SHEARING AID

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30234, 12 September 1963, Page 10

SHEARING AID

Repellent To Grease Wonk by the Division of Protein Chemistry of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in collaboration with the Australian Wool Buaed has shown that the appl.catton of a grease-repellent chemical—polyietrafluurethy - lene iP.T.F.E.)—to the under surface of the shearing comb can take some of the hard work out of shearing and increese the va<lue of the fleece The use of P.F.T.E. prevents the build-up of grease, which normally accumulates on the shearing comb during shearing. At certain times of the season the build-up of grease m some wool-growing airees is so rapid that shearers are forced to clean or change their combs after shearing only a few sheep The presence of this grease slows down the movement of the handpiece through the fleece and causes the shearer to tik the comb towards the skin surface. This causes an increase in both the number of skm cuts and the number of skin pieces appearing in the fleece. Tillting the comb can also increase the number of second cuts which further lower the value of the fleece. Treating combs is still somewhat expensive but the promising results obtained so far have stimulated efforts to produce a more economic treatment with greater commercial! possibilities.