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Post by MTRuth on Jan 27, 2014 22:07:15 GMT
I have a tutorial for using a hand held sander on my blog. This is in reply to luvswool who has recently tried using the sander. Yes - it is really loud. I would highly recommend ear protection when using it. I really don't use a sander much anymore with felting. I originally thought that it really sped up the process but I'm not really sure it does all that much now. The other thing I don't like about using it is that you don't really feel the process as much as when doing the felting by hand. I do think it helps with nuno felting if you are having difficulty getting the wool to migrate through the fabric. Does anyone else use a sander and do you have any comments? I'd love to hear what you thought of it luvswool.
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Post by lyn on Jan 28, 2014 0:27:12 GMT
Maybe my husband's old sander was rubbish, but I don't think it was any quicker at all.
I also didn't like the noise and after a while the vibrations in my hand and arm were uncomfortable.
However, each to her own....
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jan 28, 2014 0:39:53 GMT
Ruth, I thank you for the tutorial, and I really do think the sander was more efficient than rolling; but I did end up sanding three times on each side before it looked felted. The rolling takes ever so long and tires me out, and when that happens, I sometimes cut corners! On the negative side, the sander is extremely noisy--that really surprised me. My dishwasher is whisper quiet, as is my bedroom humidifier. As you can probably tell, I am not a power tool kinda gal.
Your tutorial photos and descriptions were excellent re the sander, and I have to admit I picked up some other tips on wet felting in general. As an example, spreading the water from one section to another--I had never seen that done before.
One question about the sander: have you ever noticed your piece of felt spreading rather than shrinking with the sander usage? My piece really spread out beyond what I expected, so I wonder if that was from the pressure of the sander?
All in all, I would rate the experience a 9 out of 10! LOL
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Post by Pandagirl on Jan 28, 2014 1:15:57 GMT
The first felt class I took used a sander. The only time I've used it after was to use it to repair something that doesn't work with wet felting. I agree it's not the same process and it's loud. Yes, ear protection is good and if you have any nerve problems, don't use the sander. It's convenient for some things but not as a regular tool IMO.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jan 28, 2014 2:53:10 GMT
I don't like it. Its the noise and vibration and I didn't think it was any faster. I think if it had really sped things up I would have kept using it. I found for nuno felt bubble wrap was no good but the plastic woven mats or reed matts work much better.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jan 28, 2014 3:20:11 GMT
Thanks for the tips, ladies. So it sounds like the sander is not as popular as I had thought. And Ruth, even though my sanding experience was 9/10, I should add that the tutorial was definitely a 10/10!
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Post by koffipot on Jan 28, 2014 7:46:30 GMT
Tried it once and didn't feel it speeded up the process at all. I felt for pleasure and relaxation -noise and vibration don't seem to fit the bill! Not for me - but as Lyn says - to each his own.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jan 28, 2014 13:25:25 GMT
I know there are people who love it, just not for me.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jan 28, 2014 16:01:09 GMT
You all make a good point about the noise and vibrations of the sander, but this begs the question, how do you combat the tiredness of constant rolling? Any quick tips? Rolling felt has me singing the blues.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jan 28, 2014 16:21:30 GMT
How long are you rolling? I don't use bubble wrap anymore I use plastic woven read mat and sometimes a stick blind or mat later. I use the dryer a lot now to do the felting part and the beginnings of fulling. Having your table or counter at the right height will help with fatigue and back strain. Sit and roll or put it on the floor and roll it. Putting it on a towel or in a boot tray stops it sliding around. I think Zed rolls in one of those nonslip shelf liner mats.
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Post by MTRuth on Jan 28, 2014 17:45:09 GMT
luvswool - I am glad you thought the tutorial was helpful. In general, when you wet down the wool, it will spread out at first. Some wool is worse than others in regards to spreading. It helps to make small samples of different kinds of wool so that you can see how each reacts in the felting process. I don't really think that the sander makes the wool spread anymore than usual.
I did use the sander fairly consistently for a while because I didn't like rolling either. But it also depends on what you are using to roll. Do you usually use bubble wrap? I almost never use bubble wrap. There are much better alternatives as Ann suggests above. The nonslip shelf liners work really well. I found that rolling with a pool cover or with the shelf liner takes a lot less rolling.
I haven't used the dryer method but it will save you lots of work. Ann - perhaps you could do a short tutorial on using the dryer for the blog?
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jan 28, 2014 20:51:57 GMT
I actually do use bubble wrap, and it sounds like that may be the problem. I first use a large towel on the bottom, then bubble wrap, then felt item, then more bubble wrap and an improvised pool noodle. I may not be rolling it long enough; in fact, sometimes I quit after 10 minutes…take a break and come back to it.
Don't quite know what the "plastic reed mat" is…I can easily get the rubber shelf liner stuff but I also have a rug mat (to keep it from slipping) that has larger webs and holes. Which kind do you use? Shepherdess, I think you may be right about the height needing adjusting. I use my long kitchen counter, but I am only 5'1". I've never tried sitting or rolling with feet, so I will try that next. Never used the dryer method but am intrigued by the idea.
Thanks for the advice, Ruth and Shepherdess!
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jan 28, 2014 20:56:06 GMT
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Post by MTRuth on Jan 28, 2014 21:18:29 GMT
I think those are some type of back massager. Never tried one with felting.
The rug mat will work, it's very similar to the shelf liner.
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Post by lyn on Jan 28, 2014 21:26:58 GMT
They're foot massagers. Put one on the floor, place your feet one either side of the middle bar, then push your feet backwards and forwards over the rollers.
If the wool was protected by a covering of thin plastic/bubble wrap, then the rollers would agitate the wool quite well. Try it?
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