Cattails - A free alternative to down?

**KerMegan** · 10-19-2009, 12:13

You guys!
(laughs)

Motivated yes- also cheap! (Scottish heritage pays off in strange ways..)
KM (who will be braking out the gram scale when she gets home- just for you!)

**dgmyrs** · 10-20-2009, 18:50

I went out over lunch today and gathered 57 cattails minus 4 the kids wanted to "explode". So I should be set for a winter project. They are fairly dry, but probably not 100% as we have had a lot of rain recently. Would it be best to set them out to dry, and then explode them? Or just explode them into a stuff sack, and then into the dryer?

I realize nobody is an expert yet

, but just looking for thoughts.

**KerMegan** · 10-20-2009, 18:57

I was going to put some on a shelf in the garage, (Slow dry) a couple in a slow oven-180 or so, overnight; and a couple in the microwave- just to compare; probably will check the microwaved ones by weighing them after every 2 min cycle till they stay the same weight.
Be sure to have plastic bag handy to "explode" them into- the fluff is very fine! and floaty; escapes very well.
HTH, KM

**jofish** · 10-21-2009, 00:18

If you guys make something, you should use a fabric with the proper coloring:

**warbonnetguy** · 10-21-2009, 00:21

i'd open them and break it all up and put it into something breathable like a pillow case, tie it off and put it into the dryer.

**dgmyrs** · 10-21-2009, 08:29

Yeah, that's the way I was leaning last night. However, my wife has some reservations about putting highly flammable material in the dryer

I don't see it as being an issue since there will be no spark, but was wondering what would be the best way to dry it out and kill any bugs, etc. I have a low, medium, and high heat setting. I am thinking medium would do the trick.

**gargoyle** · 10-21-2009, 11:47

I would think cooking them in the microwave for 45 seconds to a minute will kill any bugs inside.

**Optimus** · 10-21-2009, 12:27

Alternatively, putting it in ziplocks and then in the freezer, should also do the trick.

Slopes

**Pitch** · 10-21-2009, 12:27

If your oven has a pilot lite you don't even need to turn it on.

You can dehydrate at ~150-160 very quickly.

Re: Microwave - this will kill them 4 sure - so will a good drying

Excited

XexorZ