Hi

I had to give up weaving in the past because of allergies and asthma and a mentor weaver friend died of lung problems then as well.  I have missed weaving.  I recently purchased another loom and am seeking advice from you all on what you have found to be the cleanest most lint free warp to work with.  Cotton?  Mercerized or Un?  Linen?  Rayon?  particular Brands? 

Comments

Mon, 03/10/2014 - 15:38

mneligh

I find the least lint under my loom with long-staple worsted wool.  Hard-twist cotton is second in low lint.  I think the issue is not the type of fiber but staple length and spin type.  There is definitely more lint and pilling with short-fibered woollen yarns than long-staple worsted yarns, regardless of fiber origin.

I haven't seen any recently, but I know Borgs of Lund used to produce zero-lint cotton warp fiber.  

Mon, 03/10/2014 - 15:48

SallyE (not verified)

I'm sorry you are having problems with the lint and dust.   My MIL died of asthma, so I know how horrible it can be.

Have you considered wearing a mask of some sort while weaving?   You'd also have to vacuum under the loom after each weaving session, but those two things might help.

 

Mon, 03/10/2014 - 16:18

Cheri B

Thank you both.  Yes I have used a mask while weaving.  It takes some of the joy out of it for me..... I weave for pleasure and somehow it turned it into a chore to have to treat it as a safety hazard.  I used a box fan with a filter taped to it as well and vacuumed continually.  The warping onto my sectional beam has been my biggest challenge to get passed allergy asthma wise in the past, and I believe the warp to be my biggest issue.  If I can find the lint free warp from Borgs it may let me back into my comfort zone.  Thanks again!

Mon, 03/10/2014 - 16:35

Queezle

How frustrating that must be...  have you considered using a dust collection system, something akin to what some woodworkers set up?  My husand and I used this:

http://www.harborfreight.com/garage-shop/stationary-dust-collectors/13-gallon-industrial-portable-dust-collector-31810.html#.Ux3pV17lP0Q

for an attic project, and though it was noisy, it was also very effective.  I don't think you would want to use it all the time (like wearing the dust mask), but if, e.g. warping, were the most irritating step, a system like this might help. 

Mon, 03/10/2014 - 17:21

Cheri B

Yes, it is frustrating.  Between my alleriges for parakeets and my  husbands allergy to dogs and cats we also have to have a pet free home :O  Maybe a bubble big enough for the two of us and we could just roll around the world in it or something to keep us from boredom :D...  I think they make those for hamsters :D.  A dust collector system is probably a good idea to look into, if I had a delegated 'studio' area for weaving I'm sure that would be optimal especially if I had a dust collector installed in it.  It's all a bit problamatic and the last time I warped, by the time I had the warp on I was such a mess of allergies that we just gave the loom, new warp and all, to goodwill.  Broke my heart and was hard on the pocketbook!  So, this time I thought finding the LEAST offensive product to start with was probably the wisest start.  Any and all input from anyone is so welcome.  Thank you all.

s

Mon, 03/10/2014 - 17:23

pammersw

There are portable allergy filters also, that suck in and clean the air. I wouldn't want to use a fan - I'd think that would just blow the dust around more (even with a filter on it). This is the one I have: (I've had dust allergies for decades) 

http://www.honeywellcleanair.com/air-purifiers/buy-honeywell-air-purifiers/honeywell-50250-s-true-hepa-air-purifier-50250-s/

 

Mon, 03/10/2014 - 18:03

Queezle

Indeed, Pammer's idea to both filter the incoming, and I forgot to mention the importance of proper exhausting the dust collection, could give you that bubble.  But of course if you could find allergy-free yarn, that would be the simplest.  I will keep my eyes open for something.

Mon, 03/10/2014 - 22:08

Cheri B

Super, all good thinking and suggestions!  Please do keep me in mind and let me know if you hear of anything that's a little better than par in the lint bunny department.

Tue, 03/11/2014 - 01:51

Cheri B

mneligh (or anyone) do you know of an on~line order source in the U.S. for the hard twist cotton warp you recommended?  Also, Queezle, Hubby thinks the dust collector system suggestion is excellent and thinks we could install something in the attic which is right above the room that would pull the dust up and awayyyy... will be looking into that!  Did you install yours in the attic to draw FROM a weaving area or was it an altogether different purpose?  thanks again all

Tue, 03/11/2014 - 09:06

Catweaver

I'm sorry to hear about your problems. I imagine you have tried asthma type medicines? i have found that a puffer twice a day (mixture of long-acting bronchodilator and preventative) solved my similar problems. I keep my studio very well ventilated - windy would be another word for it! - and that seems to keep symptoms at bay. Good luck with trying all those good ideas - the dust remover sounds very helpful. I hope you can get back to doing what you love.
Tue, 03/11/2014 - 11:53

Cheri B

haven't had to use an inhaler for so long.... eeeeeeeee, hope weaving doesn't make me that bad again....  I would have to sell the loom AGAIN.  I enjoy weaving, but not THAT much....  maybe I should just limit myself to the nice clean photography hobby :O    hmmmmm, should I even TRY warping again??!!  ooooo boy.

Tue, 03/11/2014 - 14:24

Queezle

Cheri,  We used the dust collector in an unconventional way - to vacuum up, and distribute, insulation that had been blown into our attic.  The contractor who replaced our roof wanted to charge us to remove it, dispose it, and then charge us again for new.  BUT - I have seen this in action in woodworking shops.  You can attach wide hoses to it, I think 8-inch diameter, and one hose take it to a place to exhaust,  and another can be in the place where the offending particles are generated.  It is not quiet, but not quite as loud as our vacuum cleaner.

