Hard Winters Planning/Discussion Thread - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Folwren · 09-25-2015, 07:30 PM

I believe (though honestly I could be wrong because I didn't have to look it up when I wrote the post, though I wanted to) that ash can be used to clean leather and does not cause it to become stiff and brittle. I imagine you'd mix a bit of water with ashes so it's a sort of paste and then rub it into the leather and then gently wipe off excess. Now that I'm home (just got back from work a couple minutes ago), I will look into it.

Folwren · 09-25-2015, 07:38 PM

Ok. So apparently I just made that up. I can't find it anywhere online. That's really weird. I mean, of all the random things to pull out of one's head and think that it was something I had learned...why ash to clean leather?

Never mind. I'll take that out.

EDIT: Ash can be used to make soap. I must have heard that before and somehow in my scrambled brain I got it mixed up with cleaning leather. I just read about it online. So I'm not completely crazy.

Galadriel55 · 09-25-2015, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Folwren

EDIT: Ash can be used to make soap. I must have heard that before and somehow in my scrambled brain I got it mixed up with cleaning leather. I just read about it online. So I'm not completely crazy.

Still beats what I know about the uses of ash - I just know it can be used as a fertilizer in small quantities, especially in poor soil that lacks organic material.

Firefoot · 09-26-2015, 06:43 AM

Haha, no worries. I've heard that about soap as well.

When I was looking last night I found a recipe for saddle soap that uses lye, beeswax, turpentine, oil, and water. Seems reasonable that these ingredients would be available to the Rohirrim. It can be stored indefinitely so there could be some on hand.

littlemanpoet · 09-26-2015, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Folwren

So I'm not completely crazy.

Shoot, and here I thought you were one of us.

I didn't expect Rowenna to be such a 'bad girl'.

Your turn.

Mithalwen · 09-26-2015, 01:08 PM

Ash can be used for cleaning - they suggest it for glass on a wood burning stove mixed into a paste so they might possibly use it for metal.

piosenniel · 09-26-2015, 03:55 PM

About wood ash and its uses for cleaning:

from SurvivalTopics.com - HERE - Note what sorts of ash from what sorts of trees works the best and what NOT to use ashes on as a cleaning agent.

from The Farmer's Almanac - HERE - Uses for garden soil, repelling slugs, melting ice, cleaning glass and metal

---------------

Recipe for quick and simple leather cleaner:

Leather Soap
From "the Art of Soapmaking" by Merilyn Mohr.

Ingredients:
1-1/2 cup clean rendered Tallow
1/4 cup Neats Foot Oil
1/2 cup Melted Beeswax
3/4 cup Cold Soft Water
1/4 cup Lye Flakes

Instructions:
Stir lye flakes into cold water until dissolved. Melt 1 cup tallow. Add neats foot oils and set aside to cool

Melt beeswax in top of double boiler. Add remaining 1/2 cup tallow to beeswax, stirring to melt and mix thoroughly. Retain tallow-wax mixture in hot water to liquefy.

When fat and lye are lukewarm, pour lye slowly into fat, stirring constantly to emulsify. Beating vigorously, add tallow-wax mixture in thin stream. This will cool and solidify quickly. Continue to beat till thick. Pour immediately into molds.

-----

*Neatsfoot oil - Neatsfoot oil is a yellow oil rendered and purified from the shin bones and feet (but not the hooves) of cattle. "Neat" in the oil's name comes from an old English word for cattle. Neatsfoot oil is used as a conditioning, softening and preservative agent for leather.

*Lye flakes - How to make - HERE

09-25-2015, 07:30 PM	#1
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	I believe (though honestly I could be wrong because I didn't have to look it up when I wrote the post, though I wanted to) that ash can be used to clean leather and does not cause it to become stiff and brittle. I imagine you'd mix a bit of water with ashes so it's a sort of paste and then rub it into the leather and then gently wipe off excess. Now that I'm home (just got back from work a couple minutes ago), I will look into it. __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis

09-25-2015, 07:38 PM	#2
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	Ok. So apparently I just made that up. I can't find it anywhere online. That's really weird. I mean, of all the random things to pull out of one's head and think that it was something I had learned...why ash to clean leather? Never mind. I'll take that out. EDIT: Ash can be used to make soap. I must have heard that before and somehow in my scrambled brain I got it mixed up with cleaning leather. I just read about it online. So I'm not completely crazy. __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis Last edited by Folwren; 09-25-2015 at 07:41 PM.

09-26-2015, 01:08 PM	#6
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Ash can be used for cleaning - they suggest it for glass on a wood burning stove mixed into a paste so they might possibly use it for metal. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

09-26-2015, 03:55 PM	#7
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	About wood ash and its uses for cleaning: from SurvivalTopics.com - HERE - Note what sorts of ash from what sorts of trees works the best and what NOT to use ashes on as a cleaning agent. from The Farmer's Almanac - HERE - Uses for garden soil, repelling slugs, melting ice, cleaning glass and metal --------------- Recipe for quick and simple leather cleaner: Leather Soap From "the Art of Soapmaking" by Merilyn Mohr. Ingredients: 1-1/2 cup clean rendered Tallow 1/4 cup Neats Foot Oil 1/2 cup Melted Beeswax 3/4 cup Cold Soft Water 1/4 cup Lye Flakes Instructions: Stir lye flakes into cold water until dissolved. Melt 1 cup tallow. Add neats foot oils and set aside to cool Melt beeswax in top of double boiler. Add remaining 1/2 cup tallow to beeswax, stirring to melt and mix thoroughly. Retain tallow-wax mixture in hot water to liquefy. When fat and lye are lukewarm, pour lye slowly into fat, stirring constantly to emulsify. Beating vigorously, add tallow-wax mixture in thin stream. This will cool and solidify quickly. Continue to beat till thick. Pour immediately into molds. ----- **Neatsfoot oil* - Neatsfoot oil is a yellow oil rendered and purified from the shin bones and feet (but not the hooves) of cattle. "Neat" in the oil's name comes from an old English word for cattle. Neatsfoot oil is used as a conditioning, softening and preservative agent for leather. **Lye flakes* - How to make - HERE __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.

09-26-2015, 06:43 AM	#4
Firefoot Illusionary Holbytla Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,547	Haha, no worries. I've heard that about soap as well. When I was looking last night I found a recipe for saddle soap that uses lye, beeswax, turpentine, oil, and water. Seems reasonable that these ingredients would be available to the Rohirrim. It can be stored indefinitely so there could be some on hand.