Questions You Should Know about Industrial Polyester Felt Supplier

Here at The Felt Store, we've noticed there are a lot of questions that customers frequently ask us and we thought it would be a great idea to share it with everyone just in case you may have similar questions. Here we have a two part F.A.Q. list that we will always add to in the future so stay posted for more info!

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Jiatong.

What are common uses of Felt?

One of the beautiful things about this ancient material is the multiple uses and functions that it has. Felt is constantly being re-invented within a wide range of disciplines.

Felt Scarf by Lorena Santin Andrade Designer Uses:

• Acoustics (e.g. Sound Studios)
• Interior Design (e.g. upholstery, rugs, lighting, coasters)
• Fashion (e.g. Scarves, hats, bags)
• Display Design (e.g. window/showcase)
• Instillation Design (e.g. murals, wall coverings)
• Set Design (e.g. backdrops, drapery, props)

Acrylic Craft Felt

Craft Uses:

• Decorations (e.g. holiday ornaments)
• Costumes
• Toys

Felt Wick

Industrial Uses:

• Sound Buffering
• Insulation
• Vibration absorption
• Polishing (e.g. Jewellery)
• Oil Retention
• Lubrication
• Door Bumpers
• Dust Shields
• Gaskets
• Washers
• Wipers
• Wicks

Boot Liners

Other Uses:

• Furniture Protector Pads
• Saddle Pads
• Musical Instruments (e.g. drum beaters, piano hammerheads)
• Optical (e.g. Polishing wheels, cloths)
• Printing (e.g. engraving blankets, roll covers)
• Boot Liners, Insoles
• Chalk Board Erasers
• Pool and Poker table covers

How is Felt made?

There are two major felt making methods:

1. The Wet Felt method is the old classic way whereby natural fibers like wool are interlocked and matted together through a process of felting and fulling (milling) by exposing the wool to heat, motion pressure and moisture in the form of hot steam and water. In that process the natural scale structure of the wool fibers open up and allow for fiber entanglement. Such interlocking and shrinkage is continued until a desired density is achieved.
   
   
2. The Needle Felt method in contrast is a dry process (no water and steam) that does not require natural fibers like wool in order to interlock. The interlocking of fibers is achieved through a mechanical up and downward motion of metal needles with barbs that transport and push the fibers together into a matted form.

Watch our How Felt is Made video for a better understanding of how felt is made.

What is Felt made of?

Felt can be made of many different fibers or one specific fiber. The main component of high quality Felt is wool, this may be 100% wool or a blend of wool and a variety of other materials depending on its quality and required use. Felt made of a blend of fibers may contain reprocessed wool (e.g. old sweaters), recyclable fibers (e.g. cotton), viscose/rayon (a wood fiber, or sometimes polyester. Felt may also be made from other synthetic fibers such as acrylic. This type of felt is typically used for arts and crafts projects.

What is the difference between the Industrial Felts?

Industrial Felts are usually not dyed and retain their natural colors, ranging from a light beige to dark browns and grays. Because industrial felts are made of natural wool there are times when color variations or blemishes in the felt may occur. For example, the white is often not a pure white, but an off white, which may have some blemishes. The gray industrial felt at times may vary from gray, to grayish brown, to having a blue tint, etc. It all depends on the batch being created. This variation cannot be guaranteed in the production process as it is dependent on the natural bails of wool to create the felt. This may vary greatly from roll to roll.

White wool's are higher quality wool's and are more resilient than gray wool's. It is hard to specify the uses of each felt quality because the function is dependent on the required density and thickness. The following is a list of recommended uses:

F-1:
Color: White/Beige
Wool Content: 95%
Use: Is suitable for oil retention in installations where the felt is not compressed, for feeding low viscosity or light oil, and where unusual strength and hardness are required. Washers, bushings, wicks, door bumpers, polishing blocks, and parts where wear and resistance to abrasion are required, are typical uses.

F-3:
Color: Gray
Wool Content: 85%
Use: Recommended for vibration mountings and the same general purposes as SAE F-1 and where a felt of slightly lower quality is satisfactory.

F-5 & F-7
Color: F-5 White/Beige, F-7 Gray
Wool Content: F-5 95%, F-7 80%
Use: Recommended for dust shields, wipers, grease retainer washers, wicks, vibration mountings, and in uses where a resilient felt is required.

