[MassHistPres] used horsehair

[Robert Busch]

I've also reused horsehair fill (not fabric) and second Anne's 
recommendation. It's eminently reusable. I've sometimes given it a brief 
dunk in plain water to get rid of the inevitable dust and let it air dry.

It's a pretty amazing natural material that can still retain its 
properties after 150 years. I doubt that the current synthetics will 
come close.

Bob Busch

Bolton Historical Commission

On 3/21/2022 11:50 AM, Anne Lusk wrote:
> Dear Carolyn,
>    I taught reupholstery and refinishing throughout Vermont and always 
> recommended that the students reuse the horsehair. The feel is very 
> different from synthetic horsehair (plastic coated filaments) and foam 
> (which breaks down). Also, the horsehair can be molded and added to 
> for height. To reuse it, you just sift through it with your fingers, 
> pulling apart the strands until it is a new fluffy pile of horsehair.  
> I never encountered horsehair that I couldn't reuse.
>      Rather than throw away a worthwhile reupholstery material, you 
> could at least ask area reupholstery shops if they might like it.
> Hope this helps,
> Anne Lusk, Ph.D.
>
> On Mon, Mar 21, 2022 at 11:27 AM Carolyn Gilmore 
> <carolyn at bensonspond.com> wrote:
>
>     This may be a silly question, but one never knows:
>
>     The First Congregational Church Rochester will be replacing
>     horsehair cushions well over 100 years old. Does anyone have a use
>     for historic horsehair?
>
>     Carolyn Gilmore
>
>     Rochester, MA
>
>     Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986>
>     for Windows
>
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