Source for flat flax wick

[tombear]

My 5lb of mutton fat to turn into tallow is arriving on Wednesday and I predict that I will have more left over than I will be able to freeze for future use.

I'd there fore like to make a few dipped candles with a pound or two of it.

Could anyone please point me towards a supplier of a few yards of flat flax wick, prefrably in the UK?

Also if anyone knows any referances on the net about making tallow candles, especially the tempreture (bought my self a proper cooking thermometre last week, meant for deep fat fryers and jam making) required a link would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Tom

 

[Toddy]

IIRC the magic word is titre.
Normally it means concentration of a substance though, but somehow it's used in the descriptions of tallow candle making.

Flax wick.........if you are sure you want flax, I can send you some plyed up loose spun flax thread.

Tallow burns sooty, the wick gets clogged with the oily soot and needs trimming fairly frequently. This is one of the reasons that the rush dips lasted in popularity so long for ordinary domestic use. They burn out and you simply replace them.

The mutton fat is reputedly the cleanest and least smelly of the tallows. I think you got very lucky there

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Toddy]

http://www.meatupdate.csiro.au/data/Micro_Testing_Advisory_Pack_18-98.pdf

cheers,
M

 

[tombear]

Cheers Toddy, You are a absolute star! :-{D)

Thats the exact info I was looking for!

I don't know if it is because the trials dips were made with lamb fat which possibly has less impurities in it but until you blow them out there is no discernably smoke or smell, I've just held a metal plate above a burning dip for a minute or two and there was no residue on it at all. The boys were vegging out watching "Enterprise" a few feet away and noticed no smell until I blew it out and normally they are as sensitive as truffle hounds!

Some plyed up loose spun flax thread would be great, Thanks!

We are off to The Brecon Beacons at the end of the week and I vaguely remember seeing dip holders in the antique and even junk shops down there. In Crickhowell (sp?) there was (last year anyway) a shop that specialised in old and refurbished hand tools so I may be able to turn up some of the related kit.

I picked up some old wick trimming scissors which I cleaned up for the wife so I may have a use for them at last!

Thanks!

Tom

 

[campster]

Thanks - this is really useful for me too!

 

[tombear]

Cheers Toddy!
the flax has arrived and it is just the job! I will grovel to herself, who is good at such things, to copy the braided part.

I've been trying to get her to make me a sash to go around my capote for years but they require a lot of work (I've heard 350 hours mentioned!) especially when they have to go twice around someone as fat as me!

What I should do is find a book on the subject and leave it near the loo then aquire a suitable amount of wool and leave it around the house...

OK I should make it myself but I know it would turn out a mares nest!

Anyroad, thanks for the help!

ATB

Tom

 

[Toddy]

Glad it's the right stuff

Sashes are easy, just weave one using tablet braiding or inkle braid. One of my inkle looms takes a five and a half metre warp, there's no way that won't go twice around you

cheers,
Toddy

 

[tombear]

I keep threatening to make her a loom as we live in a old weavers cottage and the top floor had never been converted into housing and is now my shed come family room.

I will have to look all pathetic (easy) and make her a inkle loom, theres a pattern for one in Abrams book "building craft equipment" , nice idiots guide type steps so well within my capacity.

Cheers!

Tom

PS know any good books on inkle weaving?