F-10
Color: White/Beige
Wool Content: 95%
Use: recommended for grease and oil retention where the felt is confined and compressed in assembly. Also recommended for dust shields under less severe operating conditions where F-5 and F-7 are not required.

F-15
Color: Gray
Wool Content: 55%
Use: Recommended for sound deadening, chassis strips, spacers, dust shields, pedal pads, dash liners, and mechanical purposes where abrasion and wear are not important factors.

F-26
Color: Gray
Wool Content: 40%
Use: Is a cheaper low density felt recommended for non-mechanical applications when retained between other materials. Other uses include padding, packaging and in some cases sound absorption.

F-50
Color: White/Beige
Wool Content: 95%
Use: The same quality as SAE F-1, bellow 1/8th thick

F-51
Color: Gray
Wool Content: 92%
Use: The same quality as SAE F-3, bellow 1/8th thick

F-55
Color: Black and Gray
Wool Content: 80%
Use: The same quality as F-7, bellow 1/8th thick

Is there color variation between Felts?

We encourage customers not to rely on screen representations of our felt colors. Different computer monitors vary in color calibration. Please contact us and we will provide you with desired samples or if you are looking our designer felt, please purchase our samples online. Further more, craft and designer felt colors rely on different qualities, therefore varying amongst each other. Dye lots amongst the craft felts may vary slightly, while Industrial (natural) felt colors change according to wool blends and mixtures.

We regularly receive questions from customers about our felt products and their use. In this article, we've summarized and answered some of the most common questions to help you choose the right felt for your project. Read on to find out more!

Table of contents
01. What common uses does felt have?
02. How is felt made?
03. What is felt made of?
04. What is the difference between industrial felts?
05. Are there color variations between felts?
06. Is felt washable / Can you wash felt?
07. Can felt be used for sound insulation?
08. Is felt flame retardant?
09. Is felt absorbent?
10. If felt is cut, will it fray?

1. What common uses does felt have?

• Crafts and DIY Projects:
  Felt bags , jewelry , decorations and toys
  
  
• Footwear and clothing industry:
  Shoes , winter clothing such as coats , jackets and boots
  
  
• Technical applications:
  Seals , insulating material , dampers or filters
  
  
• Furniture and interior design:
  Furniture gliders, upholstery material , carpets or wall coverings
  
  
• Musical instruments (especially keyboard instruments):
  Felt for pianos , organs and accordions

The use of felt is very broad, ranging from craft applications to technical and industrial applications . It is a versatile material with many useful properties that is used in a variety of projects and industries .

2. How is felt made?

Felt is made by matting animal hair or synthetic fibers.

When making felt from animal hair, wool obtained by shearing sheep is usually used. The wool is cleaned , washed and combed to remove dirt, grease and other impurities .

The wool is then treated with soap and water (manual) or heat (machine) and worked either by hand or machine to entangle the fibers . This creates a dense fabric that does not fray and is very durable. (see glossary: ​​wool felt)

Synthetic felt is made from polyester or acrylic fibers . The fibers are processed by needling , chemical or thermal processes . (see glossary: ​​needle felt)

When needling, the fibers are connected to each other using barbed needles. This is a purely mechanical process!

In thermal processes, the loose fibers run through an oven where they thermally bond. The thermal bonding can be done by the fiber itself (melting temperature) or by a chemical binder.

Chemical processes bind the fibers by utilizing the chemical binder by reacting with light, heat, moisture or solutions to bond the fibers together.

Making felt requires a lot of experience and expertise to achieve a high quality end product.

The company is the world’s best Industrial Polyester Felt Supplier supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

3. What is felt made of?

High-quality felt is made of wool .

Felt can either be 100% wool or contain a blend of wool and other materials.

Felt can be made from many different fibers or a specific fiber. Depending on the quality and intended use, different materials can be used.

Mixture of fibers
Felt, which is made from a mixture of fibers, can contain various components. These can be recycled wool (e.g. old sweaters), recyclable fibers, viscose/rayon (a wood fiber) or occasionally polyester.

Use of synthetic fibers
In addition to natural fibers, felt can also be made from synthetic fibers such as acrylic. This type of felt is typically used in craft projects.

4. What is the difference between the industrial felts?

General differences between industrial felts

Color differences and nuances of natural wool bales
The color nuances of industrial felts cannot be guaranteed during the production process. This is because they depend on the natural bales of wool used to make the felt. Each batch can therefore be significantly different.

