02-02-2006, 05:18 PM
Yesterday I got the felt samples from the company in NJ, USA.
Took them down to the workbench to test them out.
The 1/2 inch thick felt is prodigious. I took a 1" pine board and placed the sample over it and whacked it several times with a ball-peen hammer.
After substantial force the pine board showed minimal damage.
I eventually succeed in dented the board considerably with the hammer but I was pounding my heart out.
I then did a puncture test. I could not puncture with my awl without difficulty. It required a severe tap with the hammer to puncture and seriously resisited cutting even with a box-cutter.
Since the fibers are netted in all directions the felt resists tearing as well. I couldn't tear it with two pairs of pliers.
The felt also behaves very differently than a piece of modern foam padding. It will compress, but resists compression and continues to resist compression the more you press it. It seems it's cushioning property is increased as you hit it. Even when fully compressed it still provides a substantial amount of resistance. When the industrial foam is compressed, all of its padding properties are gone.
Oh, and its absorbent VERY absorbent. The "Libyan hides" mentioned earlier would be an absolute necessity.
I put the 1/4 inch sample over the 1/2 inch sample and the effect was increased. Seems layering helps quite a bit.
The 1/2" felt is great stuff. I was really impressed with its resistance to puncturing. It must have added a considerable amount of piece of mind to the wearer
This sample is 50% wool and 50% synthetic.
The prices they quoted me are as follows.
1/8" thick for $19 yard
1/4" thick for $30 yard
1/2" thick for $42 yard
1" thick for $68 yard
bolts are 72" across though, so the prices aren't so bad, but higher than I would like.
I don't know if I'm violating a rule about posting vendors, so if anybody wants the contact info, just let me know by PM.
Don't know how this compares to the Hungarian felt mentioned earlier but I think this could be a good subsitute.
I am also awaiting felt samples from a few other manufacturers.
Travis
Took them down to the workbench to test them out.
The 1/2 inch thick felt is prodigious. I took a 1" pine board and placed the sample over it and whacked it several times with a ball-peen hammer.
After substantial force the pine board showed minimal damage.
I eventually succeed in dented the board considerably with the hammer but I was pounding my heart out.
I then did a puncture test. I could not puncture with my awl without difficulty. It required a severe tap with the hammer to puncture and seriously resisited cutting even with a box-cutter.
Since the fibers are netted in all directions the felt resists tearing as well. I couldn't tear it with two pairs of pliers.
The felt also behaves very differently than a piece of modern foam padding. It will compress, but resists compression and continues to resist compression the more you press it. It seems it's cushioning property is increased as you hit it. Even when fully compressed it still provides a substantial amount of resistance. When the industrial foam is compressed, all of its padding properties are gone.
Oh, and its absorbent VERY absorbent. The "Libyan hides" mentioned earlier would be an absolute necessity.
I put the 1/4 inch sample over the 1/2 inch sample and the effect was increased. Seems layering helps quite a bit.
The 1/2" felt is great stuff. I was really impressed with its resistance to puncturing. It must have added a considerable amount of piece of mind to the wearer
This sample is 50% wool and 50% synthetic.
The prices they quoted me are as follows.
1/8" thick for $19 yard
1/4" thick for $30 yard
1/2" thick for $42 yard
1" thick for $68 yard
bolts are 72" across though, so the prices aren't so bad, but higher than I would like.
I don't know if I'm violating a rule about posting vendors, so if anybody wants the contact info, just let me know by PM.
Don't know how this compares to the Hungarian felt mentioned earlier but I think this could be a good subsitute.
I am also awaiting felt samples from a few other manufacturers.
Travis
Theodoros of Smyrna (Byzantine name)
aka Travis Lee Clark (21st C. American name)
Moderator, RAT
Rules for RAT:
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Oh! and the Toledo helmet .... oh hell, forget it. :? <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_confused.gif" alt=":?" title="Confused" />:?
aka Travis Lee Clark (21st C. American name)
Moderator, RAT
Rules for RAT:
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?Rules">http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?Rules for posting
Oh! and the Toledo helmet .... oh hell, forget it. :? <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_confused.gif" alt=":?" title="Confused" />:?
