Name: Vertical Brushing Machine
Brand: QL Machinery
SKU: WPF-SM

Question 1

What's the difference between brushing and sanding/emerizing? Which does QL make?

Accepted Answer

Brushing and sanding are different finishing actions. Brushing uses rotating brushes to comb or raise fibres without removing material, while sanding (emerizing) uses abrasive rollers to abrade the surface, removing some fibre for a fuzzy, peach-skin feel. QL makes the brushing machines — the WPF-SSMDX wet brushing and setting machine and the WPF-SM vertical brushing machine (steam box optional). For the sanding step, tell QL about your line and we will help work out the right configuration.

Question 2

What does a vertical steaming-and-brushing machine do, and how much does this step matter for finished fabric quality?

Accepted Answer

A vertical steaming-and-brushing machine is a vertical brushing machine fitted with a steam box, working after shearing: the steam box softens and re-moistens the pile, then rotating brushes re-align the fibres, removing the crushed, disordered look shearing leaves behind. The step matters for finished appearance — shearing only trims the pile to an even length, it does not make the nap lie in one uniform direction. Brushing turns even length into an even look, which often decides whether the cloth surface reads as smooth and uniform. QL's machine for this station is the WPF-SM vertical brushing machine, positioned right after shearing, with the steam box as an option.

Question 3

What is brushed fabric, and what is wet-brushed fabric?

Accepted Answer

Brushed fabric is cloth whose face has been mechanically brushed to lift fibre ends into a fine, even nap, giving a softer, fuzzier hand — flannel is a familiar example. Wet-brushed fabric specifically means that brushing happens while the fabric is still damp, common for wool: the nap lies flatter and more uniform than dry brushing, which tends to leave fibres standing loose, and it's usually followed by a setting step to lock that nap in place. QL's wet brushing and setting machine WPF-SSMDX handles the wet side and our vertical brushing machine WPF-SM the dry side, with an optional steam box for steaming before brushing — get in touch and we'll help you pick.

Question 4

How does a vertical steaming-and-brushing machine work?

Accepted Answer

A vertical steaming-and-brushing machine is a vertical brushing machine with a steam box, and it works in two coordinated stages. As the fabric travels vertically through the machine, the steam box first moistens and heats the pile, softening the fibres so they comb more easily. Rotating brushes then sweep the pile in a set direction, re-aligning fibres left crushed and disordered by shearing. The steaming stage exists to make brushing work — dry, stiff fibres resist brushing and are more prone to damage without it. QL's WPF-SM vertical brushing machine brushes on its own; with the optional steam box it becomes exactly this steam-then-brush structure.

Question 5

What should I do when a vertical steaming and brushing machine breaks down?

Accepted Answer

A vertical steaming-and-brushing machine is a vertical brushing machine fitted with a steam box — QL's model is the WPF-SM. First work out whether it is a process issue or a machine issue: a problem that only shows up after switching fabric or weight is usually a parameter that was not adjusted; one that keeps recurring without a fabric change usually points to the machine itself. Contact QL with the model, the fault symptoms and photos, and we will judge by model and propose a fix — including on discontinued imported machines.

Question 6

What model variants of vertical steaming and brushing machine are available?

Accepted Answer

At QL the vertical steaming and brushing machine is the WPF-SM vertical brushing machine: the base machine brushes and the steam box is an option — fitted with it, the machine steams before brushing, so there is no separate steaming-and-brushing model and no other published sub-variants. It sits right after raising and shearing, combing the loose, disordered nap straight in one direction and brushing out loose fibre; with the steam box, steam softens the pile first. Whether your width, output and fabric call for the steam box is confirmed case by case — contact QL with your process conditions.

Question 7

Which manufacturer makes a good vertical steaming and brushing machine?

Accepted Answer

A vertical steaming-and-brushing machine is a vertical brushing machine with a steam box, a category with few makers, mostly in Europe and China. It works well when steam penetration and brush combing together lay the disordered post-raising nap straight without loose fibre. QL has worked on wool finishing alone for three generations, and the WPF-SM Vertical Brushing Machine, with its optional steam box, sits on that chain, built new in-house, with used European machines refurbished and re-engineered as well. Bring QL your fabric and process needs and we set the configuration together: WhatsApp +1 380 900 2442, or +86 189 2110 8080.

Question 8

What does brushing do after shearing?

Accepted Answer

Because shearing only fixes the pile's length, not its direction. Shearing trims the pile to an even height, but the cutting action leaves fibres crushed and lying in disordered directions, which reads as dull with scattered reflection. Brushing combs those fibres back into one consistent direction so light reflects evenly, giving the cloth a uniform lustre, and it also clears away loose fibre debris left by shearing. QL's WPF-SM vertical brushing machine is positioned right after shearing to do exactly this.

Vertical Brushing Machine

The machine, up close

Key advantages

Fabric results (before / after)

Threading diagrams

Key specifications

Common problems in dry finishing

What can the WPF-SM do for your line?