Felt is not woven. It is wool fibre compressed under heat, moisture and pressure until it locks into itself.
That single fact explains everything else about it. Because there is no weave there is no grain, no fraying and no direction — a washer cut from felt behaves the same whichever way it was cut. Because the fibres interlock rather than being spun together, the material can be compressed hard and still recover.
Wool felt is the traditional material and still the best for sealing and wicking. Needle-punched non-woven felt, made by mechanically entangling fibre rather than pressing it, covers the jobs where cost, chemical resistance or a specific synthetic property matters more.
Why it works
Six propertiesthat keep it in use
No weave
Felt has no grain, so it can be cut in any direction and will not fray or unravel at the edge.
Holds oil
The fibre structure holds many times its own weight in lubricant and releases it slowly, which is why felt makes a wick.
Compresses and recovers
It can be squeezed into a groove and will push back, sealing without a spring.
Polishes without cutting
Soft enough to carry compound against a surface without scratching it.
Damps vibration
Dense wool absorbs energy, which is why it sits between parts that would otherwise rattle.
Takes any shape
Cut, turned, moulded, bonded or laminated — a felt part can be almost any form.