Processing Dogbane

[AKAPK]

Got a bunch of Dog bane processed , am wondering if one is supposed to clean the fibres to get any toxins out or are those evaporated after the stalks dry?Thanks Phillip

[leapingbare]

I ant never cleaned it before.. just get the pith outa it and proses it good.

[ricktrojanowski]

I processed a bunch and am still working on more.  I never cleaned the fibers.  I would imagine that most of the toxins are in the milky sap.  And that the dry fibers are pretty clean and safe.  That being said I still wouldn't floss my teeth with any.

[Hillbilly]

I just try to get all the flaky bark off, never had any problems (Rick, I actually have flossed my teeth with dogbane ) I would guess also that most of the toxins would be in the sap. I wouldn't eat several pounds of the fibers though, cause you never know. Dogbane has been one of the most common fiber materials used for a long, long, time, and I've never heard of anyone having toxicity problems from anything except eating the plants.

[ricktrojanowski]

I just try to get all the flaky bark off, never had any problems (Rick, I actually have flossed my teeth with dogbane ) I would guess also that most of the toxins would be in the sap. I wouldn't eat several pounds of the fibers though, cause you never know. Dogbane has been one of the most common fiber materials used for a long, long, time, and I've never heard of anyone having toxicity problems from anything except eating the plants.

Man, I don't even floss with floss.  That is some wicked caveman hygene.  I can only guess what your toothbrush is.

[Hillbilly]

Just squirt a little toothpaste on a weasel...........

[AKAPK]

After spending 8 hours getting fibre from 108 stalks of the Bane I realized I didnt scrape the outer layer off first so it took another 4 hours of brushing to get the lumps out.
The fiber that was to short after brushing I made into cordage for other Art stuff, Looks good on the other clanker drum I made yesterday(show pic later) really like the golden color of this Dogbane, Hardly any waist I'm happy with what I got and after all that i feel fine.
The short brushed out stuff I washed Because it was full of dust, made it easier to make cordage also. Thanks for responding All,Thanks Hillbilly.PK

[Blacktail]

there is a video on youtube about dogbane prossing.john

[sailordad]

i have been trying to process milkweed,cant seem to get the outer bark off,even when i roll it between my fingers like the video.and getting the fibers
out in full length is tricky too.i think i am going to give retting a try

[AKAPK]

I think wetting it helps the bark off bane but milk weed? banes  easier to make cordage with moisture added not to much though.

[sailordad]

dogbane,and milkweed are virtually tha same thing except milkweed doesnt have the toxins,atleast thats what i have been told

[nugget]

I have the same problem with milweed . I had better luck when it was still green.

[sailordad]

so then cut it green and let it dry out,then strip out the fibers?
that sap is nasty to work with,gets every where

[stickbender]

     What does Dog Bane look like?  Do you know if it grows down here in Florida?


                                                        Wayne

[ricktrojanowski]

Milkweed generally dosn't make as strong of cordage as dogbane.  There are different types of milkweed some being better than others.  I think swamp milkweed is the best of the milkweeds.  I also have a much harder time getting good long fibers from milkweed as compared to dogbane.