Handwarmers

I am interested in making handwarmers for my "barn mates"...something to reheat our hands after doing barn work in cold weather. I am making the kind that are square or rectangular and are filled with "a" substance that is able to be microwaved for heat.

I am making cover from flannel and embroidering designs on the cover.

Does anyone have a suggestion for what "filling" is to be used? And, what "filling" holds enough heat for a prolonged period of time?

In advance, thank you. Kelly

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Reply to
KellyO
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Rather than trying to find a microwaveable substance that will hold heat I'd be inclined to made a mitten/hand/warmer with a pocket for a chemical handwarmer.

My daughter's Christmas gift to the old gentleman who owns the barn where she boards her horse was a big bag of chemical hand and foot warmers. When the outer wrapping is removed the contents react with oxygen and generate heat. They are attached to the inside of a shoe or a glove with the self adhesive tape on the outside of the packet.

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are commonly available at cycling shops, outdoor outfitters and sporting goods stores.

Reply to
Kathleen

Got some old cotton socks? Pour in a cup full of rice in one, a cup full of feed corn in another. Tie a knot in the top of a sock. Microwave. Stick one in each pocket and decide which one stays warmer longer (I'm betting on the rice). See if it works for you before you invest more effort.... I'm betting hauling around a few extra pounds isn't going to be much fun.

They do make handwarmers that run at a fairly low temperature, and use lighter fluid... I wouldn't have dreamed of doing winter wildlife counts without a couple of them.

Kay

Reply to
Kay Lancaster

I don't know if this type are available for you

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are great because they are reusable - reactivated by boiling in apan of water.

Lizzy

Reply to
Lizzy Taylor

I vote for the rice!

Kirsten

Reply to
Kirsty Wursty

Hmmm....that looks like the heat wraps I buy for my knee when it gets too cranky, and my friend always puts one on her back before she goes shopping.

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Since they're in the grocery/drug stores, they're easy to find, and they do make you toasty warm!!!

Reply to
Pogonip

I assume these are the ones that get solid as they cool? (they wouldn't let me in without giving them a valid post code, and they don't like zip codes...) -- those are generally a supersaturated solution of sodium acetate in water. You give them a hard rap to start the crystallization and use the heat of crystallization to warm yourself.

The sodium acetate warmers are ok, but fairly heavy in comparison with the liquid or solid fuel handwarmers (which is my same issue with rice, etc. when you have to carry it around all day). I always used to keep about

4 of the glove sized salt and iron filings disposables in my backpack, because they were relatively light, but the one I used routinely was this sort:
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do keep about ten of the bigger salt and iron warmers in the car and truck in the winter. Hypothermia is a big killer of people in wintertime accidentsin rural areas in western Oregon, and I'm out in the sticks. Of course, since the OP is doing barn chores, they could always snaffle off some of the grain, heat it, and when it cools down, feed it to the horses, leaving nothing to carry but a drawstring bag... :-)

Kay (old biologist)

Reply to
Kay Lancaster

Yep, that's them.

If you ever need to use a UK postcode feel free to use OL10 1NX - that's the one for where I work.

These ones have a metal thing a bit like a spring hairclip that you click to start the process.

Forewarned is four-armed or something ;-)

Good thinking and happy horses.

Lizzy

Reply to
Lizzy Taylor

I have seen these warmers filled with whole flax seeds. Supposedly the oil in them makes them stay warm longer.

Reply to
Autumn

KellyO had written this in response to

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:Thanks everyone for the advice and the helpful links! I'm really interested in making something "personal" - which is why I chose something useful...yet, I can embroider their horse/name/logo/etc on the casing.

The "lighter fluid" ones I really like....but, I'm thinking they may be a little too expensive to buy for 10+ barn mates.

It's not something that I really expect to "carry around" - but, more of a "let's take a few minutes and thaw out our fingers before we continue mucking" type of thing.

We are a small barn - not alot of amenities...but, the microwave does work and is handy!

If anyone knows of a place to buy the lighter fluid ones (cheaply) - I could always sew a cover for it and embroider that!

Again - many thanks! Kelly

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Reply to
KellyO

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