I have lots of wool and alpaca that I need to card before it can be used. I think I am ready to purchase a drum carder (yikes they are expensive) I am looking at the Ashford Wild Card, it is smaller and less expensive than a regular size carder. I am very interested in adding “stuff” to fiber to come up with unusual combinations to spin.
Do you have a drum carder? Anyone ever used the “Wild Card” ? All recommendations and advice welcome !
I have a Patick Green Deb’s Deluxe.
One of the most important things to look for, in my opinion, is the TPI (teeth per inch). Geth the highest TPI you can afford.
Fine fibers need a lot of teeth per inch to card smoothly. The lower TPI are used for medium to coarse fiber. You can always card medium to coarse fiber on a high TPI count, but it is hard to get a smooth batt of fine fiber on a low TPI count.
eta: Went to my ‘go to’ fiber equipment supplier (Susan’s Fiber shop). She has the new Ashford Wild Card for $380. It has 128 TPI (a ‘fine’ carder). Susan recommends it and she has never steered me wrong!
Thank you so much, Cyndi !!! What you said about it being hard to get smooth vs. course is SO helpful. Does Susan’s have a web site I could order from ? or is her shop local for you ?
OK … I went to the Susan’s Fiber website and I want to move to Columbus, WI and take every class she has !!! Maybe I should have made the move this summer when it was 101 in Florida, I am thinking I might have to move in with her because I am sure I have totally forgotten how to drive in the snow …
Susan is north of me (I’m in IL) but is truly a gifted fiber artisian! To talk to her, she sounds a bit ditzy, but I swear to bob that what you are hearing is all the index cards in her brain flipping until she gets to the correct one.
My husband first contacted her on the phone in 2002. He wanted to buy me a spinning wheel for my wedding present. Susan helped him choose the Ashford Traveller, DD, DT for me … shipped it out to him … and let him make payments over the next 6 months. Susan is my go-to-gal for my husband when he wants to gift me with a spinning accessory! I let her know what I need/want and if DH calls her up, you hear those index cards in her head just a flipping and BINGO, I have a wonderful gift!
Ask her if she will give you a discount or free shipping on it. You never know until you ask! When I bought my Sonata off ebay for $50 under list price, I called her to get a jumbo bobbin kit for it. She asked why I wanted a Kromski when I had an Ashford and I told her about the deal I got on ebay. She told me she could have given me a better deal.
Understand, I’m not bosom buddies with Susan. Over the past 10 years, I see her once a year at a Fiber Fair and sometimes will call maybe once a year.
I was just looking at drum carders. I am just looking to do some simple blending. Nothing too extreme, but I was wondering, the Wild carder looks more to my liking in size and weight, but I don’t need the height per say. Would I be ok to get something like this for regular blending, or for the extra $50 get the regular one?
I have a patrick green and it’s perfect for alpaca fiber.