Hello. Not really, match-cord works because it burns very hot, but is controllable. It can be pushed into the powder for ignition. It can be turned upside down, and if it is windy it burns hotter, where as something requiring flame will simply blow out. Hope that helps. SF
@@jonc2914 no, I use boiling water but do not have it on a roiling boil. Just put the cord or what ever you are treating in the boiling water (that has the potassium nitrate dissolved in) and then allow it to soak.
I also make slowmatch for my Englsih Civil War group here in the UK. Where do you source your hemp cord from and what diameter do you use? That's a great video, by the way! Keep up the good work!! :D
+Xian1642 Hello, I tend to use 8mm to 10mm cord. I try to get it from discount wholesalers. Usually works out at around £3 for a 15meter hank. Otherwise its silly expensive. If you cant get hemp, Jute is a very good alternative. Just make sure its not the stuff with a nylon core. Glad you enjoyed the video. All the best SF
two period recipes call for use of ashe lye and gunpowder, or simply boiling rope in ash lye. What to be more historic try those out. Where did you get your historic recipe?
Good question. Saltpetre was traditionally used for slow match as it is an oxidiser. This is what keeps the match burning continuously and hotter than the hemp without it. As saltpetre is still readily available (used for curing meat) it was the obvious choice.
Hello from USA! I've been trying to find 6-8 mm hemp cord like that for a long time but it is very scarce here. Can you supply a link to a supplier that might be willing to send some to the Colonies? Yr Obt Svt, Pete
Some of it was mined, but later on it was mass produced by mixing dung, earth and urine and storing for months in stone buildings, it was turned regularly. The saltpetre could then be washed out and distilled. Part of the reason the Uk took over India in the 1800s was to control the vast amount of saltpetre production.
Swallow Forge alright, thanks for the help. I’ve been looking for a way to make some of it on my own for personal use, for things like slow match to aid in fire starting. You’ve given me a good place to start.
@@evanf1443 Locally, we leached it from the cave dirt, for. calcium nitrate, when mixed with god ash lye, it precipitates the calcium and becomes saltpeter solution, and then just boil it dry.
You can yes, you may have to experiment with the amount of saltpetre you use to achieve the desirable burn rate. Handy tip, if it splutters, theres too much saltpetre.
No... but boiling the cord in stale urine over a fire to break down the proteins in the fibres, although historically accurate, has a tendency to engulf the surrounding area with a lingering stench that is rather off putting.
how long do you leave your lamp wick (that's what I am going to use for my slow matches) in the boil for? I have just secured my potassium nitrate and am going to start to make my own slow matches (for flint and steel). Plus a 1L/1 table spoon is the best ratio for a slow match recipe?
There are lots of factors, depending on the cord used, etc. 1 table spoon per litre is a good starting point, but i would suggest a bit of experimentation. Try a short length in the solution first. Let it dry and see if it burns to your satisfaction. If the burn is too slow, add a little more saltpetre, if its too fast and spluttery, add more water to dilute it further. Your cord may need washing in boiling water for 10 mins to remove any oils or waxes. Then put you cord in the saltpetre solution on a low simmer for at least 10 mins to ensure that the saltpetre penetrates to the core. Hope that helps.
@@SwallowForge I ended up making my slow matches, I used flat lamp wick (100% cotton), and my recipe is 1 cup of boiling water and 1 heaped tea spoon of potassium nitrate, soak the lamp wick for 15 minutes and then dry in the sun until completely dry. Works a treat, my treated slow match lamp wicks take a spark from flint and steel very easily (once you char the end of the lamp wick) and smolder evenly without spluttering. Thank you so much for you help, your video is one of the very few on the subject and was very helpful, along with your reply's to my queries.
Yes! I can finally ad# that missing factor to my Blackbeard cosplay!!!
You are going to have to send me pics of that 😁
Beautiful landscape. Seems very relaxing, almost like meditation
The Beautiful Chalke Valley in Wiltshire.
Better than wading through lots of pages for a written source.
That's a really weird spaghetti recipe.
+Crystal Soulslayer
Just like nonna used to make! :)
No crystal player please dont stretch your spaghetti
Are there any decent alternatives to matchcord? Would a candle work in a last ditch scenario or would the wax be to problematic?
Hello. Not really, match-cord works because it burns very hot, but is controllable. It can be pushed into the powder for ignition. It can be turned upside down, and if it is windy it burns hotter, where as something requiring flame will simply blow out. Hope that helps. SF
Outstanding. Make the saltpetre from urine?
Kowboy USA SO THATS WHY IT SMELLS SO BAD
Nice video!
How much saltpetre on how much water is this? And how thick is the cord?
+heriberthuber54
For a good hot burn I use roughly 1 tablespoon of saltpetre to 1 litre of water.
U have to boil it????
@@jonc2914 no, I use boiling water but do not have it on a roiling boil. Just put the cord or what ever you are treating in the boiling water (that has the potassium nitrate dissolved in) and then allow it to soak.
