Tow

[pinemarten]

I have some of that flax fiber from Track and was trying to clean with it tonight. Do you reuse that stuff by rinsing it out or just use fresh and new? I like the concept of using it because it really seems like it will clean my breech face and get into the grooves better than a patch....course, then again I'm still paranoid that I'm not getting my gun clean and spending an hour shooting and 2 hours cleaning still..LOL! The wife started making Christmas cookies with the grandkids the same time I started cleaning my flintlock and she was cleaning up before I was done putting everything back in my cabinet! Guess maybe I should get a bore scope or whatever ya use to just look down there and see for myself that it is clean and theres no water hiding out waiting to rust my barrel..ha ha!

Thanks,

Dan

 

[Le Loup]

I have some of that flax fiber from Track and was trying to clean with it tonight. Do you reuse that stuff by rinsing it out or just use fresh and new? I like the concept of using it because it really seems like it will clean my breech face and get into the grooves better than a patch....course, then again I'm still paranoid that I'm not getting my gun clean and spending an hour shooting and 2 hours cleaning still..LOL! The wife started making Christmas cookies with the grandkids the same time I started cleaning my flintlock and she was cleaning up before I was done putting everything back in my cabinet! Guess maybe I should get a bore scope or whatever ya use to just look down there and see for myself that it is clean and theres no water hiding out waiting to rust my barrel..ha ha!

Thanks,

Dan

Good day Dan. You can wash it & reuse it for cleaning, I have plenty at present, so I tend to let it dry & use it as kindling for making fire.
Keith.

 

[Black Hand]

I have some of that flax fiber from Track and was trying to clean with it tonight. Do you reuse that stuff by rinsing it out or just use fresh and new? I like the concept of using it because it really seems like it will clean my breech face and get into the grooves better than a patch....course, then again I'm still paranoid that I'm not getting my gun clean and spending an hour shooting and 2 hours cleaning still..LOL! The wife started making Christmas cookies with the grandkids the same time I started cleaning my flintlock and she was cleaning up before I was done putting everything back in my cabinet! Guess maybe I should get a bore scope or whatever ya use to just look down there and see for myself that it is clean and theres no water hiding out waiting to rust my barrel..ha ha!

Thanks,

Dan

One gun should take you 10-15 minutes AT MOST to clean. Clean with water, dry and grease - done...

 

[Logcutter]

I have some of that flax fiber from Track and was trying to clean with it tonight. Do you reuse that stuff by rinsing it out or just use fresh and new? I like the concept of using it because it really seems like it will clean my breech face and get into the grooves better than a patch....course, then again I'm still paranoid that I'm not getting my gun clean and spending an hour shooting and 2 hours cleaning still..LOL! The wife started making Christmas cookies with the grandkids the same time I started cleaning my flintlock and she was cleaning up before I was done putting everything back in my cabinet! Guess maybe I should get a bore scope or whatever ya use to just look down there and see for myself that it is clean and theres no water hiding out waiting to rust my barrel..ha ha!

Thanks,

Dan

A drop in bore light is what your wanting. I was like you for the first couple dozen clean up's. Then I realized that the rifle is not that unforgiving if you just do a decent job, keep your eye on things and get after any surface rust right away. I don't know how long it takes me to clean my rifle now but its not a 3rd of the time it used to take.

 

[Crewdawg445]

Keith is spot on, I always use tow at event's and it's great. Once dirty enough it makes fantastic tinder material!

 

[DaveC]

I've been using flax tow to scrub the wet bore of my muzzle-loaders, and also cotton patches.

I always have rust. Must be the climate? I live in Texas. I pour a "gill" of close-to-boiling water down the barrel and let it sit for a bit. Then I slosh it around and pour it out. Then I scrub up and down with a couple "figure 8s" of flax tow. I set the dirtier ones aside to dry out and add to my tinder box. Then I run a dry patch or two down the bore, and then finally an oiled patch.

Never keeps rust away. I've used Ballistol (my preference), and Thompson/Center bore butter. Nothing works. I may have to adopt the "clean it every day for seven days straight" regimen here before too long?

I've used plain water, soap and water, dish detergent and water, cold water, hot water, Windex, Blue Thunder, Ballistol and water, Thompson Center pre-mixed Ballistol and water aka. "No. 13 bore cleaner," you-name-it.

