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LININGS
n general only
sheepskin is used for the production of linings. The material is sourced
from mature sheep ranging in age from 3 to 7 years. Production continues
all year but is most prolific in the period September through February (shearing
season). Wool lengths vary from freshly shorn to 2.0 to 2.5 inches
and longer depending upon the time of the season.
Curing
- The main curing method used for dressing skins is either wet salting by drum
agitation or conveyor salting. Conveyor salting is uncommon
and only used in the case where salt contamination of the wool is a major
concern such is the case when clean wool recovery is required.
After removal on the
slaughter floor the skins are allowed to cool and then cured within a
couple of hours. Specially prepared kiln dried
salt, containing concentrations of bactericides and special fungicides, is used
exclusively in all processing. Skins for fellmongering purposes are
generally air dried to prevent contamination of the wool by salt however this
practice is becoming less common.
Drum
Salting
- The
skins are
slowly
tumbled
for one
and a half
to two hours to
ensure
positive
penetration
of the
salt and
chemicals
into the
pelt. The
skins are then stacked in flat piles for around 3 to 5 days to allow sufficient
time for the body fluids to drain from the skins.
Conveyor
Salting
- The skins are laid flat and passed through a shower of salt on a moving
conveyor. The skins are then folded and stacked ensuring even and
deep penetration of salt into the pelt. The wool remains relatively free
of any salt contamination.
Faults
- are common in both the wool
and pelt.
Seed
Contamination
- Seed burrows
through the skin whilst the animal is living, the result being patches of scar
tissue left by the healed wound. After processing this can lead to the
scar tissue falling out leaving small holes or alternatively, the scar tissue
remains and leaves imperfections in the pelt which are difficult to cover or
correct. This is not so important in automotive products as the product is wool
face out, the pelt is not seen. There are five descriptions in this
category, the first 4 describe soft seed types whilst the last describes hard
seed :
(a) "Free of Visible
Seed" - Visually free of seed
any contamination. This does not however mean the skin is free of seed,
only visually free.
(b) "Light
Seed"
- Slight
seed
contamination
visible in
the wool
but
minimal
mainly
concentrated
in the
belly
regions.
(c) "Medium Seed" -
Light seed contamination is present over most of the wool surface but is
concentrated around the bellies and legs.
(d) "Heavy Seed" -
Heavy contamination extending through most of the wool but especially around the
bellies and legs.
(e) "Burry" - Wool
contaminated with hard seed sometimes/commonly referred to as "Bathurst Burr".
Concentration can be from light to heavy. This type of seed can cause
problems if it is not removed before the fleshing process as the burr will
be punched through the pelt by the feed rollers.
Rib
Character
or Ribby
Skins -
A general
characteristic
of the
Australian
Merino
breed is
the
presence
of
"rib
lines"
in the
pelt. This
"ribby" effect is caused by skin folds which has been bred into Merinos to
produce more skin area and hence higher wool yields. The description is derived
from the fact these lines tend to follow the same pattern as the rib cage of the
animal. The degree of rib is described as light, medium or heavy. Heavy "rib" is
generally visible in the wool as well as being plainly visible in the pelt.
Excessive rib causes problems during fleshing as skins tend to easily tear along
the "rib lines".
Shear
Scar - Skins freshly
shorn of their wool prior to slaughter ( sometimes referred to as "bares" ) are
susceptible to shear scar or cuts. This term refers to the open cuts
inflicted on the live skin during the shearing process. This damage can be
from very light (1 - 2 cuts) to very heavy. In the later case the skin is
basically rendered useless for any purpose.
Weather Tip
- The first 5mm of most wool is weather affected, either by sun, rain or dirt.
That is, the wool tip is exposed to the elements so allowance should be made for
it's removal to get down to clean wool otherwise during process. This tip
will react differently than the rest of the wool fibre during processing.
For example during dying the wool tip, because it is sun bleached, will come up
a lighter colour than the lower fibre producing a "snow top" like effect.
