SAE Industrial Felt 101: The Basics – thefeltstore.com

28 Jul.,2025

 

SAE Industrial Felt 101: The Basics – thefeltstore.com

Wool Content

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Jiatong.

Wool percentage is based off of new wool in the felt. The remaining fibers are made of something called card waste this can consist of anything including recycled wool, cotton, rayon/viscose (wood fibers) and even bits of vegetable matter and synthetics. This material is used as filler to either reduce the cost of the felt or impart certain desired characteristics to the finished material.

Tolerances

Tolerances in SAE felts are based off of the wool content and density of the fiber. Wool is prone to contract or swell slightly depending on temperature, changing the thickness and weight of the fiber. Cutting the wool can also shrink the fiber creating a slight dimensional tolerance.

Durability

Wool fibers have small barbs on them, which allow them to interlock when being felted. The more friction, moisture and pressure is applied during the felting process, the denser and more durable the felt becomes. High density SAE felts have the ability to withstand long periods of wear and pressure.

Color

SAE felts are made from natural sheep wools and not dyed. Similar to human hair, sheep hair comes in a variety of colors, shades and textures. This means that SAE felt colors will vary from lot to lot. For designer applications requiring consistency in color and finish we recommend using 100% wool designer felt instead of SAE felt.

F-1

SAE F-1 Felt has the highest durability of any industrial felt. Highly resilient, F-1 felt is recommended for uses where impact, pressure, friction, and abrasion are constant. Washers, wicks, door bumpers, and polishing blocks are among its many possible applications. While not recommended if you require a soft or pliable material, F-1 is great for low viscosity oil absorption and retention.

Wool Content: Min. 95% wool
Density: High, 0.32-0.36 g/cm³ (539.4-606.8 lb/yd³)
Color: Off-White to Beige
Link: F-1 Industrial Felt

F-3

SAE F-3 Felt is one of the most durable industrial felts with an 85% wool content. F-3 serves the same general purposes as F-1 but is slightly less dense. Its advantages include excellent vibration absorption, resistance to abrasion and wear, and applications that require a coarse wool. F-3 felts is suitable for precision applications such as vibration mounts, precision lubrication wicking, oil seals, bumpers, gaskets, automobile, aircraft and machinery components.

Wool Content: Min. 85% wool
Density: High, 0.32-0.36 g/cm³ (539.4-606.8 lb/yd³)
Color: Natural Gray to Brown
Link: F-3 Industrial Felt

F-10

F-10 Felt is an SAE grade industrial felt made with a minimum wool content of 80%. F-10 is recommended when you require excellent grease and oil retention in your application. This felt is also great for dust shields under less severe operating conditions and where pressure and impact are not important factors. Its crafting uses include storyboard walls, seat cushions, and embroidery protection.

Want more information on Wool Felt Wick Supplier? Feel free to contact us.

Wool Content: Minimum 80% wool
Density: Medium-Low, 0.17-0.20 g/cm³ (286.5-337.1 lb/yd³)
Color: Off-white to Beige
Link: F-10 Industrial Felt

F-15

SAE F-15 Felt is suitable for the same applications as F-10 felt, but has a slightly lower wool content. Applications include sound deadening chassis strips, spacers, dust liners, and for mechanical purposes where abrasion and wear are not important factors. Other applications include acoustic panels, protective padding (such as saddle pads, blankets, and cutting table protectors) absorbers, packing material, sound dampening insulation, and cushioning material.

Wool Content: Minimum 55% wool
Density: Low, 0.17-0.20 g/cm³ (286.5-337.1 lb/yd³)
Color: Natural Gray to Brown
Link: F-15 Industrial Felt

F-26

SAE F-26 Felt is an industrial wool felt with low density. While this grade of felt is not recommended for mechanical applications, it is ideal for packing or padding when held in place between other materials. Non-mechanical applications include crate liners, sound absorption, sports equipment padding, and padding between parts.

Wool Content: Minimum 45% wool
Density: Low, 0.14-0.17 g/cm³ (236-286.5 lb/yd³)
Color: Natural Gray to Brown
Link: F-26 Industrial Felt

F-50

SAE F-50 industrial wool felt is a highly dense felt, similar in density to F-1, and best suited to applications that require an accurate, thin, smooth high-grade felt. This felt grade is also used for ball and roller bearing oil retainer washers and small dust-excluding washers. Use this felt in installations where it will not be compressed, for feeding low viscosity or light oil, and where strength, durability, and hardness are required.

Wool Content: Minimum 95% wool
Density: High, 0.32-0.36 g/cm³ (539.4-606.8 lb/yd³)
Color: Off-white to Beige
Link: F-50 Industrial Felt

F-51

SAE F-51 Felt is a high-density 92% gray wool industrial felt. F-51 felt is similar to F-3 felt but made in thicknesses less than 1/8 inches and used where a thin, high-grade wool felt is required. Common applications include ball and roller bearings, oil retainer washers, and smaller dust excluding washers. We recommend it for applications where an accurate, coarse felt is required.

Wool Content: Minimum 92% wool
Density: High, 0.32-0.36 g/cm³ (539.4-606.8 lb/yd³)
Color: Natural Gray to Brown
Link: F-51 Industrial Felt

F-55 Black

SAE F-55 felt is a moderate-density felt used for anti-squeak strips and for lining cemented to fiberboard or metal panels. F-55 felt is also used in similar applications as F-7 felt, when the thickness required is less than 1/8 inches. Other applications include dust shields, gaskets, lubricators, acoustic material, wicks, and wipers.

Color: Black
Wool Content: Minimum 80% wool
Density: Medium-High, 0.25-0.27 g/cm³ (421.4-455 lb/yd³)
Price: $$

For more information, please visit car felt supplier.

Spindle oiler wick material | The Hobby-Machinist

Hello,

Does anyone know what the "fuzzy" stuff inside the spindle oil gallery (9a) packed in the springs is made of? It seems to be some synthetic cotton... Also, what can i replace this stuff with?

Thank you! It is probably felt. Wool or synthetic, I don't know.
There are several people that sell wick kits for South Bend lathes on Ebay. A full rebuild kit is not that expensive.
The real key is getting a material that will easily wick up the spindle oil but filter out the debris from the sump. The felt has to be the "right density". They are felt, and in a very specific type/grade, and I have no idea what exactly that is.

The felt can be bought in bulk, but what are you gonna do with that? The best way to do it is to eBay or Amazon yourself a couple of the wicks premade. You'll be ahead in the price tag, and you'll be ahead in not having to store the rest of it that you'll never need again...