Hand-Crank Collection / Standard

Standard Drum Carder

Easy to use, easy to clean and easy to keep running. Built in solid oak with maintenance-free bearings.

Price

$499

Made to order in our workshop

Lead Time

Ships in 1–2 weeks

Test-carded before it ships

We built the Standard Drum Carder around one idea: carding should be simple. It is simple to use, simple to clean and simple to keep in top shape. Both the licker-in and the main drum turn on 1/2″ shafts in Delrin bearings, so there is nothing to oil, ever. We set the drum spacing by hand in our workshop before it ships, and you won't need to adjust it when you switch fibers. Just clamp it down and start carding. The frame is select solid oak, sealed with a hard-wearing lacquer finish.

Drum width8″ (20 cm)

Carding cloth72 TPI, stainless doffing strip

DriveHand crank, serpentine urethane belt

Order This Carder Specifications

5-Year WarrantyFrame, drums and bearings

Insured Worldwide ShippingTracked · 30-day returns

Made for

First Drum Carder · Hand Spinners · Felters

Everything you need. Nothing you don't.

Every carder is assembled, aligned and test-carded by hand before it leaves the workshop. Drum gap, belt tension and bearings are set so it runs smoothly from the first fleece, and the solid hardwood frame is finished to be used for decades.

“Unbox it, clamp it down and card your first batt the same afternoon.”

Specifications

Measured, tuned and test-carded.

Furniture-grade hardwood around a precision carding mechanism. Not sure which carding cloth suits your fiber? Tell us what you spin and we will recommend one.

01Drum width

8″ (20 cm)

02Carding cloth

72 TPI, stainless doffing strip

03Drive

Hand crank, serpentine urethane belt

04Drive ratio

6:1

05Batt size

Up to 30 g (1 oz)

06Weight

25 lb shipped · box 24 × 18 × 14 in

Anatomy of the Standard Drum Carder

Six details that make the difference at the drum.

No oiling, ever

Licker-in and main drum run on 1/2″ shafts in self-lubricating Delrin bearings, so there is no grease, no squeaks and no maintenance schedule.

Set once, card anything

Drum spacing is precision-set in our workshop before shipping. Switch from Merino to mohair without touching a single adjustment.

Cloth that lasts

A stainless steel doffing strip protects the carding cloth when you lift batts off, so the teeth stay straight year after year.

Silky-smooth crank

A serpentine urethane belt over ball-bearing idlers gives a smooth, quiet turn. Belts typically last around 10 years and swap out in minutes with no re-adjusting.

Ready out of the box

Includes a flicker brush for teasing locks and cleaning the drums, plus a sturdy doffer for lifting off finished batts.

Select solid oak

A frame of hand-selected oak with a durable lacquer finish that wipes clean and stands up to years of daily use.

Built to card the fibers you love

MerinoCorriedaleAlpacaMohairCashmereWensleydaleShetlandSilkMerinoCorriedaleAlpacaMohairCashmereWensleydaleShetlandSilk

Carder Models

48–120

TPI Cloth Options

5 Years

Warranty

30 Days

Returns

Customer Stories

Notes from the spinning wheel

Spinners · Felters · Fiber farms

I carded a whole Corriedale fleece in one weekend. The batts come off lofty and even, and the crank is so smooth my husband thought it was electric.

Sarah M.

Hand spinner — Vermont, USA

The 120 TPI cloth changed how I work with alpaca. No more neps, no more broken fibers — just soft clouds I can spin straight onto the wheel.

Elena R.

Alpaca farm owner

I sell art batts every week and the Electric Drum Carder Pro paid for itself in a season. Both hands free, reverse when I need it, and it still looks like a piece of furniture.

Hannah O.

Fiber artist & batt maker

FAQ

Before you order

Have another question? Email hello@wooldrumcarder.com and our makers will reply within one business day.

Which carding cloth (TPI) should I choose?

72 TPI is the all-rounder for most wools and blends. Choose 120 TPI for fine, short or slippery fibers like alpaca, cashmere, angora and silk, and 48 TPI for long-wools, locks and textured art batts. Not sure? Tell us what you spin and we’ll recommend one.

Hand-crank or electric?

Hand-crank carders are quiet, simple and need no power. Electric models leave both hands free to feed fiber, are easier on wrists and shoulders, and suit anyone who cards a lot or sells batts. See our electric drum carder page for a full comparison.

How long does it take to receive my carder?

Each carder is built to order. Most models ship in 1–4 weeks, and the Heirloom Walnut Drum Carder and Mill 16″ Electric Drum Carder take 4–6 weeks. We send photos before it leaves the workshop.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes. We ship worldwide, insured and tracked, in a fitted box. Import duties and taxes depend on your country and are shown before you pay where possible.

What warranty do you offer?

Every carder comes with a 5-year warranty on the frame, drums and drive, a 30-day return policy, and lifetime support with spare parts and replacement carding cloth.

Order the Standard Drum Carder