Washing new pillow ticking?

[newkid]

I've always bought pre-cut, pre-lubed patches. Tonite I just bought some pillow ticking at Joann's Fabrics. I'm going to throw it in the washing machine to rinse the sizing out of it. Does it matter if I use hot or cold water?

Thanks

 

[reddog]

Use warm,,,air dry.

 

[jtmattison]

I wash mine in hot water with little detergent. I dry it on high heat in the dryer to shrink it. I think it works to tighten the weave.

HD

 

[rafterob]

I know a number on here say wash it first, but I find I have better luck with it the way it comes from the store. I tried washing one batch and it frayed badly when I cut it in strips. When I don't wash it, it does not fray as much.

 

[necchi]

I've always washed mine hot, and machine dried it hot. Using a micrometer to check the "crushed" thickness before and after shows little to no change, notice I said crushed, if just light pressure is used to check thickness you will see a differance, but in the bore between the ball and lands/grooves the material is squeezed really tight.aka;crushed

I tried washing one batch and it frayed badly when I cut it in strips.

Of course if it's cut it will fray, I just make a small slit and tear the cloth along it's weave. The first rip might be crooked because of the table cut when you bought it, but the rest of the tears will be straight. I go about a 1/4 in wider than I want then pull 2-3 strands from each side.

 

[longcruise]

I wash mine in hot water with little detergent. I dry it on high heat in the dryer to shrink it. I think it works to tighten the weave.

Me too, but i do it twice.

Most of the cloth we buy for patching comes from China. It often reeks of pesticides. Remember, it comes from the same people who brought you lead paint in childrens toys and dog food that killed dogs and milk that killed their own children!!!!!!

 

[Ken Rummer]

Pinking shears are sissors that produce a zig-zag looking cut that does not fray, much. I bought mine at Wal-Mart for about $10.

I wash twice in hot water w/ some soap to get rid of the sizing. IMHO sizing hinders the absorption of lubes.

Dry on hot. My batch of patch material (Wal-Mart red ticking) got .002 thicker.

 

[shmrck1]

snuffer,
I use ticking probably half the time.
When I do I have always washed it in Woolite
in warm water.Then run it thru another warm wash cycle
using nothing but water. I like hanging mine to
dry rather than using the dryer.

 

[2172]

I'm with hunting dawg and marmot slayer..wash it with hot water and detergent, machine dry...the fraying at the edges is no big deal..2 minutes with a pair of scissors cuts it off..Hank

 

[MSW]

i agree with Marmotslayer... i do mine twice in hot water & cold rinse, dry on hot... it seems to tighten up the weave and i've never tested but i would be willing to hazard that the cloth will absorb lube better once the sizing (and God knows what else) has been washed out...

don't worry about the fraying... my patches are tough... they're not 'faid of anything :rotf:

 

[renovato]

I wash the sizing out of mine too. I figure if sizing was a good thing, precut patches would have it too, but they don't. I just toss it in the drier and it comes out fine. It's a little thicker than the precuts I was using and I've had better luck with it.

 

[longcruise]

I wash the sizing out of mine too. I figure if sizing was a good thing, precut patches would have it too, but they don't. I just toss it in the drier and it comes out fine. It's a little thicker than the precuts I was using and I've had better luck with it.

I don't know if it's so, but many years ago a shooter told me that the sizing could be abrasive if left in the patch.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I've washed the stuff I use and hang on outside line couple weeks to soften up.

 

[MikeChapin]

I wash the sizing out of mine too. I figure if sizing was a good thing, precut patches would have it too, but they don't. I just toss it in the drier and it comes out fine. It's a little thicker than the precuts I was using and I've had better luck with it.

I don't know if it's so, but many years ago a shooter told me that the sizing could be abrasive if left in the patch.

It also tastes horrible if you spit patch. I always wash the sizing out of any materiel I get.

 

[shmrck1]

Mike,
Yep,I know what you mean :hmm:
If it shoots good,I will accept the taste.
snake-eyes :surrender:

 

[Vaino]

I use pillow ticking as purchased...when the individual patches are cut w/ a Forster patch cutter, the edges aren't frazzled as they are if the cloth is washed. I let the lube soften the patches....Fred

 

[hanshi]

I always wash mine in the washing machine same as with clothes. I dry it in the dryer. I've been told washing makes ticking slightly thicker. Also, you never know what that sizing is composed of or will do to the gun.

 

[Vaino]

Neither the squirrels or my LR "know" the difference. The squirrels are "headless" and my LR's bbl is spotless after 31 yrs....Fred