Here are a few pictures showing the machinery, how it is used to process animal fiber and two galleries of finished products.
Before going through the carder, fiber is run through a picking machine. The Picker teases the locks apart, separating the fibers so the Carder can do it’s work. It’s also used to blend various fibers. This is a blend of yellow wool and natural white alpaca.
Input conveyor, Picker
The blended and picked fiber is blown into a picker box where it can be collected and taken to the carder.
Picked and blended fiber inside picker box
McDermott M-26 Carding Machine. Four workers and strippers, 25″ face width
Carding Machine
After picking the fiber goes into the Carder
Input Conveyor, Carding Machine
Fiber comes off the Carder in a web and is then formed into roving by the Sliver Maker
Sliver Maker
Finished roving goes into a bin from where it will be wound into 4 oz balls.
Finished Roving
4 oz roving balls
To make stripes we just line up various colors on the input conveyor on the Carding Machine. This time I’m making a felt
Fiber going into Carding machine
The Sliver Maker has been moved away and the Felting Drum mounted in its place. The web wraps around the Drum to form a batt.
Batt Drum
The LexiLoom® is a needle felting machine. With every stroke it works your project with over 1,200 needles.
Batt ready to go into Needle Felter
It takes several passes, back and forth to firm up the new felt piece. Here is a piece coming out after its first pass.
Felt coming out of machine
After six passes the new felt is firm enough to be used for your next project.
Finished felt