Alternatively this tip can be stained rather than bleached depending on the
conditions producing darker patches over the wools surface unless it is removed.
Wool
Tenderness
- skin diseases such as
various forms of dermatitis can affect the quality of the wool. There are
various other problems such as lice infestation, dead wool, tender wool and
regrowth. The longer the wool gets the weaker the fibre becomes.
Wool
Length
- Skins
are
generally
classed,
packed and
sold in
the following standard
wool
lengths for automotive applications:
0.13" - 0.25"
(04mm - 7mm) Weather tip and length can be a problem in using these
cheaper lower grades.
0.25" - 0.50"
(7mm - 13mm)
0.50" - 1.00"
(13mm - 26mm) Specific
higher selection,
tannery lines are also produced.
Wool Quality
- is broken down into 3 specific types
GS
- Good to
Super " - Wool is of a good colour, free or nearly free of burr
and/or seed. May contain light dusty but high yielding skins.
ORD
- " Ordinary "
- Light to moderate burr / seed, earthy, discoloured, heavy conditioned
wool - or any combination of those faults in moderate degree.
May also include slightly damaged wool.
INF
- "Inferior"
- Heavily burred skins, seedy, earthy, badly discoloured wool or wool of
heavy condition, or any combination of those faults as well as damaged wool.
Wool
Counts (
See Wool Count expressed in Microns )
44/50
-
Coarse
woolled
English
breeds are
generally
only suitable for nappa production.
50/58
- Merino
crossed with an English breed - therefore the term " crossbred ".
Produces quick growing, heavier "spring lambs" for meat production.
Towards the 58's range this type is commonly referred to as a "fine cross" as the
breed is tending more towards Merino fine wool characteristics.
58/64+
-
Generally
fine wool
Merino
primarily
raised for
wool
production. Tendency is for the ribby
effect of
the Merino
breed to be prominent.
Ideal Selection
- Generally linings are sold as a 50's & finer selection. Price limits the
demand for higher selections.
Pelt
Quality
1st
Grade - "
Sound Dressing ", being of good
shape,
free from
flay marks
and knife
cuts, free
from
seed.
Clean,
fresh
stock.
May
include
light rib,
especially
about
necks. Commonly
represented by the figure (i) when being quoted in specifications.
2nd
-
"
Second
Dressing
",
may
include
light rib
and skins
with
occasional
neck
and/or
flank cuts
and/or
faults.
May be of
slightly
asymmetric
in
shape.
May show
light
belly
seed,
otherwise
free, or
practically
free of
seed.
Commonly represented by the figure (ii) when being quoted in specifications.
3rd
- " Third
Selected
Damage
"
- may show
cuts
and/or
medium rib
and/or
light to
medium
seed or be
misshapen
but the
prime area
free from
serious
detect.
Commonly represented by
the figure (iii) when being quoted in specifications.
4th
- " Damaged
"
-
pelts
showing
heavy rib
and/or
seed
damage
and/or
misshapen
or
otherwise
damaged.
All
extremely
badly
damaged or
interior
pelts
excluded.
Commonly represented by
the figure (iv) when being quoted in specifications.
Pieces -
Skins which have been torn into two or more pieces
during the take-off from the animal. Mainly used for the toy or mosaic rug
production.
For linings
pelt defects are not of any great importance, however good shape and size are.
Packing
Salted
-
Packed on
pallets of
about 900
to 1000
kgs gross
weight, 20 pallets per 20 foot ocean freight container. Pallet
quantities vary according to wool lengths and skin types but the usual standard
is as follows :
0.13" - 0.25" (04mm - 07mm) - 6,000 per container
0.25" - 0.50"
(07mm - 13mm) - 5,000 per container
0.50" - 1.00"
(13mm - 26mm) -
4,000 per container
Sales
Salted
-
Sold per
piece
without
stated
weights.
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