Ashford Drum Carder
Ashford Drum Carder
SKU: SKU: ADCF
🧶 We'll wind your yarn into neat cakes for easy knitting/crocheting!
- Fine 72 tpi: Available to ship
- Superfine 120 tpi: Available to ship
Ships in 1-2 business days
Couldn't load pickup availability
The Ashford Drum Carder is Ashford's standard 8 in hand-crank carder. It turns washed fleece or commercial sliver into batts up to 2 oz, ready to spin or felt, and it blends colors and fibers evenly. It arrives assembled and lacquered. You fit the handle and the clamps, and it's ready to card.
Two drive ratios set what it does. Run the band at 6:1 to card fleece into a smooth, even batt, and at 4:1 to blend sliver, colors and different fibers into an open, airy batt. The packer brush presses fiber into the large drum's teeth, so the drum holds more and keeps fine, low-crimp fibers such as mohair, angora and alpaca under control.
Fine 72 or Superfine 120
Fine, 72 point, is the all-round cloth for medium and fine wools and most exotic fibers, and it's the one to pick if you're unsure. Superfine, 120 point, is for finer wools like merino and for luxury fibers. If you're torn, call or chat with us and we'll help you choose.
What's in the box
- The carder, assembled, with the adjustable packer brush fitted
- Awl (doffer) to part and lift the batt off the drum
- Cleaning brush, drive band and two table clamps
| Carding width | 8 1/4 in |
| Batt | Up to 2 oz, about 8 in by 24 in |
| Card cloth | Fine 72 point or Superfine 120 point, coated wire teeth on a rubber backing for long life |
| Ratios | 6:1 for fleece, 4:1 for blending |
| Drum gap | Factory set at 0 to 1/16 in, adjustable, closer for fine fiber, wider for bulky |
| Size | 17 3/4 in long, 16 1/4 in wide, 9 in high |
| Weight | 11 lb |
| Build | Beech hardwood, lacquered, nylon bearings for an easy turn, rubber feet so it stays put |
Spares and add-ons
Spares are the same parts that come in the box. We keep spares of its drive band, packer brush and awl, and of the cleaning brush and clamps. For spinning straight off the carder, add the Ashford Diz Stick to pull each batt off as one long, ready-to-spin sliver.
For art batts with fabric, ribbon and locks carded in, the Wild Drum Carder's long teeth hold them. For 4 oz batts and half as many passes on a big project, the Wide Drum Carder carries the same cloth on a 12 1/2 in drum. For carding in volume without cranking, the e-Carder 30 runs on two motors with a foot switch.
When something does need a person, our wheel tech services Ashford drum carders here in Spokane, we ship their parts anywhere, and Ashford's 12 month guarantee on manufacturing faults runs through us as your dealer. For anything else, call or chat with us.
Why Paradise Fibers?
Your trusted partner in creativity since 1997. Family-owned, expert-driven, and dedicated to fueling your passion.
Real "Fiberers" on Staff
Family-owned, and staffed by spinners, knitters, and weavers who can answer your questions.
Huge Selection
Over 20,000 yarns, fibers, and tools in stock, and orders ship fast.
Trusted by the Flock
Serving over 250,000 happy customers with a 4.9-star rating based on 10,000+ verified reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Neither cloth is made for cotton. Cotton needs much finer cloth than a drum carder carries, and Ashford's 190 point Cotton Hand Carders are the tool for it. On this carder, Superfine 120 is the cloth for fine merino and luxury fibers.
Yes. Ashford asks for washed wool, because the grease and dirt in raw fleece clog the card cloth and shorten its life. Wash it, let it dry fully, and tease the locks open before they go on the feed tray.
Lift the packer brush out of the teeth, turn the large drum until the doffer strip is on top, and run the awl along the groove in the strip to part the batt. Then pull the batt back over the drum. To pull it off as sliver instead, use the Ashford Diz Stick.
Ashford's own videos on carding fleece and blending are in the photos above. Jo Reeve's Ashford Book of Carding covers flick, hand and drum carding, color blending and four projects. If your first batt isn't coming out right, call or chat with us and we'll help you sort it out.
Brush the drums clean between batts, and put a drop of Ashford oil on the bearings if the handle gets stiff. When you put it away, move the drive band to the smaller pulley so the band doesn't stretch.