Source for thick decorative felt

I'm looking for a source for thick felt I can use to make covers -- or perhaps cozies -- for personal electronics like digital cameras and laptops. I think the ideal thickness range is 3/16" - 3/8".

All I have been able to locate on the web are industrial felts, which are thick but none too attractive. Does anyone have suggestions for a more craft-oriented source? Ideally the product would look like nice homemade felt and be available in a range of not-too-perfectly-even colors (though I could dye it if it comes to that).

Thanks!

/afb

Reply to
adam.block
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You could try what I do. Go to thrift stores or rummage sales and buy up all-wool sweaters, then toss them in the washing machine and dryer (high heat) two or three times until they felt. For the thickness you want, you are going to need to start off with heavy sweaters.

Olwyn Mary in New orleans.

Reply to
Olwyn Mary

wool felt electronics covers - wondering if you need to worry about static?

Reply to
bluet3

I agree - it seems that one would be asking for trouble to encase any electronic gadget in a wool cover, with the real possibility of static buildup.

Betty in Georgia

Reply to
Betty Vereen Hill

Surely it is synthetic fabrics which cause static buildup? I have wool carpets in my house and never get a static shock, but in my car, which has nylon carpets, I do get static. Also, with nylon clothing many people get static cling, but with my silk-lined wool or cotton skirts I never experience it. Actually, I would be more inclined to worry about moisture buildup with any fabrics.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Reply to
Olwyn Mary

science teachers were doing electricity charge/discharge experiments with silk and wool long before there synthetics. whether you get the spark from a fabric depends on much such as humidity, degree of friction, etc.

the cases for my digital camera and my notebook are both synthetic with a thin padding and some fuzzy fabric to the interior. both are breathable or at least not airtight. they also seem to be relatively lintfree and i am not sure that felt would have that characteristic.

klh in VA

Olwyn Mary wrote:

Reply to
klh in VA

I've found that by the time I really look into specialty materials to make something that I think "I can make cheaper", I usually can't.....and not usually better either when it comes to a specialty like electronic gear cases. Just to head you in another direction of thought; if you REALLY want to make these things with the proper paddings/linings in them. Go to the thrift stores, you'll find bins of perfectly good and often 'like new' discarded cases for cameras and laptops, if the reason you're making these are the cost of new ones. If you want to make these because you want to make something uniquely special but you need the guts of the case you can always cannibalize one from the thrift store for, most likely, much less than purchasing these specialty products. I picked up a video cam case for my neighbor for $3. Looked like new, would have been over ten times that if purchased retail. It had all the extra pockets and two kinds of detachable straps, the one that came with her camera didn't. If you do happen to be in a very low humidity environment and static is a problem you can get anti-static electronic sprays and wipes for both your equipment and cases. I wipe down the OUTSIDE of my cases and plastic zippers, when things get to snapping and cracking from static, with a dryer sheet. Works quite well.

Just a thought, Val

Reply to
Val

Thanks for all your responses!

I'm not too concerned about the static issue -- static is caused by the contact between two unlike materials, which will happen with any natural or synthetic fabric. But modern electronic devices are not especially static sensitive (though the bare internal circuitry is).

So I am seeking natural felt for its unique aesthetic qualities, though the fact that it is thick and shock-absorbing makes it appropriate for the task. Thus if anyone else has thoughts on suppliers, they're much appreciated!

Regards,

/afb

Reply to
adam.block

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