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Drying

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  • —Spin as much water out first (washing machine works well), then dry in indirect sun (if you can find it this time of year!).
  • —Do not handle too much while wet, as fibers are more easily broken.  An old window screen works well to provide good airflow for faster drying.
Washed Fleece Drying on Window Screen
Washed Fleece Drying on Window Screen

Picking

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—Opening locks, either
  • —manually (simply teasing locks apart) or
  • —by machine (big scary thing with spikes that swings back and forth).
Swinging Mechanical Wool Picker
Swinging Mechanical Wool Picker

This will release some VM.

Mechanical picking may damage finer fibers, though.

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Carding

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—Carding is best for short to medium length fibers and is specifically called for in prepping fiber for “woolen” spinning.
—Carders separate and align fibers, but do not screen out second cuts or VM.
Flick Carder (or dog brush)
  • —Remove veg and second cuts, dry tips, etc.
  • —Good for spinning from the lock., or prep for drum carding
  • —Also good for cleaning drum carder!
Hand Cards
Hand Cards

Hand Cards

  • —Make rolags to spin woollen-style!
  • —Use hand card as burnishing tool for drum carder.

 

 

Drum Carder

  • —Many  styles available, hand turned or motorized.
  • —Very important to have adjusted properly for transfer of fiber between drum and ease of turning.
  • —Drums should be about an index card thickness apart.
  • —Try to keep fiber out of axles.
  • —Longer fibers can sometimes wrap around small drum and be difficult to remove. (may need to cut)
  • —Can use hand card as burnishing tool, to smooth batt.
Drum Carder
Drum Carder

Combing

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—Viking combs:
2 pitch Viking Combs
2 pitch Viking Combs

One or two rows of curved tines.

Can be used one against the other (one in each hand), or with one mounted on a base (fastened to a table or some other object).
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English combs:
5 Pitch English Combs
5 Pitch English Combs
Two or more rows of straight tines.
One comb must be mounted in clamp to a table, and the other is worked against it to transfer fiber from the stationary comb to the moving one.
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—Mini combs:
significantly smaller and lighter than English combs.
Designed for hand use with small amounts of fiber.
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—Budget option: