
If I start with a 1/4 inch segment at that edge and rotate the drum as I diz the fiber, it will gradually shift across the drum, following the angle of the cloth, coming off as one long, continuous "batty" roving.
With a carder with the cloth laid on straight, you can still pull roving off, but you have to keep a close eye on it to ensure that you physically keep it shifting to the right as you rotate the drum, since the teeth won't automatically do it for you.
The carder in use here is a PG Super Carder, by the way.
The steps that follow show how I get a 20 foot (I think) length of continuous roving by pulling it off in 1/2 to 1 inch segments around the drum carder, moving from left (seen from the back of the carder -- this picture is the front of the carder) to the right as I diz the roving off.
(for the techies -- technically, this isn't roving. Its closest cousin would be sliver -- carded untwisted fiber. I'm not sure it's exactly that, either, given it's being pulled off a batt. So maybe it's batty roving??)
Don't pull too far -- not more than a bit more than the staple length of your fiber -- so that your segment is still firmly connected to the fiber on the drum carder, except for the part you've lifted off the drum carder.
If you don't have a diz, a large hole on a spice jar cap might work, or perhaps take a hole punch to a yogurt lid.
If your drum doesn't freely rotate, you'll need to take the band off so that it can (or finagle it some other way).
Never pull out more than the staple length of the fiber at a time. That is to say, never let your hand get more than a staple length away from the drum cloth.
I'm just at maximum extension in this, the first tug through the diz. Any further, and I'd end up with a thin spot in my roving (if I'm lucky) or, more likely, a break.
Remember, try to never draft more than the staple length of the fiber -- this gives a more consistent roving diameter and prevents it from breaking.
The final roving, wound into a ball.
To see the tutorial as a slideshow, see it on flickr!
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Some more tips for you, from other bloggers:
Abby's How To Clean a Drum Carder
The Redhead's How to turn a batt into roving (off the drum carder)
Rexenne's Drum Carding on YouTube (this link is to part 1, it has 3 parts)
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My earlier take on this topic: How do you pull roving off a drum carder?
And related posts:
What's the difference between roving and top?
What's the difference between batts and roving?
I washed the fleece, now what?
What are a doffer brush and a burnishing tool used for?
When do I use oils in carding?
To Drumcard, to Handcard, or to Comb?
If you have any comments or questions on this post, please post them on the blog or contact me. Thanks!
4 comments:
We do need some sort of term for batt --> pulled prep. I've traditionally used 'roving' becuase it's a term that most spinners understand, even if it's not technically correct. I figure as long as we all know what we are talking about, a little technical creep isn't a crime ;)
This is a great photo tutorial. I have to confess, I looked at your pics and thought 'she's using the diz backwards'. It's Teh End Of Teh World! ;) Which just means it was all dead on. I have a video of this whole process waiting to be edited, but I have to get to those combing videos first.
No roving for me right now, but today definitely qualifies as batty. I think there should be a strict limit on Mondays - only 1 per week. I'm on Monday #4...
-the redhead-
Yeah, I played with which way around the diz worked better -- this way around, I could push against the top edge of the diz with my knuckle as I pulled with my fingers.
And Mondays - I am *so* ready for Friday today -- heck, I was ready for Friday on Tuesday!
Wow! Amelia! Thanks! I never knew you could use a diz like that..right off of the carder. Up to now I thought dizes were only for combed fibers.
This is so great. I was wondering about this (there really never is an original idea, right?) and set off to see if anyone had already figured it out.
Thanks for the tutorial! My first drum carder is being shipped to me and I am going to try this straightaway!
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