Wool grade definition of wool grade by merriamwebster. Wool producing enterprises can range from a small parcel of land with a few sheep, to very large pastoral properties with tens of thousands of sheep. Wool grading definition is the separation of whole fleeces according to quality, condition, soundness, and color into lots similar in character and value. If classing your own wool before sending off for sale, here are some things to consider. Systems of grading of wool blood system numerical system. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website.
Sometimes the wool must go into a fault grade for vegetable fault, dusty or stain. Its important to note that the grading system treats and assesses missing insulation differently than compressed insulation. Finenessthe fiber diameter, or grade,and its distributionis one of the most. Three systems of wool grading are commonly used in the united states. The national association of wool and mohair growers was formed as early as january 1906 at a public meeting in port elizabeth, to create a classification system to systematically class and pack wool. Three systems that describe wool grades in the united states are blood, numerical count and micron. Most of the grading process for wool that comes to midstates wool growers is done by hand. All three systems are used interchangeably, but the latter is the system used internationally and preferred by wool buyers and manufacturers table 1. A giveaway in ebay pictures is when the photos visibly show signs of pliability, sometimes odd bashes. Wool grade definition is one of the recognized standard categories into which wool is divided, based chiefly on fineness of fiber. You may know specific breeds of these, such as angora rabbit, cashmere goat, mohair angora goat and merino sheep. The spinning count is based on the number of hanks of yarn that can be spun from one pound of clean wool. For example, if a grade ewe is bred by a purebred merino, the lamb from that mating will produce a 12.
Once the butt end is completed, the skin is lifted off and redeposited to work on the front end. The normal procedure is to take two identical dye or pigment samples. The numerical value, known as usda wool grade, ranges from below 36s coarsest wool to finer than 80s finest wool. The micron system is the most technical and accurate system of grading. Grades of wool described by the american blood grade system are fine, 1 2 blood, 38 blood, 1 4 blood, low 1 4 blood, common, and braid figure 1. All three systems are measures of average fiber diameter and can be related to each other. Wool suit fabric super numbers explained gentlemans. In general, grade refers to the average diameter or thickness of the fibers. The grade is determined by the thickness of the wire of which the wool is made of. This publication describes several grades and grading systems for wool.
This originated in the 18th century in england and is based on the number of 560yard skeins that can be produced from one pound of clean wool top. Clean wool content, fineness, length of staple and strength are the main characteristics considered in arriving at the value of wool. This was primarily done in order to restore the name of south african wool from its bad reputation gained. A shorn ewe will be more likely to stay out of the wind and bad weather and protect her newborn lamb if she does not have a thick wool coat on her. W hen selecting carpet you are faced with many choices and the differences may not always be obvious. Sorting wool one of my great loves has been old books. Hence the blue wool scale has been widely adopted as a standard during uv exposure or uv weathering tests. Finenessthe fiber diameter, or grade, and its distributionis one of the most important of these quality. In wisconsin, this is frequently done in the early spring shortly before they have their lambs. The system separates wool into 16 grades according to the average fiber diameter as measured by a micrometer. When fleeces contain more than one grade of wool, the grader places the fleece in the grade pile represent. Bradford system aka english worsted yarn count system, spinning count or bradford count this system is defined as the number of hanks of yarn that can be spun from a pound of wool. Wool fiber different qualities and grades of wool fiber. The british wool grading system assures the highest standards of wool quality.
Steelwool is available in 8 different levels of abrasiveness or grades. Felt quality is a matter of many years studying and especially feeling different felts. The blood system divides all wool, from finest to coarsest, into six market grades. Therefore, a fleece grading 50s would yield 28,000 yards or 15. All three systems are measures of average fiber diameter and can be related to each other table1. Grading wool fleeces, the blood count system wool grading once upon a time a long time ago farmers shepherds were out standing in the field trying to compare one flock with another. United states department of united states standards. The numerical count system divides all wools in 14 grades, each designated by a number that classifies wool by fiber diameter. Systems of grading of wool blood system numerical system slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Grading classification for maculopathy groups of exudates m1 a group of exudates is an area of exudates that is greater than or equal to half the disc. Grades of fabric used in upholstery home guides sf gate.
This system separates wool into grades according to the average fiber diameter as measured by a micrometer. Usually all fleeces grown in the states east of the mississippi and missouri rivers. The numerical count system divides the wool into 14 grades, designated by a number. American blood grade system, spinning count system, and micron system. Three systems of wool grading are used in the united states. Wool is usually sheared from sheep all at once, resulting in a large fleece. Grading means the placing of entire fleeces in their grade piles according to fineness and length. They grow a wool coat and once a year this wool coat is sheared off the animal. Steelwool is produced in many different forms to better suit many types of applications. Drew cable explains what he looks for when grading a piece of wool. The classification system used to describe grease wools. Wool quality evaluation and manufacturing processes. In the united states wool is graded using one of three methods the american or blood system.