During living history events the kiddos are often interested in flax tow. It really goes up during flint + steel demonstrations! I've still got my eyebrows though!

 

[Black Hand]

I've been using flax tow to scrub the wet bore of my muzzle-loaders, and also cotton patches.

I always have rust. Must be the climate? I live in Texas. I pour a "gill" of close-to-boiling water down the barrel and let it sit for a bit. Then I slosh it around and pour it out. Then I scrub up and down with a couple "figure 8s" of flax tow. I set the dirtier ones aside to dry out and add to my tinder box. Then I run a dry patch or two down the bore, and then finally an oiled patch.

Never keeps rust away. I've used Ballistol (my preference), and Thompson/Center bore butter. Nothing works. I may have to adopt the "clean it every day for seven days straight" regimen here before too long?

I've used plain water, soap and water, dish detergent and water, cold water, hot water, Windex, Blue Thunder, Ballistol and water, Thompson Center pre-mixed Ballistol and water aka. "No. 13 bore cleaner," you-name-it.

During living history events the kiddos are often interested in flax tow. It really goes up during flint + steel demonstrations! I've still got my eyebrows though!

Frankly, I suspect your lube regimen sucks. Use something else and clean with cool water. Dry well (more than a patch or 2) before lubing the barrel, as you could be trapping moisture under the lube.

 

[DaveC]

Well, that's just it, I guess? I mean, the Ballistol after drying is not working... Some folks use WD-40 to ensure that there is no moisture before using a particular oil.
I'm just saying that water, drying it out, and using Ballistol or the bore butter is not working out in a Texas high-humidity/ old house climate... Goes for smooth-bore, rifles, rifle muskets, etc.

The barrel is good and dry before adding the oil, ostensibly as a rust preventative. Never forms on the exterior, always the interior...

 

[Britsmoothy]

2hours!
I predict you will either stop shooting a muzzleloader or get real with your paranoia

 

[Ketchakah]

Hand is on it I believe. Environment temperature water works just as well. It may be the combination of the different temperatures that are causing you condensation issues. And like he said if you lube it when its not fully dry, you will have issues. Sometimes it can be hard to tell. Even a drop of water in a crevice or joint down in your barrel IE Breechplug, will be enough to raise humidity inside the barrel.

I generally stand the FL on its muzzle for a day or two after cleaning and swab once or twise with oiled patch before storage.

Your method is what ive been using for years and years. Ive had no problems. I dont use soap. But that said, environmental storage may be a contributing issue. Here in Indiana and in my place in NC its very humid as well. I would suspect Indiana may be closer to your conditions. The humidity and heat are severe.

My FLs are always kept in cases. But, i am not sure thats a factor as the one hanging on the wall does not rust either.
I dont really have an answer for you. But the point i make is i dont believe its something you are doing or not doing. Something else is going on.

I use WD-40 mostly and have used wonderlube 1000. I dont like the smell of ballistol and not really seen a big difference. Suddenly a thought...Do you mix it with water ? Ive seen this done.

I also tend to place a well oiled patch just inside the muzzle. Thinking it inhibits humid air from settling in the barrel. I dont know... But i dont get rust. I did try this with a piece of tow, and that did not work as well. But im not sure i remembered if i oiled it or not. Im thinking I did not, and as such would draw moisture.

What kind of lube for your patches are you using, perhaps thats a factor ? Just some thoughts.

 

[Tom Compton]

Well, that's just it, I guess? I mean, the Ballistol after drying is not working... Some folks use WD-40 to ensure that there is no moisture before using a particular oil.
I'm just saying that water, drying it out, and using Ballistol or the bore butter is not working out in a Texas high-humidity/ old house climate... Goes for smooth-bore, rifles, rifle muskets, etc.

The barrel is good and dry before adding the oil, ostensibly as a rust preventative. Never forms on the exterior, always the interior...

I use tap water then 91% alcohol then WD40. Worked for years near Longview Tc and last 12 years near Austin.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I've been using flax tow to scrub the wet bore of my muzzle-loaders, and also cotton patches.

I always have rust. Must be the climate? I live in Texas. I pour a "gill" of close-to-boiling water down the barrel and let it sit for a bit. Then I slosh it around and pour it out. Then I scrub up and down with a couple "figure 8s" of flax tow. I set the dirtier ones aside to dry out and add to my tinder box. Then I run a dry patch or two down the bore, and then finally an oiled patch.

