We had been getting untreated wool waste from Miller Waste Co. for use in packing plain journals, motor suspension (axle) bearings, and armature bearings. Recently they informed us that they are no longer able to supply wool waste. Do any other museums know of alternative sources or alternative materials?

This (https://www.yarn.com/products/cascade-y ... gical-wool) was from another recent thread. Followed with (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItuDcKE ... e=youtu.be) describing their method.

Jeff, Al Stangenberger purchased some of these wool hanks from Cascade for WRM. Not waste and not cheep, but really good material for packing bearings. Since it is a green product it is absolute die and treatment free. Just what is needed. Hank size is similar to what we got from Miller in the past. One hank is just the right size for the armature bearings Al is currently packing. We did retie the hanks top and bottom to make sure it would stay together when it was packed into the box. Otherwise, just what we needed.
https://www.yarn.com/products/cascade-y ... gical-wool

Previous post on this: http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=41543&p=282796&hilit=Journal+packing#p282796

I started looking into the possibility of buying direct from a domestic mill but got sidetracked on other projects. I suppose I should get back on it since we'll need some this coming spring.

Thanks for the replies. I didn't see this latest development in the old thread on journal packing!

This does seem quite a bit more expensive than the old wool waste.

Don't take the comment the wrong way but, you are comparing left overs the factories are trying to get anything they can for (wool waste), to a marketable, in demand item (raw wool yarn)... Kinda like comparing apple cores to fresh picked oranges...

it might be time to start looking for a synthetic material substitute. another one of my interests is player piano restoration. the rubber cloth used for that was cotton backed. it was cotton backed so the old hot hide glue would stick. hide glue does not like nylon. the problem is no one is making cotton backed rubber cloth anymore, its all synthetic. i had a hard time the other day shopping for all cotton dress pants. all i could fid was some kind of polyester blend.

point being is if industry is shying away from natural fabrics, the niche industries wont be able to get the either.

I've located some domestic mills that spin domestic wool. I'm going to contact them this week, explain what we need, give them specs and see what they say. Curiosity killed the kitty and all that....

We always looked at the price compared to hooper pads, and the consistency is good. We use it in both journal & motor bearings. you do not want loose waste in motor bearings.

Oops. Just noticed post above that Miller no longer sells the material.

Our Museum just finished rebuilding a pair of trucks and rehabbed four motors. We used the wool to re-pack the journal bearings, armature bearings, axle support bearings, etc., with a good product from a Minnesota company.

Miller Waste Mills, Inc.
580 East Front St.
Winona, MN 55987

507-454-6906
507-454-8681 (fax)

The product was described on the invoice as: "M" Wool skein: 050-lb Bale, 1 11314202M. Price was $9.59 a pound. The wool packing material worked well for us.

Thanks!