"Tim J." wrote in message
...

The minimum order is three sheets at $50.25 CHF + $30 CHF for shipping
(about
$62 USD total). I've never used the stuff before, mainly because of the
$20
Orvis price for a tiny patch you mention in another post. If 1/3 of a
sheet is a
year or greater supply, this would be about a 10 year supply. How long
does this
stuff keep its properties?

Another option would be for 3 or more of us to chip in for a sheet apiece.
I'd
like to try it for myself and would be willing to do it that way.
--
TL,
Tim
who will gladly pay you Tuesday for some amadou today.
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj



Amadou retains its properties until it falls apart. This depends entirely on
how often you use it. It must be soaked before use, kept wet ( damp)in
use,and properly dried before storing, as it will otherwise go mouldy.
It also tends to oxidize in time, and simply crumbles. Under "normal"
conditions, ( properly prepared and dried, and then stored in a zip lock
bag), it will last a very long time indeed. I have some which I prepared
over twenty years ago, and it is still OK.

If kept dry when not in use, it will last a very long time. The last piece I
had "in operation", lasted about four seasons of heavy use before it fell
apart.

It is still quite readily available in Europe, although it is expensive. I
make my own, as the woods around my house have a large supply of the fungus.
When properly prepared, it is the best drying agent bar none. I have tried
lots of things, and nothing comes even close to it for effectiveness.

If you want to go cheap, then 3ply paper towels work as well as anything
else I have tried ( barring Amadou).

Amadou was once prepared extensively on a commercial basis as a styptic (
for stilling blood), and also, when treated with nitrates, ( concentrated
urine was often used for this, doubtless the cause of many ****ing contests)
as an igniter for various purposes, one of which was firing flintlocks and
the like.

I prepare mine using caustic soda. The fungus is placed in a strong caustic
solution, allowed to stand for at least two weeks, stirring occasionally.
The result is poured through a fine flat(PLASTIC! I use plastic net curtain
material over a square wooden frame) sieve,spreading the material as one
pours, washed thoroughly in the sieve, and allowed to dry until it looks
like thick yellow parchment. One may hammer this, add water again, and then
repeat the sieving procedure, but I only tried this a couple of times, as
the first result works perfectly.

The surface is smooth at first, roughens with use, and eventually
disintegrates.

The main reason for the extreme absorbent properties are the fibres of the
fungus, which have extremely long capillaries, and these are capable of
absorbing very large quatities of water and other substances ( i.e. Slime).
Amadou is the only substance I know of which will actually remove fish slime
almost completely. ( Without extensive washing with detergent etc). How
this functions exactly, I do not know, but it does. Probably also a
function of the capillaries in the fungus fibres.

TL
MC