as wadding in a smoothbore

For shot or ball?

 

[spudnut]

Both

 

[Scota4570]

Fiberglass insulation?? You can also get treated newspaper and blue jeans material fire treated but made for insulation purposes.

Being from an area that normally sees no rain from April to October, I do not shoot anything that may start a fire in the dry season. If you start a fire they will fine you for the fire fighting costs. If somebody gets killed fighting the fire you are done.

 

[coloradoclyde]

FIBERGLASS INSULATION!!!!! :slap:

OMG! What's wrong with lube, water, or leather?

The last thing I want is a forest fire.......but let's no go crazy...

 

[MSW]

curious idea ... there's a recipe for fire retardant overpowder wads running around here somewhere ... would that work?

 

[Stumpkiller]

White faced hornet nests.

Though you may want to wait until after the second hard frost to collect them.

The nest is made of mud, wasp spit and vegetable matter and will not burn.

We have one about 16" tall and growing outside our bathroom window in a red maple I have been allowing to grow all summer.

 

[spudnut]

havn started a fire since I just started when I was 15 using paper towel.
I use all sorts , wasp nest included,i ve used leaves and grass AND tow ,it mostly jus smolders but I thougt Id try something

 

[tenngun]

I precut little balls of tow and grease heavy with lard. All though not fire proof thay have to be exposed to heat for a long time to catch on fire. I have never found one to burn. Wads made of picked wool would even be more fire resistant if you were in a high fire risk setting and you want to exercise an abundance of caution. I grease wool wads also. Greased organic fluff can burn hot but is hard to light.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I precut little balls of tow and grease heavy with lard.

:metoo: :thumbsup:

Beeswax/olive oil mix not lard but same difference... :grin:

 

[necchi]

Both

Ya know(?) Hat's off the wanting to do things in the actual original ways,
But the reality is we live in different times and do have to take precautions and be much more responsible as to avoid trouble an d litigation.
In that note, why not just buy proper pre-made wad from the likes of Circle fly?

 

[tenngun]

That's a trueism no matter how hard we try , we can't reproduce the past 100%hc. At some level we cheat. Even if you hand sewed wool clothing you would have to face the fact that the sheep raised then are extinct and replaced by simular. You can't get 18 or early 19th century apples or bacon. I use greased tow, but a wads a wad. I bet none of my tow was raised on hand plowed fields reaped with hand syths broken by hand.

 

[spudnut]

ive been shooting 30 years plus,so im not new o much of this, jst thougt I would see if anyone ever fire proofed tow (been waddig roundball in a smoothy for a long time)How do you carry greased tow balls?

 

[coloradoclyde]

How do you carry greased tow balls?

I carry them in a separate pouch in my shooting bag...but often I just carry the tow balls and lube them at the time of loading. I have a small round tin full of lube, I just drag the ball through the lube and then roll it between the palms of my hands to fully integrate...
Works for me.. :grin:

When hunting without a shooting bag I carry them in an Altoids tin.

 

[tenngun]

I have some small tins such as avalible on most ml sites, I just rip a hunk of tow off and a finger end of lard and roll it around in my palms like a clay ball, pop it in the tin. I dont shoot the flying or skeet, so 5 or 10 are plenty for a hunt. At the range I make them 1 at a time.

 

[necchi]

I ain't never heard of or seen anyone going through extra "fire proofing" of tow,, when tow was used as wadding,, nor have I run into anyone that's serious about the accuracy needed for Trap Skeet, Target or today's sporting game/hunting that uses tow on a regular basis for wadding.

Today we have legal requirements,(game laws) and hunter ethics that didn't apply those many years ago. Game is more wary because of human encroachment, because of "seasons" and the mass of folks that enter their otherwise normal territory when season opens. We have to walk far into public lands, or own land or pay fees to hunt in any way near what was going on.

My point is, when I tried using natural and traditional forms of wadding for smooth bore I found the results dramatically different than when I tried a items for the smoothy that have a bit of a more modern manufacture.
I'm not saying a task can't be accomplished in a full traditional manner,, but then again as already said,, I haven't heard or seen of anyone fire-proofing tow.

 

[coloradoclyde]

99% of the time fire prevention isn't a problem for me...
When at the range (if it is dry enough to start a fire) I just put my foot on anything that smolders on one of my many trips back and forth to the target.

When hunting I usually have dew, rain, snow or enough moisture in the vegetation to prevent fire...

sedentary hunting allows you to hang out and make sure there is no risk of fire...

***** and control the risks at your own comfort level. :grin:

 

[necchi]

I have seen dry grass fires start from patches,, at the range and in the field.
Tall dry grass started a blaze 20 feet away from a shooter or 5 minutes after a shooter has walked away can very quickly and easily spread faster then one man can stomp out with his feet.
spudnut's concern is valid.
There's just other ways to help eliminate the issue.