I also make slowmatch for my Englsih Civil War group here in the UK. Where do you source your hemp cord from and what diameter do you use? That's a great video, by the way! Keep up the good work!! :D
+Xian1642
Hello, I tend to use 8mm to 10mm cord. I try to get it from discount wholesalers. Usually works out at around £3 for a 15meter hank. Otherwise its silly expensive. If you cant get hemp, Jute is a very good alternative. Just make sure its not the stuff with a nylon core. Glad you enjoyed the video. All the best SF
Really nice
Thank you. Thought I would just keep it simple :)
What cord/rope can I use for a slowmatch? Tried a small cotton cord and it turned out really bad.
8mm diameter Hemp cord works best. Make sure its pure hem and not the type with the nylon core. Often sold as sash cord or jute rope.
@@SwallowForge Sorry for being late, thank you for the answer.
I'll try it when I'll have a chance.
two period recipes call for use of ashe lye and gunpowder, or simply boiling rope in ash lye. What to be more historic try those out. Where did you get your historic recipe?
Why did you use saltpetre to make slow match?
Was there any special reason?
Good question. Saltpetre was traditionally used for slow match as it is an oxidiser. This is what keeps the match burning continuously and hotter than the hemp without it. As saltpetre is still readily available (used for curing meat) it was the obvious choice.
Swallow Forge o
Hello from USA! I've been trying to find 6-8 mm hemp cord like that for a long time but it is very scarce here. Can you supply a link to a supplier that might be willing to send some to the Colonies?
Yr Obt Svt, Pete
Here, jaderope.com/us/natural-hemp-rope-6mm-braided.html, “braided” hemp is what to look for, I’d guess this is about 8mm diameter.
apparently cotton works, jute probable too
How much saltpeter was used to make this match ?
What type of rope is used??
I thought the real re enactors just pissed on the cord ?????
If you do that, you just end up with piss soaked cord.
how does cotton work? and is there a preferred mixture of saltpeter to water?
Works rather well, made some slows match with cotton cord and it works. Its a natural material so it will burn no problem
How much salt peter to water and rope?
Historically speaking, how did thy acquire the saltpeter?
Some of it was mined, but later on it was mass produced by mixing dung, earth and urine and storing for months in stone buildings, it was turned regularly. The saltpetre could then be washed out and distilled.
Part of the reason the Uk took over India in the 1800s was to control the vast amount of saltpetre production.
Swallow Forge alright, thanks for the help. I’ve been looking for a way to make some of it on my own for personal use, for things like slow match to aid in fire starting. You’ve given me a good place to start.
@@evanf1443 Locally, we leached it from the cave dirt, for. calcium nitrate, when mixed with god ash lye, it precipitates the calcium and becomes saltpeter solution, and then just boil it dry.
douglas carson interesting. Thank you for the information
Can I use cotton cord instead?
You can yes, you may have to experiment with the amount of saltpetre you use to achieve the desirable burn rate. Handy tip, if it splutters, theres too much saltpetre.
I use this method too but the method is not historic correct
No... but boiling the cord in stale urine over a fire to break down the proteins in the fibres, although historically accurate, has a tendency to engulf the surrounding area with a lingering stench that is rather off putting.
@@SwallowForge i want to try boiling cord in potassium carbonate solution
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
What is saltpethre
Potasium nitrate.
it is also sold as 'stump remover', just check the ingredients it should say salt peter, potassium nitrate or KNO3.
P, de puto?
how long do you leave your lamp wick (that's what I am going to use for my slow matches) in the boil for?
I have just secured my potassium nitrate and am going to start to make my own slow matches (for flint and steel).
Plus a 1L/1 table spoon is the best ratio for a slow match recipe?
There are lots of factors, depending on the cord used, etc. 1 table spoon per litre is a good starting point, but i would suggest a bit of experimentation. Try a short length in the solution first. Let it dry and see if it burns to your satisfaction. If the burn is too slow, add a little more saltpetre, if its too fast and spluttery, add more water to dilute it further. Your cord may need washing in boiling water for 10 mins to remove any oils or waxes. Then put you cord in the saltpetre solution on a low simmer for at least 10 mins to ensure that the saltpetre penetrates to the core. Hope that helps.
@@SwallowForge thanks for your reply, it does help.
@@SwallowForge I ended up making my slow matches, I used flat lamp wick (100% cotton), and my recipe is 1 cup of boiling water and 1 heaped tea spoon of potassium nitrate, soak the lamp wick for 15 minutes and then dry in the sun until completely dry.
Works a treat, my treated slow match lamp wicks take a spark from flint and steel very easily (once you char the end of the lamp wick) and smolder evenly without spluttering.
Thank you so much for you help, your video is one of the very few on the subject and was very helpful, along with your reply's to my queries.
Happy to be of help, lampwick is very useful for fire-starting, good job 😊
@@waveman0 Your reply does help me too. Thank you.