[SallyintNorth]

Now I have my funny little Castlemilk Moorits, I want to be sure I get the best fleeces I can from them and have a go at preparing them and spinning them myself.

Is there any benefit in using hand shears over machine clippers?  Is a professional using a machine always a better bet than a novice (me) with hand shears?

[SingingShearer]

Depends on your shearer, if he's good and doesn't double cut too much then probably the machine would be best.  If you are confident with the hand shears and there is a good rise then hand shearing would be just as good.
The only difference is that hand shearing gives a clean cut whereas machine shears tend to smash the wool fibre's at the base which can make a fleece feel rough.

You could always roo them .

Philip

[jaykay]

And though Philip isn't blowing his own trumpet, he is a very good person to have shear them - shears well and is really calm and kind with the sheep, plus he'll come and do just a few. I was very impressed last year with ours and hope to have him do my Shetlands this year.

[SingingShearer]

Thanks for the compliment 
I'll probably be coming in your direction a couple of times in the season so I'm sure I'll be able to fit you in.

[Anke]

If these fleeces are just for your own use/pleasure and you don't mind them coming off in bits rather than the one expected when the sheep are professionally clipped, then you could have a go at it yourself.

I end up doing a few myself most years, and find the easiest way is to do the belly first as per normal sheep clipping, then tie them into a hurdle/corner with a halter and do them standing up. Starting at the tail end, one side first and pushing the fleece as it comes off over the hurdle. It really helps if another person can take the fleece as you cut. I love doing it, one or two sheep at a time, when the weather is nice - it is quiet and usually the shep relax into it too (but not always...) When you have finished one side just push the sheep against the other hurdle. The neck is a bit fiddly that way and I cannot do it always that clean. Used to be a problem with the Bowmonts, but the Shetlands are easier.

[kanisha]

You're like me I enjoy doing my own sheep a few at a time when the weather is good and everything is calm I can take things at my own speed and it is quite enjoyable. shearing the sheep is very tactile and you get to learn alot about each sheep. I do mine with me  sitting on a foot stool with the sheep propped  up between my legs. you can pretty much follow the same routine as shearing for standard sized sheep. 

[Fleecewife]

I'm with Anke and Kanisha - hand shear    With hand shearing you definitely cut through the rise, so you don't get lots of annoying little noils in your spinning.  But why not experiment - 2 handshorn and 2 machine clipped then see which you prefer     

There's a few months to go yet though Sally 

[SallyintNorth]

Thanks all for the input.     Much appreciated.

I think it's a very good idea to clip one or two by hand and the others by machine, to compare, then I'll know for another time. 

There's a few months to go yet though Sally 

   No harm in doing a bit of planning... 

[Fleecewife]

There's a few months to go yet though Sally 

   No harm in doing a bit of planning... 
[/quote]

   I think I'm nearly as excited as you are to know how their fleeces turn out, and how they spin     I will also be interested in how you feel about hand shearing v machine clipping once you've done them.

[SallyintNorth]

I had a chat about it with BH over breakfast.  He says you need a lot more of a rise to hand-clip than you do to machine-clip.

He did get the point about double-cutting and smashing the ends of the fibres.  (He has had a go at spinning since I brought a loan wheel home - and did pretty very well for a first attempt.  So he has an understanding of how the spinner will use the fleece, which is incredibly helpful.)

I suggested that at some point when he'd just put fresh combs and things in, so his clippers would be good and sharp, we (that is, he!) could clip one.  I must say I was not bowled over by his enthusiasm... So maybe it'll be me and some new, sharp hand shears.  I think I better see if the Wool Board are still doing their courses...  See, I told you it was a good idea to start to plan well ahead! 

(And Philip, do let me know if/when you are in my neck of the woods... sounds like no-one here with machine clippers is enthusiastic about my funny little 'geeps'!)

[FiB]

The wool board are still doing their courses - I just phoned up on Monday. In our area they do hand shearing too, so I may go on both if I can find the money. Also found out that in Wales you can have up to 80 % subsidy if you qualify, through 'farming connect' - dont think I do qualify (not enough 'heads' of livestock from what I hear).   Not sure my hand muscles will ever be up to handshearing any but the odd one or two of my flock, but like you I am interested in spinning it and understanding the differences and all the ins and outs of the process!  So much to learn, but very much lookng forward to it all (wish there wernt such 'mystical' parts though - like waiting for the wool to 'rise'!!  Always think'how will I know?' about things like that!)

[woollyval]

For any of you who hand ahear try Jakoti shears....much easier than the traditional ones!

[SallyintNorth]

So much to learn, but very much lookng forward to it all (wish there wernt such 'mystical' parts though - like waiting for the wool to 'rise'!!  Always think'how will I know?' about things like that

I am so a novice in all of this, so please will more experienced people correct me if I go wrong.

'the rise' is, as I understand it, the lanolin rising up into the fleece from the skin.  On white sheep you can see it as a yellow line, parallel to the skin, in the fleece if you part it down to the skin.  Under the yellow line, between it and the skin, the wool is new and very easy to cut - so that's where the clippers want to be.

Until the lanolin begins its journey, clipping is much harder to do, more uncomfortable for the sheep and blunts your clippers more.

Always think'how will I know?' about things like that

That's what TAS is all about, innit? 

[SingingShearer]

Hi Sally,

I will probably be coming up your way sometime around the end of May beginning of June.
I have sheared one of the biggest flocks of Castlemilk Moorits in the country. If you do do them yourself and want any advice, please feel free to contact me.

You are right about the rise but as well as the lanolin rising in some cases the whole of the fleece does as well and is only held on by a few fibres.

As for hand shears though I have never tried Jakoti shears I have seen them being used and I would say that a good well maintained and professionally set pair of blade shears are easier to use for long periods of time.

FiB:
I've never been on a Wool Board blade shearing course, I learned blade shearing from several farmers, using a number of different patterns. You will probably find that with the right set of shears, it will be surprisingly easy to get through a number of sheep without too much strain on your hands.

If it's any help, for a blade shearing pattern and also a picture of a set of professional blade shears, see http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=13147.msg128566#msg128566

Thanks,
Philip

[YorkshireLass]

Are there any hand shears small enough for teeny hands? I take "age 11-12" gloves....