Wool processing mini mill

delilah

Member
Apologies, just caught up with this again, glad your doing more products, really keen to see for the felting machine works out.

The gang will be back in playing with it today. The firm we got it from make acoustic batts so want a 'fluffy' end product, as we want a 'tighter' product for tailoring I think we will be getting a new needle set with more needles to reduce the number of passes.
 

delilah

Member
Happy new year :) .
With Kent having its very own strain of corona, and several of the gang being in the vulnerable category, we have been on reduced activity at The Woolshed of late.
Steadily getting to grips with the felt loom: how the fleeces of different breeds respond to felting, how many passes are needed to produce varying thicknesses and strengths, product development.
Is clear that we will need an industrial sewing machine; the continual trade off between hand crafting and keeping unit costs down.

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pgk

Member
Happy new year :) .
With Kent having its very own strain of corona, and several of the gang being in the vulnerable category, we have been on reduced activity at The Woolshed of late.
Steadily getting to grips with the felt loom: how the fleeces of different breeds respond to felting, how many passes are needed to produce varying thicknesses and strengths, product development.
Is clear that we will need an industrial sewing machine; the continual trade off between hand crafting and keeping unit costs down.

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Would this felt make good insulation, have a lot of wool which if cost effective would like to use in our new workshop.
 

delilah

Member
Would this felt make good insulation, have a lot of wool which if cost effective would like to use in our new workshop.

It would be hellish expensive insulation for us to take it through the stages; scouring, picking, carding, felting.

The insualation specialists are Thermafleece.
https://www.thermafleece.com/

Someone really needs to take a look at this and come up with a cheap and cheerful system for carrying out the bare minimum of processing raw fleece to make an industrial spec insulation, that isn't as refined as Thermafleece, not cut to size for fitting between joists etc, but does the sort of job you are looking at.
 

Uggman

Member
Livestock Farmer
It would be hellish expensive insulation for us to take it through the stages; scouring, picking, carding, felting.

The insualation specialists are Thermafleece.
https://www.thermafleece.com/

Someone really needs to take a look at this and come up with a cheap and cheerful system for carrying out the bare minimum of processing raw fleece to make an industrial spec insulation, that isn't as refined as Thermafleece, not cut to size for fitting between joists etc, but does the sort of job you are looking at.
I thought that wool insulation was all the bits that had been though a washing process for felt making spinning but didn't make it or to small and Marie pebble was the girl on the back of the farmers guardian.
 

delilah

Member
I thought that wool insulation was all the bits that had been though a washing process for felt making spinning but didn't make it or to small and Marie pebble was the girl on the back of the farmers guardian.

Yes Marie writes for FG.
Sadly the market for yarn isn't remotely big enough to generate enough outgrades to make much insulation, i'm sure you're right that's where it goes but the vast majority of insulation will be made from raw wool, think they use Herdwick wool as that's where Thermafleece are.
 
@delilah I think I might be this person!
"Someone really needs to take a look at this and come up with a cheap and cheerful system for carrying out the bare minimum of processing raw fleece to make an industrial spec insulation, that isn't as refined as Thermafleece, not cut to size for fitting between joists etc, but does the sort of job you are looking at."
Would you be up for a zoom call to chat about all things scouring? I sent an email to the website email address as well. :) Very inspirational work you're doing!
 

delilah

Member
@delilah I think I might be this person!
"Someone really needs to take a look at this and come up with a cheap and cheerful system for carrying out the bare minimum of processing raw fleece to make an industrial spec insulation, that isn't as refined as Thermafleece, not cut to size for fitting between joists etc, but does the sort of job you are looking at."
Would you be up for a zoom call to chat about all things scouring? I sent an email to the website email address as well. :) Very inspirational work you're doing!

Fab, your email will have gone to the boss will let her talk to you, thanks for your support (y) .
 

delilah

Member
The Boss has just done a very successful stint in a 'pop up shop', renting a tiny space that is let out a week at a time to artisan producers. Shows how the High Street can, and will probably have to, adapt to changing shopping patterns.
Best wishes for the festive season from all at The Woolshed :) .

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SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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