What is tow made of and what is it for?

From the side, tow is very similar to highly tangled hair. In fact, this material has nothing to do with them. Oakum is used for plumbing and construction work. The article will discuss what it is made of, and what exactly it is needed for.

Before understanding all the features of tow, it is advisable to answer the question of what it is. So, tow is a coarse fiber with a uniform structure... Characterized natural, vegetable origin... High-quality tow is produced in accordance with the specific requirements of GOST. Oakum is an inexpensive but very useful material. It is used in a wide variety of areas.

The product in question is based on ordinary flax. Currently, along with this raw material, jute is often used. Flax feels very well in our soil conditions, therefore it is grown in large quantities both in Russia and on the territory of Belarus.

Jute, on the other hand, is an Asian plant, so it is usually brought to us from Bangladesh. Both flax and jute are raw materials well saturated with such a component as cellulose, so they boast good strength characteristics. Materials are resistant to heavy loads, which cannot be avoided during the construction of a house or other building.

Jute cell membranes contain a higher percentage of lignin (up to 12%), which makes the material more moisture resistant than flax.

It is no coincidence that tow is a very popular and irreplaceable material in carrying out various works. The fact is that it has a number of characteristics and features that make it very practical and functional. We will find out what the most important features of this material are hidden in.

• Tow is a very strong material. It does not deteriorate and does not lose its performance even under the influence of severe loads.
• It is very easy and simple to choose tow for a specific type of work. Each of the types of material is marked and has external distinctive features, so it is not difficult to find a product for certain procedures.
• There are pores in the material.
• Tow is a product with high hygroscopic properties.
• The material in question is durable and resistant to wear and tear.
• Tow is a bactericidal material.
• This is an environmentally friendly product that is not capable of provoking allergic reactions in humans.

Today hemp is sold in the form of rolls, ribbons and bales. To work with this simple but effective material, you do not need to buy a special expensive tool.

Oakum is a popular material, but it also has no less relevant analogs. These include moss, modern types of insulation for inter-crown seams and many other products in this category. In certain situations, ordinary polyurethane foam can be used instead of tow.

It makes sense to understand in more detail what are the main differences between tow and other similar materials. First, let's compare tow and moss.

• When using both tow and moss, builders and craftsmen have to resort to additional caulking of inter-crown seams. Moss will not give a beautiful and even seam, but linseed tow will look much more attractive.
• If the material is selected for laying in the seams between the joints, then the masters often choose tow, since it is easier to work with it than with moss. - it is not so easy to carefully fit it into the cracks.
• Birds are more interested in tow than in moss. Often they pull apart jute and linen material, pulling out its fibers from the seams between the joints. Moss attracts them much less.
• In tow, tree parasites are often found, which never appear in the moss.
• Moss is used less often in construction.because it looks less attractive than tow. He immediately catches the eye.

The material in question can be compared with other raw materials used in construction. We are talking about a heater called polytherm. Let's understand the differences between these materials.

• If the raw material is used for laying in inter-joint seams, then polytherm will not need additional caulking, unlike tow.
• Caulk from flax or jute can absorb moisture, and polytherm is not susceptible to such problems.
• Jute or linen caulk cannot boast of vapor permeability. Polytherm is a vapor-permeable material.
• It will not be possible to use tow again, but the Polytherm insulation can be reused.

It is worth mentioning the service life of linen or jute materials - it is much more modest than the service life of a polytherm. The latter can last almost 100 years, but the tow between the crowns often works out for only a couple of years. Tow is often compared to other materials of a similar type. In some ways it is inferior to them, but in some ways it turns out to be of higher quality. Much depends on the purpose for which such raw materials are selected, and what effect users expect from it.

Oakum is divided into several varieties. Each of the products has its own distinctive characteristics and even external differences. Let's take a closer look at the different types of raw materials under consideration.

Linen, which has a characteristic beige tint, is natural. Its very shade testifies to this. Tow beige color does not contain additional chemical or harmful components. This material is environmentally friendly and safe, sold in many stores. Hemp has a beige color, which is used for the further caulking process.

When working with this material, small flagella are first formed, which are then pushed into the seams between the joints using a special tool. The most convenient to install is a beige tape, sold in different formats. The canvas differs both in terms of width and length (from 10 to 50 meters) with thickness.

There is not only beige, but also a darker brown tow. In most cases, such products are used as a sealant in the arrangement of pipeline systems. Brown tow allows you to quickly eliminate pipe leaks without the need to dismantle a large number of important parts and connections.

Unlike baled or rolled tow of a beige shade, sanitary ware has a special impregnation.Brown tow is processed in a special way, so it is ideal for installing plumbing or heating systems. The material in question has long established itself and demonstrated its effectiveness.

Thanks to brown tow, craftsmen can seamlessly join pipe joints to prevent leaks. The dark material has a special fiber structure, thanks to which it is very easy to wind on the necessary bases, perfectly absorbs excess moisture and expands if it gets wet.

Oakum differs not only in its color and purpose, but also in the type in which it is realized. So, darker products that are designed for high-quality plumbing work are most often sold as skeins different sizes. But tow, which is intended for further caulking, is sold in bales of different weights or in rolls.

Despite the fact that the material in question is extremely simple and consists of elementary components, it must be chosen correctly. It is necessary to take into account a number of nuances associated with the selection of this product.

• The buyer should be aware that after the manufacture of the tow is given a certain number... It is he who reflects the quality of a natural product. Typically, values ​​range from 8 to 24. The higher the mark, the better the product. In such products, there is a smaller percentage of excess impurities.
• It is important to pay attention not only to the digital designation, but also to the color of the tow itself. It has already been said above that beige material is used for the purpose of caulking, and brown is used in activities related to plumbing work. It is important not to make a mistake, so as not to be disappointed in the effectiveness of the selected product.
• It should be borne in mind that the linen from which the tow is made must be absolutely dry.... No odor should be emitted from the product.
• You should take a closer look at the product labeling, making a choice in favor of a quality option... It is advisable to clarify the indicator indicating the percentage of moisture (should not be higher than 12%).
• If the choice fell on tow, from which a very unpleasant putrid smell emanates, then it is better to refuse the purchase on time... For further work, such material is definitely not suitable, since it is of low quality.
• You can find high-quality tow for a bar, a bath or a wooden house, as well as for plumbing work, only in specialized stores. It is in such outlets that it will be possible to find material that has the necessary certificate of conformity to GOSTs. It is better not to buy tow at the market or in street shops - there is a high risk of purchasing a low-quality product.

Usually, good quality tow is sold in simple but neat packages. They must be free of any damage or defects. And the linen or jute braid itself should not be fluffy and look unnecessarily shabby. A new and well-made product and will look the same.

Oakley must be used correctly so that it demonstrates all its positive qualities and high performance indicators. Let's analyze the rules for using tow on the example of sealing joints.

• In most plumbing work, tow is indispensable. It is very simple and easy to work with it. If there are no notches on the thread, and their presence is necessary for stronger and more reliable fasteners, then it is advisable to use a file or file for application.
• Many craftsmen make notches with simple pliers, if you gradually squeeze the threads, making circular motions. The presence of small notches will prevent the pipe fastening material from sliding down in the future.
• Next, you need to separate the first strand of fiber from the total "braid" of tow... The thickness of the selected piece must match the joint to which you intend to apply it.If even small lumps are visible, they must be removed immediately.
• The connection can be wound like a fluffand flax pre-rolled into neat pigtails.
• It is allowed to use the material, pre-processed and impregnated with a special paste... You can apply tow on the already wound first layer of tow. Both the first and the second methods are equivalent and significantly reduce the risk of material damage during its operation.
• The material should be wound crosswise. The first turn must be locked with a lock. For example, a craftsman might start at the very end of a threaded connection. The starting loop will need to be overlapped. The turns must be made as tight and strong as possible.
• After the starting one, you can do all the other turns.but moved to the starting point of the threaded base.
• When the start of the thread is reached, it will be necessary to return to its end again.... In this case, one should not neglect the maximum density in the middle. The end of the linen braid should be returned to its starting mark. The tip will need to be brought out of the border.
• It will be necessary to make sure that the winding is made sufficiently tight.... Please note - the tow should in no case be scrolled on the surface of the fitting. If the material walks along the surface of the base, then the winding will have to be done again to correct the situation. On top of the layer, you will need to lay a special protective sealant paste.
• All the excess that remains from the tow can be left in place, or you can carefully cut off with scissors... It all depends on the wishes of the owners. These residues cannot affect the tightness in any way.

Consider other features of using tow for caulking.

• Tape tow, which consists of natural ingredients, is used most often. It is permissible to use it for primary caulking.
• The master only needs to carefully unfold the tablet on a bar or log of the base. The material should be fixed either in one or in a couple of layers.
• If this is a bale tow, then it is advisable to use it in situations where there are heterogeneous gaps with different widths between the logs.
• Fiber that is made shorter is the ideal solution if it is necessary to fill inhomogeneous voids, as the amount of material used is determined by the master.

Working with tow is extremely simple. Using completely simple technologies, builders can build a real long-lived house in which it will be warm and comfortable.