I'm sure more experienced people will contribute better info, but...
I've found the balls are wrapped in a certain direction. If you pull from the side of this direction you will get longer strands of cotton. With the grain, so to speak. When I first started using them I always pulled off too much and it jammed in the coil. Would have to strip some away. The stuff expands quite a bit once it gets wet. You don't need to force it thru the coil. If you are - you're using too much.
Once you pinch off a bit from "the side of the roll" start twisting it between your fingertips. This will twist it into a crude piece of string. Wet your fingers (water, spit, VG...) to assist in getting it started. Once you've got it spun into a strand, focus on spinning the tip as tight as you can. Then thread that tip thru your coil. Next, use your fingertips to slowly pull thru the coil by the little twisted tip.
Don't worry about length. Easily trimmed with little scissors once you're done.
I struggled at first. Stuff seemed to pull apart too easily. But now I can make one in a couple of seconds. Small learning curve and the stuff is so cheap. It is just as easy to make a micro-sized one as a larger one after a few practice tries. I figure I spent about 20 cents since I started using cotton balls, LOL.
I've found the balls are wrapped in a certain direction. If you pull from the side of this direction you will get longer strands of cotton. With the grain, so to speak. When I first started using them I always pulled off too much and it jammed in the coil. Would have to strip some away. The stuff expands quite a bit once it gets wet. You don't need to force it thru the coil. If you are - you're using too much.
Once you pinch off a bit from "the side of the roll" start twisting it between your fingertips. This will twist it into a crude piece of string. Wet your fingers (water, spit, VG...) to assist in getting it started. Once you've got it spun into a strand, focus on spinning the tip as tight as you can. Then thread that tip thru your coil. Next, use your fingertips to slowly pull thru the coil by the little twisted tip.
Don't worry about length. Easily trimmed with little scissors once you're done.
I struggled at first. Stuff seemed to pull apart too easily. But now I can make one in a couple of seconds. Small learning curve and the stuff is so cheap. It is just as easy to make a micro-sized one as a larger one after a few practice tries. I figure I spent about 20 cents since I started using cotton balls, LOL.
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