Cracked corn vs whole feed corn
I'm new to the quilting board and I'm sure someone can help me out with this. I'm in the process of making heating pads/cooling pads as Christmas gifts for the elderly. By mistake I purchased a 50# bag of cracked corn and not feed corn. Could someone please tell me why I shouldn't use the cracked corn. Tried finding something out about it on the internet with no success. If I can't use it I'll give it to my daughter for her chickens and head for the feed store. Looking forward to your responses. Thank you.
|
Originally Posted by gjc2001
(Post 6990261)
I'm new to the quilting board and I'm sure someone can help me out with this. I'm in the process of making heating pads/cooling pads as Christmas gifts for the elderly. By mistake I purchased a 50# bag of cracked corn and not feed corn. Could someone please tell me why I shouldn't use the cracked corn. Tried finding something out about it on the internet with no success. If I can't use it I'll give it to my daughter for her chickens and head for the feed store. Looking forward to your responses. Thank you.
|
I'm guessing here, but I would think the cracked corn would create "dust" that would leak thru the bag. Whole corn, while not entirely clean wouldn't be dusty. I'd let the chickens have it.
|
the cracked corn would be more comfortable than nubs of whole corn.
I use rice in mine. I don't use quilters cotton though, I use washcloths. |
I like using flax seed scented with lavender in mine. I like the way they retain the heat and the pleasant aroma they put out.
|
Would be much simpler to use rice.
|
I have had the corn ones and they are very rough compared to rice in bags. Buy rice in 50 # bags at oriental or Mexican store. If none in your area, try wheat; don't know how it compares in price, but grain size similiar to rice.
|
I use deer feed corn in my bags. I also read an article where they were making these to use in hospitals, and they had to use the deer feed corn. The deer feed corn is cleaner and I also think the cracked corn would have too much cob particles and more dust.
|
The ones I've come across have been made with rice. Plain old long ggrain rice
|
My DD used to make heat packs and sell them, she always used feed corn.
Cari |
Having used cracked corn in bird feeders, I can tell you it is VERY dusty! It also gets moldy rather easily, if it gets damp.
|
I made one with rice and hated the smell when it was heated. We only heated it for 45 seconds. Is there something that isn't quite so stinky?
|
Corn in these bags smells like popcorn to me when heated....and I don't like it. :rolleyes:
I use rice (cheapest you can find) or flax seed or both together with a small amount (1/3 - 1/2 cup) of scented lavendar flowers added to help with odor AND relaxation. Flax seeds make the bags more shapeable to the body part needing comfort. The bags I make of cotton can be heated or cooled. These are sewn closed. Then I cover that with another bag of flannel because it feels soft and can be removed to wash. Jan in VA |
We tend to use wheat here in Australia....just good old plain wheat you feed 'chooks' (slang for chickens). I add lavender and dried herbs depending on what scents people like.
|
Thank you everyone for your responses. I have a lot to make to donate to the local food pantry to be used as a little extra gift with Christmas baskets. I also make them as gifts for the children along with pillowcases. I use flannel for the heat/cool pads. Thanks again.
|
I used beans in mine. Regular dried navy beans. They didn't smell very nice for about a year. Now there is no more smell.
If you use something rough, like corn, I would use a double layer of fabric, or one layer of regular fabric and one layer of fleece or something like that. Mine is two layers of drapery fabric, but I'm thinking that a fleece cover would make the heat felt less at first. That thing gets really hot on my neck! Or make a "pillow case" cover that can be washed occasionally. |
I've made dozens of rice bags. As for the smell, it only lasts for a couple of "heatings". The rice also provides "moist" heat since it has the tendency to absorb moisture as it sits for awhile. My hubby and I have used some of them for years before the cotton cover wore thru. I make them over-sized. Each bag has 4-5 sections and is 24" long. I pattern them after one I received as a gift years ago. That person got it at her chiropractor's office!
|
I use rice in mine; they seem softer.
|
Originally Posted by gjc2001
(Post 6990261)
I'm new to the quilting board and I'm sure someone can help me out with this. I'm in the process of making heating pads/cooling pads as Christmas gifts for the elderly. By mistake I purchased a 50# bag of cracked corn and not feed corn. Could someone please tell me why I shouldn't use the cracked corn. Tried finding something out about it on the internet with no success. If I can't use it I'll give it to my daughter for her chickens and head for the feed store. Looking forward to your responses. Thank you.
|
I make these corn warmers for many friends and teachers. I use whole kernel corn because it is cleaner and will hold the heat longer. My daughter's roommates at college steal hers all of the time.
I make the interior bag out of muslin or duck (I have a ton of duck) and sew it shut. Then the outside bag is made with soft flannel and can be removed to wash. |
My friend made with cherry pits, works great
|
Try one and see if you like them. If not, the chickens will still love you:-)
|
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 04:46 AM. |