We regularly receive questions from customers about our felt products and how they are used. In this article we have 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 applications does felt have?
02. How is felt made?
03. What is felt made of?
04. What is the difference between the industrial felts?
05. Are there color deviations between felts?
06. Is felt washable?
07. Can felt be used for soundproofing?
08. Is felt flame retardant?
09. Is felt absorbent?
10. If felt is cut, will it fray?
1. What are the common applications of felt?
- 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:
Gaskets , insulating material , dampers or filters - Furniture and interior design:
Furniture glides, upholstery material , carpets or wall coverings
- Musical instruments (especially keyboard instruments):
Felt for pianos , organs and accordions
Felt has a wide range of uses, ranging from craft applications to technical and industrial applications . It is a versatile material with many useful properties, used in a variety of projects and industries .
2. How is felt made?
Felt is made by felting animal hair or synthetic fibers.
When making felt from animal hair, wool, which is 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 , by chemical or thermal processes . (see glossary: needle felt)
In needling, the fibers are joined together by barbed needles. This is a purely mechanical process!
In thermal processes, the loose fibers pass 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 solvents to bind the fibers together.
The manufacture of felt requires a great deal of experience and expertise in order to obtain a high-quality end product.
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 blend of fibers, can contain different components. This 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 balls
The color nuances of the industrial felts cannot be guaranteed in the production process. This is because they depend on the natural wool bales 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 resilient than gray wool. These differences in quality can affect how the felt can be used.
Natural colors and possible imperfections
Industrial felts are usually not dyed and retain their natural colors. These range from a light beige to dark brown tones and gray tones.
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 specific 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 gravity, felt with a density of 0.20 kg/cdm is well suited as a cushioning material for sensitive equipment or components where precise cushioning and shock resistance is required.
Soundproofing and noise insulation
Felt of this density can be used in acoustic applications to absorb sound waves and reduce noise. It is commonly used in recording studios, theater stages or industrial settings.
filtration
Felt with a density of 0.20 kg/cdm can also be used for precise filtration applications where particles of a certain 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 value packaging purposes to protect sensitive products or components from impact or damage. It offers a good combination of padding and strength.
These applications are given as examples and actual uses of 0.20 kg/cdm density 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 panels - solid wool felt
Felt with a density of 0.36 kg/cdm is often used in industrial applications where medium strength and stiffness 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 industries to prevent leakage or to dampen vibrations.
polishing and cleaning pads
Due to its medium strength, felt of this density is well suited as a polishing or cleaning pad. It can be used in the metalworking, woodworking or electronics industries to smooth surfaces or remove dirt.
Felt gliders 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 of this density can also be used in acoustic applications to deaden noise or as thermal insulation.
These uses are given as examples and 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 deviations between felts?
Yes, there are color variations between felts.
We advise 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?
Yes, felt is washable as long as you follow a few guidelines.
You can dry clean, hand wash, or steam clean the felt, but it should not be put in the washer or dryer .
How do you dry felt afterwards?
- Air dry the felt.
- Dry the felt with an iron on low heat. Be careful not to leave the iron in one spot for too long to avoid damaging the felt.
- Dry the felt in the oven at a very low temperature, eg 50 degrees Celsius. Leave the oven door slightly open to allow moisture to escape. Monitor the felt regularly to ensure it is not overheating or burning.
We recommend treating the felt like a wool sweater, then it will last a lifetime.
7. Can felt be used for soundproofing?
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 theatres, 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 retardancy and is self-extinguishing.
Our wool felts may meet commercial fire protection regulations, while our synthetic and blended felts require fire protection treatment.
Feel free to contact us! Directly to the contact form .
9. Is felt absorbent?
Yes, felt is absorbent.
Felt can be very absorbent, absorbing liquids many times its own weight.
Wool fibers are naturally water-repellent due to the oil content (wool fat) and must therefore be washed before felting.
Different densities and qualities of felt play an important role in its absorption abilities.
So take a look at our different types of felt for more information on which one is best suited to your needs.
10. If felt is cut, will it fray?
No, felt will not fray.
Felt is made through the process of "needle felting" or by "wet felting". The fibers are matted together. The edges of the felt can be trimmed cleanly without fringing.