American pima cotton grade standards are valid for a period of one year july 1 june 30. Economically important traits for sheep evaluation that will be discussed are live weight, dressing percent, fatness, muscling, yield grade and quality grade. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Over the years ive collected many textile books and they provide a wealth of knowledge. Similarly, a grade of 50s would be finer than a 40s wool. Wool of medium staple length, suitable for combing. Wool classing is the production of uniform, predictable, lowrisk lines of wool, carried out by examining the characteristics of the wool in its raw state and classing grading it accordingly. Following are two examples of wool grading systems. Wool grades cooperative extension service m e x icos w. The finer the fibres, the more hanksa spool totalling 560 yards of yarncan be spun out of a single pound. A couple of months ago, i purchased a copy of textile raw materials and their conversion into yarns by j. With this system the larger number will be a finer wool. Wool grading by the american blood count system once upon a time a long time ago farmers shepherds were out standing in the field trying to compare one flock with another.
Wool grading 1 the potential range of end products. Dressing percent dressing percent is important because it indicates the proportion of live weight that is contained in the. Wool production may be the key focus of the farming business, or it may be part of a mixed farming system, most typically a sheepwheat farming system. The process of sorting and grading is the hands on evaluation and separation of fleece into like micron ranges as well as creating uniform batches of fiber within those. Upholstery grades dont guarantee quality, but they are a clear indication of expense both the manufacturers in the creation of the material, and yours in acquiring it to upholster your furniture. The wool from a single sheep in the shorn grease state. Isolated cotton wool spots one or more in the absence of any microaneurysm or haemorrhage should be counted as no dr r0. Our goal is to keep fiber grading as straight forward as possible on the farmers end. Steelwool grades and applications international steel wool. While you can see the difference in some carpeting, in other cases you may find examples that look the same but differ substantially in price. Some of the qualities a wool classer examines when classing wool are. If a rambouillet grades 64s fine grade, then 1 pound of clean wool from that sheep will yield over 20 miles of.
In the yorkshire wool markets, before the advent of modern grading technology, quality was judged by how much yarn could be spun out of one pound of raw wool. Our system is designed to be simple to understand while identifying the areas of the alpaca with generally different levels of fineness and staple length. In theory a pound of 62s wool could produce 34720 yards of yarn. They could all agree upon what a merino fleece looked like. The micrometre is a common unit of measurement for wavelengths of infrared radiation as well as sizes of biological cells and bacteria, and for grading wool by the diameter of the fibres.
The english or spinning count system of grading wool provides a numerical designation of fineness. Can have minor compression and up to 2% missing insulation. There are six 6 of these grade standards representing the predominant range of color and leaf grades found in american pima cotton. Grades of wool described by the american blood grade system c. Sheep is a valuable animal and it is found in the most of the region of the world. For a good discussion of wool classing, see wool grading, a 1996 article by rodney kott of montana state university. Each one differs in softness, durability and washing characteristics. Advantages of using natural wool fiber from sheep, goats. Virgin wool and new wool are also used to refer to such never used wool. Most of the body wool goes to one of three basic fineness grades with possible three length grades within each. Wool too variable to fit in the limits of a grade is placed down one grade. Wool is the fiber from the fleece of the sheep or lamb or hair of the angora or cashmere goat and may include the socalled specialty fibers from the hair of the camel, alpaca, llama, and vicuna which has never been reclaimed from any woven or felted wool product. To name just a few, the wool for your sweater can come from sheep, goats, rabbit, llama or yak.
The count system is more extensive and involves the number of hanks of yarn that can be spun from one pound of wool. Can also have moderate to frequent gaps around wiring, electrical outlets, plumbing and other intrusions. This is an older system where wool is graded depending upon the amount or percent of fine wool sheep breeding merinorambouillet blood there is in the animal being shorn. For example, if a grade ewe is bred by a purebred merino, the lamb from that mating will produce a 1 2 blood fleece or wool. End uses for wool by micron range the micron system, the most technical and accurate system of grading, was largely developed at the denver wool laboratory, usda.
The english or spinning count system of grading wool provides a numerical. Practical forms of the american pima cotton grade standards are for manual classification of american pima cotton. Before the advent of technology to measure crimps and diameter, english woolhandlers categorized wool based on their fineness by estimating spinning capacity using vision and touch, which is known as the bradford system. One is placed in the dark as the control and the other is placed in the equivalent of sunlight for a 3 month period. Wool grading definition of wool grading by merriamwebster. This process became known as the english worsted yarn count system or more generally, the bradford system. But because producers and consumers eventually wanted terminology that was more objective in how the wool was rated, the city of bradford, england led the way in grading wool more objectively. The usda numerical count system, commonly used in the united states, consists of 14 grades of wool.