Does anyone here wad with Tow?

[GaryED50]

Hi

Recently acquired my smoothbore and wondering if how you get Tow for wadding

Gary

 

[Grenadier1758]

If you simply want a stranded twine, you can go to the hardware store and buy jute twine, Cut off a 4" strand, untwist the strands and fray out the individual strands to make a nest of hair like fibers. You can also go to a hobby store and buy a ball of hemp twine to make the same nest of fibers. The best of course is tow from flax. The Woolery has Tow ( Flax Tow | Tow Fiber - 1.0 lb. | The Woolery ) but the minimum order is a pound and that will last a long time. For initial experiments, use the basic twine from the hardware store or hobby shop and unravel your own.

If you want to buy some already unraveled, the Townsends has some. Tow – Townsends (The Hemp tow is sold out.)

 

[TreeMan]

I use jute fiber from amazon. Works good!
Primeonly27 Quality Smoker Bee Hive Fuel Shredded Burlap Jute Fiber 1 Lb Bag https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YQBZ8TY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_Z30T2TXXCEJZYSG12617

 

[sb 54 cal.]

type in tow on the internet you will get results. have bought from different sellers.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

The old timers oft wadded with tow.

It did the trick then, and it does so now.

Great for cleaning the piece by using a period correct tow worm as well. I get mine from Turkey Foot traders along with their country bacon for making split pea or bean soup.

 

[Flintlock]

I used to but am now kind of worried about tow holding a ember and igniting extremely dry woods. I search and gather wasp nest instead.

 

[dave61965]

Not having tow of any kind around I find that a ball of raw wool works very well.

 

[Boston123]

I've been using the fibers of unravelled hemp rope rolled into a ball. Works well enough, and you can buy 1/4 hemp rope pretty much everywhere.

It just smolders after leaving the barrel, and if you use a large enough ball it won't travel very far, so you can just stomp it out as you walk by if you are that concerned.

 

[Ohio.75]

I think Dixie Gun Works carries it at less than a pound. It can smolder. You just have to keep an eye on it and stomp on it as Boston123 said.

 

[Walkingeagle]

Raw sheeps wool. Wad up a pinch and stuff her down.
Walk

 

[tenngun]

You can get hemp twine in Wally World craft section and pick it apart, much cheaper

 

[smo]

Raw sheeps wool. Wad up a pinch and stuff her down.
Walk

There’s some For Sale now in the classified section of this Forum,

 

[Elgatodeacero]

Tow is available here

http://www.turkeyfootllc.com/Trekking.html
see near the bottom of the linked page. Currently out of stock but normally 6-7 dollars for a 4 oz. bag which is a lot.

 

[Grenadier1758]

@Elgatodeacero, The Tow offered by Turkey Foot Traders, that you reference above is hemp tow. Nothing wrong with using hemp tow, but a ball of hemp twine can be found at most hobby stores such as Walmart's craft section, Michael's, Hobby Lobby or many others. The only difference is that you have to unravel the strands of the twine to make up the individual hair like strands to make your nest to use as wadding. Jute is a good base twine to use as well. Sisal, not so much.

 

[NorthFork]

I have become very fond of tow wadding in my smooth bores. I use sisal rope for my wadding material. I use a paper card over the powder then a walnut sized ball of tow lubed with mink oil then my ball or shot then another ball of lubed tow on top. This is all I use except for the SkyChief load.

 

[Heyyou48307]

I wad tow over powder for compression then a patched ball,,, works for me

 

[GaryED50]

Thanks Guys You ROCK!!

 

[GaryED50]

First place I checked Dixie Gun Works Tow sold out!! LOL!!

 

[Heyyou48307]

First place I checked Dixie Gun Works Tow sold out!! LOL!!

Check furniture reappolstering supplies

 

[RAEDWALD]

I bought mine from plumbers supplies. Sold for sealing threads with tow and putty.