Chris Ghent Posted February 15, 2004 Posted February 15, 2004 The topic header says it all. I am looking for a source of the felt used for bushings, also known as baize, preferably in red but any colour is acceptable. I have plenty in 1mm (.040") and .8mm (.032") but want some in .5mm (.020") Can anyone help..? Chris
malcolm clapp Posted February 15, 2004 Posted February 15, 2004 Chris, for what application do you need it that thin? I'm sure readers would like to know.... Regards Malcolm
Chris Ghent Posted February 15, 2004 Author Posted February 15, 2004 (edited) Didn't we speak about this at Lithgow? I was talking about the need for thin felt bush for the very small holes in the buttons of my Jeffries G/D. I seem to remember you saying at Lithgow you had a small amount of .5mm that had originally come from a red 19th century uniform. For anyone interested the buttons are roughly 4mm, the rods are slightly under 2mm, the holes through the buttons are about 2.5mm or so, and the thinnest felt I have is .8mm, way too thick. Sorry about the approximations but the real figures are not to hand. What do others do..? Chris Edited February 15, 2004 by Chris Ghent
d.elliott Posted February 16, 2004 Posted February 16, 2004 Chris, I might consider sending (begging) my good lady to visit her favourite fabric and appolstery shop, (with me in atttendance with a vernier caliper) to find some tight woven or velvet like material of a suitable thickness, or indeed any thing else that might do, and then try the fabric out. I think that the baize material was used because of its availability, compressibility and thickness. If the thickness is reduced, why stick with baize? Dave
Chris Ghent Posted February 17, 2004 Author Posted February 17, 2004 Dave, quite right, I hadn't considered anything else. I suppose lacking the reasons why the old and wise ones chose baize, and lacking the time and means to do experiments on every aspect, I am trying to copy as much as I can..! The tuft in baize is wool, I think, whereas other upholstery fabrics are likely to be cotton and linen. What do you use for bushings in small buttons..? Chris
d.elliott Posted February 17, 2004 Posted February 17, 2004 Another name used for baize is woven felt and I understand that this is a mix of natural fibres including wool. Up to now, when I needed it, I managed to get a small amount of very thin stuff from a local piano tuner, but I have no other source to hand. So what is wrong in using more cotton or heavy linen? given that the weight is right? I am sure that the golden oldies would have used what ever worked from a fairly limited range of options. I still advise delegation, I would 'beg' my good lady, who knows more about fabric than I will ever do, to talk to her contacts. Not being too sexist but do any dress/ clothing making concertina players have any ideas? light tweeds, worsteds etc etc?? Dave
Theo Posted March 13, 2004 Posted March 13, 2004 I have had very good service from Anglo Felts in Rochdale. If they have anything suitable they might well be prepared to send you a sample which would be enough to do the job. See their web site for contact details. Theo
Chris Timson Posted March 13, 2004 Posted March 13, 2004 I have had very good service from Anglo Felts in Rochdale. What an apt name. You might also like to try phoning a maker, like Colin Dipper. You may find that they would be willing to sell you a bit of what they use. Chris
Pete Dickey Posted March 28, 2004 Posted March 28, 2004 ....the rods are slightly under 2mm, the holes through the buttons are about 2.5mm or so....... Hi Chris Sorry to seem dense, but if you only have 0.5mm or so clearance and you are effectively putting two thicknesses of felt through the hole, then shouldn't you be looking for felt a bit thinner than 0.5mm i.e circa 0.3mm before allowing for compression Pete
Chris Ghent Posted March 31, 2004 Author Posted March 31, 2004 ....the rods are slightly under 2mm, the holes through the buttons are about 2.5mm or so....... Hi Chris Sorry to seem dense, but if you only have 0.5mm or so clearance and you are effectively putting two thicknesses of felt through the hole, then shouldn't you be looking for felt a bit thinner than 0.5mm i.e circa 0.3mm before allowing for compression When I wrote that I was thinking; if there is a gap of .7mm, using .5mm would mean each .5mm piece would need to compress by .15mm, or slightly less than a third, which might just be possible. (ie. .5 plus .5 = 1.0, -.7 =.3 divided by 2 =.15) Along the lines of Dave's advice I am going to find something else. Chris
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