What does wool look like?

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Sugar_and_Spice

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Appologies for the daft question! Obviously I know what it looks like on a jumper or a sheep. But what does it look like on a numnah? It's not sheepskin, but I know of companies who sell both wool and sheepskin numnahs, so it must be possible somehow to get wool on a synthetic backing. So does anyone know how to tell wool from fake fur?
 
Thanks, I didn't think of that. So what does wool smell like compared to fake fur? I have a sheepskin seatsaver I can sniff but no fake fur. Does it make any difference that its been through the washing machine?

I was thinking of cutting a bit off and burning it to see if it melts or... does anybody know what wool does when you burn it? Apparently on a sheep it just turns brown but is that the same for a numnah? I'd like to point out that I didn't burn a sheep :biggrin3:
 
How wool burns depends on how much oil it has left in it and how dry it is. Clean dry wool will singe and smoulder. If it is long enough to pull out and twist wool will 'stick' to itself and create a thread
 
I think I know what you mean I have two numahs that are wool about I cm long pieces woven on to a backing on the inside of a thin cotton type quilted numah .
It's not sheep skin a skin but its strands of wool .
They smell like a wool jumper.
 
The telltale signs are description and price

Sheepskin is just that - wool and skin

Wool numnahs are real wool that has been bonded on to a backing, they will be slightly cheaper usually and will avoid using the term 'sheepskin' these give you the benefit of real wool but cheaper but some would say less hardwearing. Unless it says its sheepskin it probably isnt but doesnt mean its rubbish

Fake wool is easy to spot when compared to real and will be lowest in price
 
YorksG I didn't know about wool turning itself into a thread. It makes sense when I think about it! Feel a bit dim now, lol. I don't think I can pull it out of the backing fabric though.

Justabob that's good if wool doesn't burn :smile3: I don't think there's much oil in it really, it looks shiny but dry :confused3: but I know acrylic and nylon melt and I think that's what the fake fur numnahs are made of.

Goldenstar that's it! Except its not bonded onto anything nice, just a cheap backing and the fibre is 1 1/2" long. It just seems too good to be fake, yet looks a bit like something called vetbed for dogs which is fake fur.

WelshD I got it second hand that's the problem. It was made in the 1970s and used for 20yrs then put in storage. The bits I've de-matted (its choc full of horse hair) look clean and good as new and I was thinking maybe fake fur wouldn't last that long?
 
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