Flax Tow vs Hemp Tow

[The Appalachian]

Can anyone say if there's any significant difference between the two for fire starting, bore cleaning, shot wadding?

 

[DuncNZ]

I use plumbers hemp tow , it is more silky than the tow I find in antique shotgun cases which maybe flax tow , If you want a harder tow and probably cheaper buy some hemp or sisal rope from the hard ware store and unwind it and fray the strands into individual fibers and use that , the courser threads have a better scrubbing effect , and all tow can be washed and re used . I have never used tow for fire starting or shot wadding .

 

[tenngun]

I got some Tow from Turkey foot traders that was like blond hair. It was slick and left a lot in the bore when I used it on a worm, and as tinder it seemed to have burned hotter.
Most tow I’ve purchased was rougher and in use I couldn’t tell flax from hemp.

 

[The Appalachian]

I got some Tow from Turkey foot traders that was like blond hair. It was slick and left a lot in the bore when I used it on a worm, and as tinder it seemed to have burned hotter.
Most tow I’ve purchased was rougher and in use I couldn’t tell flax from hemp.

Good info, thank you.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Hemp or jute twine can be cut into lengths a couple of inches long and frayed into strands to be used as tow. These are not as robust as tow made from flax, but they do work. All can be used with char cloth to start a fire. All can be used as a nest for wadding for a smoothbore. but velocity compared to cardboard wad will be reduced and you may catch the nest of tow on fire. Not to be used in the fire hazard areas.