Cotton waste is ok for holding oil on top of driving boxes. But when used in journal boxes you really have to be careful to get enough in the box. It can be deceiving . It tends to settle to the bottom and loose contact with the journal wool or even horse hair are closer to what was used prier to pads. Cutting 5 X 9 pads in half and sewing the open end shut is a much more effective method. And yes soak them for a very long time or through them in to a Paint pot full of oil and add air pressure to it for a few if your in a hurry.