Comments on: Dreaming of a drum carder

By: Maureen

Maureen — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 03:48:08 +0000

I am getting out of the business (had an alpaca farm), and have a Strauch Petite Carder that I was going to put on ebay - google found your blog - it's barely been used (with 14 alpacas to take care of I never really got the time to do the spinning I thought I would) - I have a dear friend in Canada so could use him to get it there (so you don't have HST,PST, and any other provincial taxes, he's in Oshawa, Ontario) - Let me know, I know Canadian prices can be brutal sometimes. If not, you'll see it on ebay in about a week!

Cheers,

Maureen

By: Arianie Keeney

Arianie Keeney — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 07:09:22 +0000

I had the Petite and Mr Strauch is a kind man; very friendly and helpful. I sold it three months later for a Patrick Green Deb's Deluxe. I personally think the Petite is a wonderful carder but I find that the Patrick Green is smoother and I produced batts faster. Regarding loft, they both produce lofty batts. As for hand cards, I personally think Otto Strauch's hand cards are the best in the market; personally it beats Howard brush hands down.

Arie

By: Wendy

Wendy — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 00:51:53 +0000

I bought the Petite for my birthday this year and am so glad I decided against the roving carder, although that’s what I wanted first. If you read “Color in Spinning” you can do all of the experiments in there on the Petite, even if it’s not as wide as the full sized carders. But the roving carder will just not do this stuff, too skinny. Hope you get what you want, though!

By: Daisy

Daisy — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 03:27:02 +0000

Patrick Green carders is just in Chilliwack. Why don't you give them a call and go visit? I bought my carder from them. I've never used any other so I have no basis for comparison. TOLL FREE 1-877-898-2273 DIRECT LINE 1-604-858-6020

http://www.patgreencarders.com

By: Jeanie

Jeanie — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 20:48:49 +0000

Hi Georgia. I’m new to your blog (been lurking for a while) and I have a totally off-topic question that I hope you won’t mind answering. What kind of camera do you use to get such incredible pics? I’m in the market for a new camera (actually I just bought one that I’m not happy with and will be exchanging it for something better) and am wondering if you would mind sharing what kind you use.

Many thanks!

By: Kim

Kim — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 18:43:04 +0000

I’d go for the petite. I have used both a petite and a louet and the petite carder does a much much better job on finer fibers IMHO. Otto Strauch is a wonderful man and completely stands by his product. I used to have a doublewide electric Fricke before I bought the Supercarder. If I had a choice between Fricke and Pat Green, other than the Supercarder (which is outstanding), I would opt for the Fricke

By: pugknits

pugknits — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 15:44:37 +0000

hi felicia (that's your name?), nope it didn't felt. took care to heat up slowly from room temp, then cool down slowly to room temp and resist tempering with it in between, esp. no washing/rinsing until it really cools down.

but if you're asking if it spins differently before and after painting, i'd have to say, yes, a little. most times, not very noticeable.

i got a louet drum carder from the same site a few weeks back. it arrived last week. i cheated and never quite mastered handcarding.

By: pugknits

pugknits — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 15:19:04 +0000

the spinner’s and weaver’s housecleaning page has a louet roving drum carder, 6 months old going for $275!including shipping! good luck

By: Dani

Dani — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 02:15:18 +0000

Wow… Impressive materials! I wish I could give advice, but um, I have no clue Blending your own yarns sounds divine!

By: Stasia

Stasia — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 01:47:58 +0000

I have had a Fricke Petite and a Louet “regular size” - I think I may have had the finer cloth on the Louet if a finer cloth is available for those, and I’m pretty sure I have a fine cloth on the Fricke if it doesn’t come standard, as I wanted to use it for angora when I had a house bunny…

I shopped around a lot before I purchased the Fricke, after being terribly disappointed with the Louet. The Louet has a selling point of “making gigantic batts” (thick) but let me tell you, this is NOT what you want! The teeth mesh (and make an ANNOYING crunching noise) and what this does is rip apart your fibers and make TONS of neps.

The Fricke - even the Petite model - is by far a superior carder, with a wonderful, adjustable intake roller. Works great on fine fibers and no tearing so no neps. Might take you a little longer since you have to make “thinner” batts, but in the long run the product is SO much nicer. Since you will want to do fine fibers GET THE BRUSH that sits on top - it is AMAZING. I added mine a couple of years after I got my carder and I love it.

There are many more reasons why I prefer the Fricke, and sold my Louet - let me know if you need more. If I could show you the batts both created, you would instantly know why I love the Fricke. (And preparation is everything - never, ever forget to pre-tease your fibers so that the carder stresses them as little as possible! There is this pre-teaser thingie available that clamps to a table, and you can quickly open up your fibers on that - check The Woolery, it’s only about $12 and very worth the price!)

Spin-Off ran an article where Susan of Susan’s Fiber Shop compared models - I know there were corrections to the article, and I’m not sure how unbiased it could have been, but that might give you some additional specs as a starting point.

If you get the Fricke, get it assembled - do NOT try to do it yourself or the intake wheel will puncture your poor little fingers. And be very aware and careful when feeding the fibers in… they aren’t kidding when they say it’s sharp!

OK, this is really weird karma, Jeff just came in here and mentioned finishing our Pimm’s before the summer is ended… and the only reason we got it was because of YOU. Sometimes that man really freaks me out…

Have a good one, Felicia!