Cleaning Handcards, Blending Boards, and Drum Carders, AKA My Patrons are the Best

Every month I gather with a group of my Patrons on Zoom, and we chat and spin. Of course, we spend time exchanging info about our best fibers and tools to buy. Spinners never gather without talking about shopping.

As well as being amazing and clever spinners my Patrons are outstanding and smart shoppers. A special shout-out to Laura Linneman (one half of The Knitgirlls) who is a human database of knitting patterns that work well with handspun.

I will admit to buying something after every one of our gatherings. My favorite tool of late is this fantastic hairbrush cleaner to use for cleaning my woolen prep tools. Really anything sold as a hairbrush cleaner will work.

I like this one in particular becasue the handle is long; it keeps my knuckles away from the teeth on my carders and blending board. I also like that it has two different sized spreads and densities of cleaning teeth.

Let's talk about those teeth. I usually don't like to use metal near carding cloth. For example I don't reccomend using a paper clip to clean cards, it's easy to nick the carding cloth.

The wire that the cleaning rakes are made of is very fine and flexible. They don't have the density or umph to nick the rubber carding cloth, but are strong enough in a group to catch all of the stray fibers on your handcarders, blending board or drum carder.

It is so satisfying getting all of my carders, really clean.

Curious about my Patron Zoom Parties? All of the info is on my Patreon page.

Is It Wrong to Love an Oil Pen?

Garrett Wade Pinpoint Precision Oiler. Photo from the Garrett Wade website.

I have long had an adversarial relationship with oil pens for my spinning wheels. I spin a lot so I oil my wheels a lot.

Some pens/oilers release too much oil at the slightest provocation, which then drips or sprays everywhere when my flyer turns. The ones I like, the small tubes that are really for clocks, are made of plastic and usually crack and ooze in my spinning bag.

I have been hunting for years for a great oiler. I finally found one in the [Garrett Wade Tool Catalog][1]. They have something called a [Pinpoint Precesion Oiler][2], and it is my new favorite tool.

There is a button to click at the top, that triggers one drop of oil at the tip. I have not over oiled my wheel since I started using this oiler. It's made of aliuminum and has rubber gaskets that really seal. I have had no leaks and so far I haven't crushed it.

I got it for Christmas and have been using it exclusively since then, and just ordered two more, to spread accross my spinning spots.

It's not cheap, at $16.60 it's close to double the price of the pen oilers. But to keep my wheels oiled, with less mess, it's worth it to me.

Because I know someone will ask, I use 30W motor oil on my wheels.

Be careful when you go to the Garrett Wade website, there are so many great and interesting tools. It can be dangerous to your bank account.

How tempting? I made myself buy my oilers first, then go back to peruse every section. 1: https://garrettwade.com/ [2]: https://garrettwade.com/product/pinpoint-precision-oiler