Best of luck!

Tue, 03/11/2014 - 14:58

pammersw

A portable HEPA filter, like the ones built by Honeywell,  are no noisier than a fan, and cost less than the exhaust thing. They also work well, filtering all a room's air in less than an hour. 

Tue, 03/11/2014 - 15:34

Queezle

The hepa filter is a good idea - and if its both less expensive and less noisy, I would try that one first.  Please do let us know what works for you.

Tue, 03/11/2014 - 16:48

mneligh

The Vavstuga store  is a Borgs dealer, although the yarn in question, I think it was called "fish yarn" is from a different factory (Bocken).  Tell them the issue and they may be able to help.  My spinner friends and I have found that the folks at the Woolery will attempt to find anything, whether they carry it now or not.  They may be able to help you.  If you explain the specifics of the problem, they will tell you what they can do.

Tue, 03/11/2014 - 18:51

Cheri B

I very much appreciate all of the input from everyone!  I freaked out and put the loom on craigslist for about an hour this morning after DWELLING on asthma and lung damage thoughts..... then ate lunch, took a deep breath (pun intended), deleted my craigslist post ;D and started searching for seine twine that was available in the U.S. and reasonably priced.  With my sectional beam I need 24 spools for warping.... but I eventually found what looks to be a great product at the yarn barn of kansas (anyone familiar with them?) and, I'll just have to rig up a thingy like a pintrest aquaintance has for off loading onto smaller spools. In the past I lived near a weaving supply in Michigan and her warp was the only warp I have ever used, from what I have read on line in the past couple of days there is quite a difference from one brand of warp to the next.. I'm hoping seine twine will be so much better for me AND that it's just enough different from what I had previously that it gives me much less breathing difficulties.   I am not sure what we will do for an air cleaner.  We do have two of them running at all times in our home already, but we will want something SPECIFIC for that room to keep it from invading the rest of the house.....  oh for a studio space that you could leave the dust behind when you need/want to, right everyone?  Thanks again to all.

Tue, 03/11/2014 - 20:10

jander14indoor (not verified)

While it is best to minimize dust control at the source as you are doing by selecting less linty yarns, if you are that sensitive, you should still consider a large area air filter like those designed for wood shops.  There is no need to put up with noisy systems.  I suspect the smaller room air filters for normal home use just won't handle the volume of dust that a loom will generate.  And I'm sure you know its the fine stuff you can't see that causes the most problems.

Note, you don't want a dust collector, those big vacuum cleaners.  they are great from collecting concentrated dust directly at a machine, not so good for cleaning a room or large dust generator like a loom is. 

As examples, consider something like the following:

http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Fox-W1830-3-Speed-Hanging/dp/B008DPYSS4/ref=pd_sim_hi_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1AVAW6Y6D6X4PJSCPZB7

And look at the filter efficiency in the 1-10 micron range.

Regards,

Jeff Anderson

Livonia, MI

Thu, 03/13/2014 - 14:30

sally orgren

That sounds sort of coarse for anything but rugs.
Fri, 03/14/2014 - 21:19

sally orgren

I am thinking silk would be an excellent warp and weft for no loom lint. (Not silk noil tho').
Fri, 03/14/2014 - 22:04

Cheri B

I WONDERED about silk.  I LOVE silk and I know when I wear it I have NO problems...  unlike some colored (especially red!) cottons, some down filled items and even SOME wool.  I'm doing a small warp with the seine twine to see how it goes.  Maybe next I'll try some silk!

Fri, 03/14/2014 - 22:05

Cheri B

I'm not sure what I'll be able to weave with the seine twine... I thought I would wait and see what it's like and let that dictate.  I believe it is considered good in tapestry and rugs, which are things I wove in the past.

Fri, 03/14/2014 - 22:21

mneligh

Silk is not hypollergenic.  My son developed allergies to it as an infant.  Some people might have issues with it, others not.  I've had lint from silk I've spun from cocoons, but commercial reeled silk might be very different.  Again, I think the main determinant of lint may be in how the fiber is prepared and staple length, not in which fiber is used, unless it's monofilament, of course.

Fri, 03/14/2014 - 22:27

Cheri B

Yes, that does seem to be the issue.  Tight twist and long staple... ?  Hard to just search the internet and 'find' ....  I have never done any spinning.....  It seems like the older hubby and I get the more allergies we have!

Mon, 03/17/2014 - 14:59

mneligh

I think one reason silk might have suggested itstelf to Sally O is that it has very long staple, and reeled silk has relatively tight twist.  You might try Michael White on the Macomber group.   He sells yarns, and if you explain your problem in detail, will give you a straight answer, whether or not he sells you yarn.  He'll also know what the issues are, and if he doesn't, his wife will.  If they don't have answers, you might also try the folks at the Woolery.  I've worked with "Weaver Nancy" on a number of odd requests, and never felt we ended up with the wrong decision.

Spinning brings up an interesting point that may affect you.  When using handspun warp, I frequently use warp sizing or starch on it.  I tend to use worsted or semi-worsted spun yarns, but not "energized" yarns (twisting back on themselves).  They do not produce much lint as a rule, although some weft I spun with silk noil certainly did, as did silk from raw cocoons.

Try putting on a 6" wide warp using a yarn to which you have applied warp sizing or starch -- just enough for a scarf.  Use a "normal" warp yarn and weave the scarf.  Maybe that will keep down the lint enough.  If not, it would not be that big a loss.

Another thing I've wanted to try is round-baler twine.  It's plied plastic filaments, totally unlike square baler twine. Your local feed store should have some.  Given your allergies, don't pick it up out of barns and fields used.  Green means biodegradable, so stay away from that.