I realize that I've been cutting a large amount of wool lately, and that it's winter (and subsequently drier inside than at other times of the year).....but man, the static in my wool is crazy nuts. It's been winter before and I've cut just as much - or more - wool at once, but I've never had the static problem like I have right now. I took this picture this morning - it shows the amount of static on the first cut since Saturday.
I've tried lots of things to date, including applying lots of hand cream before cutting, lightly spritzing the wool to be cut with a flick of water, rubbing down the cutter with a dryer sheet, and even a quick spurt of hairspray on the wool, and my option of last resort: ignoring it and hoping it goes away will soon be impossibly to maintain. Yesterday I broke down and picked up a can of Static Guard - something I haven't bought since the 90s...back when I was wearing pantyhose to work most days. But before I start my own experimenting, I thought I'd ask whether any of you tried it? With any success? Do you spray the wool or (horror!) the cutter? Do you have any other ideas on eliminating the static?
– Desperately seeking refuge from static electricity
WOW, that's a lot of wool worms....
ReplyDeleteI always wash my wool and dry it in the dryer with a dryer sheet so I haven't experienced any static in my wool. I keep a big stock pot of water simmering on our wood stove to humidify the air in winter.
Maybe you are over charged with static yourself. It happened to me one year and I was constantly getting shocks when grocery shopping picking cans off the shelves, getting in the car etc. Carpets on the floors can also create static especially when the air is dry.
I wonder if a humidifier would help. JB
The humidifier is a great idea! I think I will try even boiling a pot of water on the stove for a while tonight, as a short term solution. Maybe the problem is that I just haven't been dyeing enough lately....? LOL!
DeleteYes, I know it's a lot of worms -- those bins are like little treasure chests....and I just never know what I will discover when I start digging - including little bits from past projects and favorite wools that are not longer on my shelves. I actually do a lot of my hooking directly from these bins. Jumbo is a bit different though, just because it's so large. Instead I start each square with some 'new' strips cut from the same piece of wool, and them supplement with some 'cousins' from the bins to add a bit of variety and movement.
When I take things out of the dryer sometimes I have to run a metal clothes hanger over items to draw out the static. I can hear it crackle as I do it. I'm not sure what kind of metal they are made of, just the kind you get your clothes back on from the dry cleaners. Maybe sticking a piece in your bins would work? This must be driving you crazy! I hope you find a solution!
ReplyDeleteI do use fabric softener when I wash and dry my wool, post-dyeing....so I'm really surprised it's so sparky. I will give the hanger trick a try, but it seems to be in every wool I pick up...so maybe All of the excess static is really coming from me? Will keep you posted....
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