Never keeps rust away. I've used Ballistol (my preference), and Thompson/Center bore butter. Nothing works. I may have to adopt the "clean it every day for seven days straight" regimen here before too long?

I've used plain water, soap and water, dish detergent and water, cold water, hot water, Windex, Blue Thunder, Ballistol and water, Thompson Center pre-mixed Ballistol and water aka. "No. 13 bore cleaner," you-name-it.

During living history events the kiddos are often interested in flax tow. It really goes up during flint + steel demonstrations! I've still got my eyebrows though!

Throw away the "No.13". In my metal and blackpowder flashed metal tests it rusted before the bare and water only test plates. And Bore Butter is a lube, not a metal protectant for storage or rust prevention.

For 15 years my primary hunting and shooting arm was a Brown Bess. I cleaned with tow (trying to keep pretty "authentic"). But I did use "soft soap" (usually a few drops of Murphy's) in warm water. After drying out the bore with an alcohol soaked cotton wad on the worm I used a wad of cotton material with Barricade (/Sheath) and then a day layer I ran another wad. Never had a rust issue.

With my current flint rifle/smoothbore I use fiber "mops" in place of tow and jags with cotton patching, but still clean with soapy water and protect with Barricade.

 

[RHensley]

Good day Dan. You can wash it & reuse it for cleaning, I have plenty at present, so I tend to let it dry & use it as kindling for making fire.
Keith.

Good day Dan. You can wash it & reuse it for cleaning, I have plenty at present, so I tend to let it dry & use it as kindling for making fire.
Keith.

Tow fiber is new to me. I've always used cotton patches I cut and hot water to clean the barrel then dry patches and oil . I hope there's a you tube video on this method. I'll be looking.

 

[PluggedNickel]

I have some old tow from my amateur taxidermist days I dug up and used it to clean the new Charleville, oil and grease from new bore wrapped around an .58 caliber worm. Yes, I too keep the used stuff. It is easy way to shoot a loose ball too. I've read civilians used it a lot, rather than paper cartridge. Of course the military had it's own rules and reasons for them too. I'm way behind on my BP learning curve. I still plan to polish the barrel on the smooth bore 1776. It's a new year. I'm still slow as molasses, and not in any hurry though. Heck, I still have to order some .69 caliber jags. In perspective though, that new Pedersoli will be around long after I'm long, long, gone! LOL
I know I've read here that most do not recommend seasoning a bore on BP guns. I have used a product called MiliTec-1 on modern rifles and handguns with great success. Navy shipmate who works at the FBI turned me onto it some years ago. Great stuff.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

DaveC - I would add Birchwood Casey’s “Barricade” as the last step in your cleaning/oiling regimen and would state your issues should go away.

... and toss the BB, haha!

 

[tenngun]

It took me some years to learn how to use tow. I think it has a good scrubbing side to it. I use lard or mink oil to grease the bore in the field or at an event. When I get home I like to a jag to wipe the bore and then run an oiled patch. I also take a day every month to wipe my guns down.

 

[FlinterNick]

I have some of that flax fiber from Track and was trying to clean with it tonight. Do you reuse that stuff by rinsing it out or just use fresh and new? I like the concept of using it because it really seems like it will clean my breech face and get into the grooves better than a patch....course, then again I'm still paranoid that I'm not getting my gun clean and spending an hour shooting and 2 hours cleaning still..LOL! The wife started making Christmas cookies with the grandkids the same time I started cleaning my flintlock and she was cleaning up before I was done putting everything back in my cabinet! Guess maybe I should get a bore scope or whatever ya use to just look down there and see for myself that it is clean and theres no water hiding out waiting to rust my barrel..ha ha!

Thanks,

Dan

I grow flax (blue and crimson) in my yard, its a hearty perennial looks nice and keeps the bunnies and squirrels away because its like a natural barbed wire. At the end of the season I cut and let it dry in a paper bag, it yields enough to get me through the fall. For use you'll need to smash it out and hand roll it for use. I form it into tiny balls.

Nick

 

[Ketchakah]

I will rinse it while cleaning. Dry with clean ball. Put old dirty one in fire kit.

 

[FlinterNick]

I will rinse it while cleaning. Dry with clean ball. Put old dirty one in fire kit.

It’s a great absorbent. And tinder

 

[NorthFork]

How much flax fiber comes in a package from Track?