The term estopa , derived from the Latin word stuppa , is used with different meanings. The thick part of hemp or linen and the fabric produced by spinning the tow are called tow.
Also, in some regions , the fiber that remains from fruits when the juice is squeezed and the filaments that emerge in certain woods after being worked are called tow.
With the tow that comes from cotton , for example, rags are usually produced that are used for cleaning and drying. This tow has a great absorption capacity and is used at home, as well as in mechanical workshops, laboratories, service stations and other establishments.
Tow, on the other hand, is used in the field of plumbing . This plant fiber allows threaded pieces to be joined and is very useful for installing a plumbing circuit. Due to its properties , tow works as a natural insulator and prevents drips and losses.
Beyond its usefulness, the use of tow has currently lost popularity as people prefer Teflon . This synthetic substance is used as an adhesive tape, which makes its application easier.
Despite the success of Teflon, given that tow is cheaper and more practical to apply, many people still prefer it to join threaded pieces in a traditional way and solve the assembly of a plumbing circuit in less time and with less money. When we place tow on the threads of the points that join the different sections of a pipe, it becomes an ideal insulator so that water does not leak.
When placing the tow we must ensure that the threads are distributed evenly, tensioning them appropriately in the direction of the thread. The reason for such precautions is to prevent the filaments from bunching up or getting tangled when adjusting the system , since if this happened the water would sooner or later escape through a gap, and the filtration would wear down the material until the situation became unsustainable.
Another thing to keep in mind when applying the tow is to make sure that there is no rust on the joint. To prevent its formation, experts recommend the use of minium (also known as lead tetroxide or red lead ).
Tow is also used for wax polishing , with results comparable to professional treatments. When we wax a wooden surface and want to give it a perfect finish, we must follow these steps:
* Leave the wood free of any product that prevents the absorption of the wax . If it had already been waxed, we can use a stripper, for example;
* sand the surface with a sandpaper block so that the pores of the wood open and the wax can penetrate more easily;
* put a little wax on a cotton cloth and use it to rub the surface using circular movements;
* before polishing the wax with the tow using movements similar to the previous ones, we must wait approximately 20 minutes;
* Repeat these last two steps a maximum of four times, until you obtain the desired results.
Estopa , finally, is a Spanish pop rock group led by brothers José Manuel and David Muñoz . The group was created in 1999 in Cornellá de Llobregat and that same year their first album was presented, precisely titled “Estopa” .
The album “Estopa” was a huge success , with sales of more than a million copies. Songs like “La raja de tu skirt” and “Tu calorro” made Estopa one of the most famous musical groups in Spain .