Differences between white and gray wool
White wool is considered to be of higher quality and more durable than gray wool. These differences in quality can affect the uses of the felt.

Natural colors and possible irregularities
Industrial felts are generally not dyed and retain their natural colors. These range from a light beige to dark browns and grays.

Our 0.20 kg/cdm felt:

Sold by the meter - soft wool felt
Felt sheets - soft wool felt

Felt with a density of 0.20 kg/cdm is often used in industrial applications where a certain density and strength is required. Here are some examples of what felt with a density of 0.20 kg/cdm can be used for:

Precision padding
Due to its specific density, felt with a density of 0.20 kg/cdm is well suited as a cushioning material for sensitive devices or components where precise cushioning and shock resistance is required.

Soundproofing and noise insulation
Felt with this density can be used in acoustic applications to absorb sound waves and reduce noise. It is often used in recording studios, theater stages or industrial environments.

Filtration
Felt with a density of 0.20 kg/cdm can also be used for precision filtration applications where particles of a specific size need to be removed efficiently. It finds application in air filtration, liquid filtration or industrial filtration.

High quality packaging
This felt can also be used for high-quality packaging purposes to protect delicate products or components from impact or damage. It offers a good combination of cushioning and firmness.

These applications are provided as examples, and the actual uses of 0.20 kg/cdm felt may vary depending on the specific requirements and needs in different industries.

Our 0.36 kg/cdm felt :

Sold by the meter - solid wool felt
Felt sheets - solid wool felt

Felt with a density of 0.36 kg/cdm is often used in industrial applications where medium strength and rigidity are required. Here are some examples of what felt with a density of 0.36 kg/cdm can be used for:

Seals and damping material
Felt with this density can be used as a sealing material in various industrial sectors to prevent leaks or dampen vibrations.

Polishing and cleaning pads
Because of its medium strength, felt with this density makes a good polishing or cleaning pad. It can be used in metalworking, woodworking or electronics industries to smooth surfaces or remove dirt.

Felt pads and spacers
In the furniture and appliance industry, pieces of felt with this density can be used as gliders or spacers. They help prevent scratches and reduce noise.

Soundproofing and insulation
Felt with this density can also be used in acoustic applications to dampen noise or as thermal insulation.

These uses are provided as examples, and the actual applications of 0.36 kg/cdm density felt may vary depending on the specific requirements and needs in different industries.

5. Are there color variations between felts?

Yes, there are color variations between felts.

We recommend customers not to rely solely on screen representations of our felt colors. Different computer monitors may vary in color calibration.

The colors of industrial (natural) felts change depending on wool blends and compositions.

6. Is felt washable? (Can you wash felt?)

Yes, felt is washable as long as you follow a few guidelines. (Yes, you can wash felt.)

You can dry clean, hand wash or steam clean the felt, but it should not be put in the washing machine or dryer .

How do you dry felt afterwards?

1. Air dry the felt.
2. Dry the felt with an iron on low heat. Be careful not to leave the iron in one place for too long to avoid damaging the felt.
3. Dry the felt in the oven at a very low temperature, for example 50 degrees Celsius. Leave the oven door slightly open to allow moisture to escape. Monitor the felt regularly to ensure it does not overheat or burn.

We recommend treating the felt like a wool sweater and it will last a lifetime.

7. Can felt be used for sound insulation?

Yes, felt can be used for soundproofing.

Felt is an excellent way to absorb sound and create a specific acoustic environment for private or commercial spaces. These spaces include theaters, recording studios, bars, hotels, offices and conference rooms.

8. Is felt flame retardant?

Yes, felt is flame retardant. (depending on felt quality)

Wool has a natural fire protection ability and is self-extinguishing.

Our wool felts may meet commercial fire safety regulations, while our synthetic and blended felts may require a fire safety treatment.
Please feel free to contact us about this! Directly to the contact form .

9. Is felt absorbent?

Yes, felt is absorbent.

Felt can be very absorbent and can hold liquids many times its own weight.
Wool fibers are naturally water-repellent due to the oil content (wool fat) and therefore must be washed before felting.

Different densities and qualities of felt play an important role in its absorption capabilities.

So take a look at our different types of felt for more information about which one is best for your needs.

10. If felt is cut, will it fray?

No, felt will not fray.

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