Results 1 to 4 of 4
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,756

    Default Wool carding combs

    Not wood working but definitely hand tools made using wood so I guess that is enough to qualify for this subform.

    SWMBO does not have enough hobbies so recently she got back to wool spinning and has started needlfelting.
    She starts from raw wood off the sheeps back so carding, washing, more carding, maybe more washing and dyeing and then more carding and finally needle felting or spinning.

    She has a couple of small carding brushes but she asked me if I would make some carding combs.

    These are vicious looking things like this.
    The timber is Sheoak and the teeth are made from 2.4mm TIG welding rods epoxied in place.
    IMG_4685.jpg

    The idea is to grab a couple of handfuls of wool (it can be quite dirty ie sees and straw and $%^) and spear it onto one comb and then tease the wool away using the other comb. The wool that comes across is mostly the longer cleaner bits and most of dirt and short stuff stays on the original comb and gets thrown away Then go the other way and repeat that until you get a surprising clean wool that has most of its fibres aligned in one direction.

    Although the holes for the teeth were drilled with a drill press to a tight fit, the teeth would not stand straight as they get slightly bent during the cutting and sharpening process so I made a jig to hold them straight while the epoxy dried.
    IMG_4684.jpg

    SWMBO likes them so much she has asked for two more combs with thicker teeth and on supports that can be clamped to a table.

    Here are a couple of her starter projects.
    They are made by twisting up various shapes and sizes of balls of wool and stabbing them with needles until they hold together. Then the pieces are held together and more needles stabbed into them to hold the piece together.
    The dog has som of our dogs fur incorporated into the body.
    She has also added whiskers using horse hair.
    Tomorrow the getting some Alpaca hair to play with
    BaandBC.jpg

    I've also made her a bunch of wooden formers from Olive wood and Jarrah. These are used to form up arms, legs, ears etc.

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Oberon, NSW
    Age
    63
    Posts
    13,354

    Default

    Nice work.

    I made a pair of viking combs from 3.2mm SS for SWMBO a few years ago, except I staggered the back row of teeth and put a slight inward bend on the last 2cm to make usage a tad easier.

    They're looking a bit battered now and have seen a LOT of fleeces pass through them. A bit heavy with the 3.2mm rod, but I don't dare upset her when she's wielding them.

    I'm sure your ones will quickly become a favourite.

    Edit: a pic is worth a thousand words.
    IMG_20201031_182042726_HDR.jpg
    I may be weird, but I'm saving up to become eccentric.

    - Andy Mc

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,756

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!! View Post
    Nice work.

    I made a pair of viking combs from 3.2mm SS for SWMBO a few years ago, except I staggered the back row of teeth and put a slight inward bend on the last 2cm to make usage a tad easier.
    That's what she wants for her next set.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    Dandenong Ranges
    Posts
    1,865

    Default

    Very clever Bob. And so is your wife, they're great.

Similar Threads

  1. Carding brush?
    By BobL in forum METALWORK FORUM
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 27th June 2012, 12:49 AM
  2. Aussie woods for combs?
    By sumu in forum TIMBER
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 26th January 2010, 11:49 PM
  3. WIP Wool Truck
    By LiliB in forum SCALE MODELLING
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 4th January 2009, 08:01 PM
  4. Graining combs and other not so usual things
    By Eastie in forum HAVE YOUR SAY
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 18th July 2006, 04:08 PM
  5. Wool Lube
    By Marty Lott in forum FINISHING
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 9th January 2001, 09:43 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •