Felting with a sander

Probably the most comfortable type of felting! However, there is lots to consider because basic safety regulations have to be followed when an electric machine is close to fluids.
That is why every liability claim expires when a sander is used for felting, even Schmidt & Bleicher OHG can not be made responsible for possible damages, especially water damages.
You felt with a sander at your own risk!
 
So much for the legal matters, now to our experiences with these practical helpers:
Normal, commercial sanders have some bigger or smaller holes, through which the wood shavings can be vacuumed. These holes are not beneficial when it comes to felting. When accidently some soapy water is vacuumed, it gets into the inside of the device and a short and total damage of the motor could be the result

That is why a several centimeter thick rubber plate or similar should be attached to the bottom of the grinder. This can also contain of several glued together pieces of foam rubber and can very likely be bigger than the grind plate, in order to increase the effectiveness. Because a tight but if required also removable connection between rubber and grinding plate is fairly complicated, a new acquisition only for felting might be worth considering for people who felt a lot. This can then be permanently connected with silicon, two-component glue, superglue or with a different creative fixture.

Once you have tried the benefits of felting with a sander, you will never want to go back. That is why a high quality device with a high life expectancy can definitely be beneficial.
 

The felting process is similar to felting by hand but a lot more comfortable. Simply put on top of the project, turn out and move back and forth every once in a while. On dense parts some pressure should be applied, that is all. However, there should always be a foil between the felting piece and the sander, to avoid any splatter or water damages! Never touch the hands the appliance with wet hands!
The temperature of the soapy water does not matter too much. It just takes a little longer when it is colder. With this technique a very good basic connection between silk and wool can easily be created. If the wool is supposed to strongly felt and shrink, the piece should additionally be felted in a water bath afterward. For that, fill a bathtub or sink with preferably hot water and add some soap, add the felted piece and knead and push well with your hands. Due to the first felting with the sander, the wool shrinks within a short amount of time and wonderful three dimensional effects are created. Even heavy and tightly woven fabrics like Crepe Satin 19 can be felted on without much effort.