We do our best to ensure that our photos are as true to color as possible. However, due to inconsistencies of various monitors, lighting sources, digital photography and dye lot variations, we cannot guarantee that the color you see on your screen accurately portrays the true color of the product. Screen images are intended as a guide only and should not be regarded as absolutely correct.

Jiatong Product Page

To avoid any issues - especially when placing larger orders - we recommend ordering one of our Sample Bags online. Alternatively, you can also contact one of our customer service representatives via at to request up to 1-4 free samples. Simply specify the type of felt and colors you are interested in along with your name and mailing address. Please note, these samples are sent via standard mail with no tracking information.

Dear customers, please note that as online sales have increased, there has been an influx of lost and stolen packages. Please be sure to monitor the status of your orders via your tracking number to avoid unattended packages. The Felt Store will not be responsible for lost or stolen packages.

Standard Shipping:
Please note, oversized packages may be subject to additional shipping fees.

• Orders will ship out between 1-3 business days.
• Longer processing times may occur for large volume orders or low stock inventory.
• Orders are shipped via FedEx Ground or Smart post.
• Once an order has left our facility there may be additional carrier wait times. For up to date information on carrier wait times please visit:
• FedEx updates.

2 Day Shipping:

• Orders ship out next business day.
• Large volume orders or low stock inventory may require longer than 2-day shipping. If this is the case a customer service representative will reach out to you.
• Orders are shipped via FedEx 2Day.

Delivery Service Interruptions:
Severe weather, natural disasters, and other conditions beyond our control can occasionally disrupt carrier services. Please be sure to visit the following links for updates on service alerts.

• Canada Post service alerts
• UPS service alerts
• FedEx service alerts
• USPS service alerts

Thank you for shopping at thefeltstore.com

Please Note:

1. The Felt Store does not cover the cost of return shipping.
2. We do not refund shipping and handling on returned items.
3. We do not offer product exchanges.

We are a small-family owned business and are not currently able to obtain the same shipping discounts available to larger retail corporations. The shipping costs shown on our website are the real time shipping estimates as provided by our shipping partners. We are actively looking into ways we can improve our shipping rates and appreciate your support.

Disclaimer: Customers are responsible for all shipping charges for any returned products. Shipping and handling are non refundable.

In order to return any purchase from our store please be sure to complete the following steps below.

Returning Items By Mail

1. Pack the items securely in a box and insert a copy of your packing slip.
2. Write your order number on the outside of the box.
3. Drop the package off at your local post office or your preferred carrier's location.
   
   US Return Address:
   The Felt Store Inc.
   Abbott Road BAY 2
   Lackawanna, NY
   
   
   Canadian Return Address:
   The Felt Store Inc.
   Wharton Glen Avenue
   Mississauga, ON
   L4X 2A8

Returning Items In Store

1. Bring your item to our Mississauga location during business hours.
2. One of our Customer Service Representatives will assist you with your return.

There is no additional shipping fees when you make an in-store return, however the original shipping fee from your order will not be refunded.

Conditions:

• Clearance items marked 'FINAL SALE' in the product name cannot be returned or exchanged unless the merchandise was found to be defective.
• Adhesive off the roll items are FINAL SALE and cannot be returned or exchanged unless the merchandise was found to be defective.
• Custom made products are not eligible for returns unless they were not made to the agreed-upon specifications.
• The customer is responsible for the return shipping.
• We will refund the purchase price minus shipping, if the item is returned to us within 30 days from the delivery date for the order.

We are not responsible for lost or damaged packages that are sent to us for return so please retain your tracking number when you ship your package. The Felt Store has the right to refuse the return of items if the package is opened, damaged, or is not the original product shipped.

A credit to your account will be issued within 14 days of your package being received. All refunds will be applied to the original method of payment.

Disclaimer: Orders exceeding $800 minus shipping, will be subject to a 15% re-stocking fee of the item value.

Off The Roll Cut Material

Off the roll cut material will be subjected to the following re-stocking fees:

• 5-10 cut pieces = 15% of items value
• 11-20 cut pieces = 20% of items value
• 21+ cut pieces = 25% of items value

To avoid this you can request up to three (3) samples by contacting one of our Customer Service Representatives or by purchasing one of our sample bags.

Free Boot Liner Returns

Boot Liners are eligible for free returns within 30 days of purchase. Each shipped package will include a pre-paid return label. Please follow the instructions below to complete your Boot Liner return:

Are you interested in learning more about automotive felt supplier? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

1. Place your boot liners into a shipping polybag or box.
2. Ensure that any previously used labels on the polybag or box have been removed.
3. Clearly write your order number, that begins with TWEB, on the outside of the polybag or box.
   • You can find your order number on the original packing slip, or in the confirmation you received after placing your order.
   • Place your pre-paid return label on the outside of the package you are returning.
   • Drop off your item at the nearest Canada Post office.

If a pre-paid return label was not enclosed in your original package, please contact Customer Service at or call us at 1-866-757-.

Conditions:

• Free Boot Liner returns are eligible on orders placed starting Feb. 4, .
• All boot liners must be in their original condition to be eligible for a return. The Felt Store will not accept returns that have been used or damaged.
• Items must be returned within 30 days of purchase.
• Clearance Boot Liners marked ‘FINAL SALE’ are not eligible for returns.
• We do not offer exchanges. If you require a different style or size of Boot Liner, we recommend you follow our return process for a full refund and place a new order online.
• Boot Liner purchases valued over $300 CAD, will be subject to a 20% restocking fee.

Home > Resources > SAE Felt: What is it and how is it made?

SAE Felt: What is it and how is it made?

What is SAE Industrial Felt?

SAE industrial felt, or technical felt, is nonwoven wool felt used in technical applications. There are two methods of manufacturing industrial felt: wet felting or dry needle punch felting.

Technical felts are produced in a variety of thicknesses, densities, and compositions to meet a wide range of needs. The SAE, formerly known as the Society of Automotive Engineers, mandates the standards of measurements applied to nonwoven wool felts used in:

• Gaskets
• Dryer seals
• Pads
• Washers
• Vibration Cushioning
• Dust Shields
• Acoustic Panels

At Bouckaert, we custom manufacture our SAE industrial felt using the needle punch method. Before discussing the differences between manufacturing methods, here are the characteristics of SAE felts and nonwoven wool felts in general.

Characteristics of Industrial Wool Felt

Felt is a versatile fabric explicitly engineered for high-pressure applications in specialized industries. With the natural benefits of using wool fiber (click here for our previous post on wool felt usages), here are some of the advantages to using industrial wool felt:

• Maintains its physical properties as it wears
• Highly absorbent and moisture-wicking (will seal out lubricants and oil)
• Sound and vibration dampening
• Does not ravel or fray
• Resistant to wear and tear
• Acts as a filtration system (gas and oil applications)
• Excellent padding for moving parts in machinery
• Natural fire-retardant properties

Industrial applications such as these require high levels of aversion to abrasion, oil and grease absorption, and wear and tear. To ensure the best application results, SAE felts are classified by their density, wool content, and durability.

• Density: Each grade of SAE felt ranges from hardest to most pliable, the main differing characteristic between felt grades. The thickness of pressed wool felt is controlled by the amount of pressure or needling applied during the manufacturing process. The denser the felt, the better it will retain its shape against the physical environment.
• Wool content: Each grade of SAE felt is (usually) a combination of raw wool fibers and polyester fiber but additional materials such as cotton, rayon/viscose, synthetic, or plant fibers can be used instead. These “filler” materials are added to create a particular characteristic to the final product that can not be achieved by wool and/or polyester alone.
• Durability: During the manufacturing process, the more pressure/needling applied (we will get into this in the next segment), the denser the felt will be. Durability relies, in part, on the amount of densification.

To note, the color of SAE industrial felts will vary. Since the wool used is natural and undyed, there is no way to control color consistency from lot to lot. There are also strict tolerance requirements based on wool content and density combined. The shape of wool can change naturally (depending on temperature) or manually (from cutting the material); density and wool content need to be adjusted to consider tolerance issues.

The Differences in Manufacturing

Wet Felting VS Dry Needle Punch Felting

All technical felts are produced under the same specs; the difference lies in the manufacturing process. Despite these “technical” differences, both processes in making SAE grade felt start the same way.

The wool fiber is first cleaned and blended with any additional synthetic materials before the carding process. The carding machine disentangles and mixes the fibers together to create a uniform web, aligning the individual fibers into a singular direction. Several of these webs are layered in alternating directions on a machine called a cross-lapper to build-up to the weight of the desired finished felt. This layered material will be much thicker (and less dense) than the finished product as it has not been densified yet. This material is referred to as a batt.

Wet Felting

The wet felting manufacturing process is known as the more “traditional” way of producing nonwoven felts. It uses heat, moisture, and pressure to mat and densify the fiber together.

The batts are wetted with hot water and fed into a plate hardener. The plate hardener applies vibrational pressure to the wetted material using rollers to help the fibers interlock together. The hot water, added acid, and pressure eventually cause the batts to shrink down in size, creating the densely matted fibers of a pressed felt.

The wet felt is left with a sulfuric acid residue that is then neutralized in tanks filled with sodium chloride (soda ash) and warm water solution. Once the felt is neutralized, it goes through a refulling machine to smooth out any irregularities on the surface. The felt must then be dried either in a dryer or oven or hung and stretched in a drying room.

Needle Punch Method (Dry Needle Felting)

Here at BIT, we manufacture our SAE grade felts using the needle punch method. Needle punched SAE felt is marked with an “N” for “needled in the official designation (example F-7N).  Here’s the difference in manufacturing:

As the name suggests, dry needle punch felting eliminates the use of moisture. Instead, the batts enter a needle loom; a precise machine that uses thousands of barbed needles mounted on a needle board to pierce the layered webs of fiber. The repeated punching of the needles entangles the fibers together to create the thick, dense felt.

Depending on the desired density, some needle punched SAE felts will then go through a heated press to further densify the material. Read more in-depth on the needle punch method here.

So Why Use Needle Punched Felt Vs A Pressed Felt for your SAE Needs?

The Pros and Cons of Needle Punched SAE Felt Vs Pressed SAE Felt

The use of chemicals in wet pressed felts gives the advantage of creating a smoother finish that allows the material to hold its shape better as it wears. The upside for needle punched felt is its economical and eco-friendly benefits; eliminating the use of harsh elements makes a cleaner production line that is more cost and time effective.

For exceptional sound insulation, needle punched felt is the go-to choice for acoustic paneling needs. But if there is one thing to remember when choosing between a wet felt or a needle punch felt, it is that both are produced under the same specs mandated by the SAE. The performance of needle punch felt is not compromised because of its manufacturing process.

Want to know how BIT can add value to your business by providing custom manufactured SAE grade industrial felts? Get in touch today!

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit oil absorbent felt supplier.