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i've never had any problems using the old sweater or sock wool. it's a fairly standard sort of source for those who do it a bit and its cheap as well.

I don't use wool in my muneca, I use cotton waste, basically the same stuff as the cover but still in thread form. One large grape sized bundle of this lasts the whole guitar. (I always store my muneca wad in a tightly sealed jar with a few drops of alcohol dropped in to keep it moist). I like the way this cotton waste resists compaction and evenly releases the shellac, suits my style. For the Brits amongst us I got it from our main tool supplier over here Axminster. The 250gram pack I bought some years ago will last me out my lifetime!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Like others, I just cut patches out of old sweaters for my munecas. Dye doesn't make a difference. I use T-shirt material for the cover. The one thing I don't like about using T-shirt material is it leaves fine streaks (from the weave of the material). So, if I switch to linen will I get rid of the streaks? Gotta look for some of that stuff . . .

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

you have to be picky about the linen as well. many linen fabrics have some threads which are coarser to give a textured appearance. obviously, give them a miss. but fine woven, even textured linen cloth can usually be found in the womens clothing section.

I bought my loose lamb's wool at a knitting supply store. After explaining to the lady exactly what I wanted, she said that they didn't have anything like that. I wandered around the store just to be sure and stumbled upon a large barrel of it. It had been produced by local sheep herders and was just washed. It didn't have any lanolin in it.

When I brought it to the clerk, she said "Oh you wanted Raw wool. Why didn't you say so."

Look for "flour sack towels." And I have a huge natural lambskin hide( use it when I've been down hard with the back- prevents bedsores) I can clip some of the wool off and send it; just PM with address. Regards, Mike T.

Well I decided to follow my crazy namesake's advice and get picky about linen. Not having any suitable donor material around, and not particularly interested in picking through a bunch of women's wear, I headed to Hobby Lobby and had a look around.

I found some fabric called Chinese Greigecloth. Apparently it is popular as quilt material. 100% cotton. It was the finest weave they had of all their 100% cotton cloth. In fact, it was the finest weave of any of the cloth they had that I sampled. So I bought some. Kinda pricey at $12.99 a yard, but I was able to buy just a foot of it. And 1 foot was actually a 1 foot by approximately 8 foot long piece. So, not so bad for 4 bucks and change.

After she cut off my 1-foot's-worth, I noticed that there were stripes woven into the material -- about 3/4" wide. Bummer, I'm thinking -- I'll get streaks. But I figured I'd just turn the pattern perpendicular to the strokes I make, and the woven stripes won't be a problem.

So, I just got done trying some out. Man-o-man, it beats the snot out of T-shirt material. I still get streaks (aka "lines"), but they're so tiny now that it will take much less work to remove them during the glazing process. Hopefully.

Anyway, give this Chinese Greigecloth a look, if you've a mind to. You might like it.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

yes, finding new linen fabric is difficult. i've given up searching sewing centres and fabric stores. it may be out there but no one on my area is stocking it. and according to the staff in various stores i've tried in recent years, price is the main reason. they can special order, but $$$$.

so i resign myself to the odd looks at the goodwill every once in a while and usually find something suitable for about $2.00 or so that does me for several years given the amount of french polishing i do. i always try to find something in a natural colour. not worried about the dye per se but it makes it easier to see if the fad becomes contaminated.

Thanks Mike. I really apperciate the generous offer.

I did finally order some on line and am still waiting for the shipping confirmation email (crossing my fingers). I'd hate to take a cutting off of what sounds like a really nice lambskin hide that you have, so if worse comes to worse, I'll just buy a buffing wheel and take some off of that.

I still haven't looked at a thrift shop after hearing that some of you successfully use dyed wool so I may try that as well if they don't ship what I ordered.

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

Seems to me, that if you can use wool from a sweater, you could use wool yarn from a yarn shop or a craft store - Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Moore, others.  You might have to pull it apart. (Unspin it - So to speak!)

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Well, I just got a tracking number for my order so it looks like all is well for now. At least this will give me time to look at all of the other options that many of you have suggested until I need to find wool again.

6 bags should last me a while though.

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

Most people only need "Three bags full."

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Blain are you wanting the lames wool for inner pads for French polishing? If so tha is a bit too picky a plane 100% wool hunting sock is good enough. You just do not want a dyed one.

If you are looking got a 100% lambs wool buffing pad the go to micro-surface.com. They have a 100% black lambs wool buffing pad on a loop backing

For those who don't know, linen is not a cotton product. It's made from flax--the same plant that linseed oil comes from.

Whoops! Forgot to mention that men's handkerchiefs are often made of linen. It would be a pricey way to go, though.

I'll check my stash, and see if I have any Linen cloth.  I have a bunch of stuff that I got from my folks house when we cleaned it out.  My Pop was in handkerchief manufacturing for many years, and I think I have a whole box of bolts of handkerchief cloth.  Would any of it be good for FP?  It is all pretty fine material.  Probably mostly cotton though. I could send some samples to someone who might know.  Who knows, I could have something for the next Swap Meet.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Oh yea among the best outer pad you can find. I have never mentioned men's hankies because of the cost but they are perfect for outer munecas.