Following last month’s post on What is Abaca?, we’re going to have a look at the process behind making abaca fiber.

via Philippines Fiber Industry Development Association

Abaca fiber is extracted from the leaf sheath around the base of the abaca plant. Harvesting of abaca stalks usually takes place between 18 and 24 months from the first shoots. When mature, an abaca plant will have about 12 to 30 leaf stalks, each approximately 12 to 20 feet high. Subsequent harvest is done at 3 to 4 month intervals.

There are two stages in the harvesting process: (1) topping, when the leaf stalks are cut at the base of the petiole with a knife or a sickle, and (2) tumbling, when the stalks are tumbled down with the use of a bolo knife.

via The Common Thread

After tumbling, the cut stalks are put in a pile, ready for the next step: tuxying.

via Torb and Reiner

via Abaca-ManilaHemp.com

Tuxying is the process of extracting the fiber from the leaf sheaths. A specially-made tuxying knife is used to make an incision through the inner and middle layer of each sheath, close to the base or butt end to remove the outer layer.

The strips, or “tuxies”, obtained from this process are then put through a cleaning process, called stripping, in which all pulpy material is scraped off and the strands of fiber are freed. In the Philippines, the two common stripping methods in use are hand-stripping and spindle stripping.

Hand-stripping (hagotan) is a simple yet laborious method. The strip, or tuxy, is inserted between a block and the stripping knife, then pulled with force from the tip end of the tuxy to separate the fiber from any waste.

via Experience Catanduanes

Hand Stripping

via Minda News

via Future Fibres

The spindle stripping method involves winding the fibers around a tapered-shaped spindle which is kept in motion by an electric motor or an engine. A spindle stripped fiber tends to be whiter and more lustrous than a corresponding grade of hand stripped fiber.

via The Common Thread

Spindle Stripping

Fibers recovered vary from 1.5% to 2% by weight of the freshly cut stalks. The abaca fibers are then left out to dry naturally in the sun.

via Experience Catanduanes

via Square Tan

via Panoramio

via TravelPhil.com

via GlatFelter

Once the abaca fibers have dried out sufficiently, they are transported to a warehouse where they are sorted according to quality.

Abaca Machine Pressed

via Abatex

The best grades of abaca are fine, lustrous, light beige in colour and very strong. The official standard grades of abaca fiber are divided into three classes depending on the manner of extraction: hand-stripping, spindle-stripping or decortication. Quality is then determined by colour, texture, fiber length, strength, and cleaning, which is a direct result of the stripping method and knife used.

Further Reading & Resources;

(1) Official Grades of Abaca. Republic of the Philippines Department of Agriculture Fiber Industry Development Authority.  http://fida.da.gov.ph/Templates/abaca_grades_and_uses.htm

(2) The Story of Abaca. The Common Thread. http://www.the-common-thread.com/—-The-Story-of-Abaca.html

(3) Fiber Market Report: Baling, Local Purchase, Exports. Republic of the Philippines Department of Agriculture Fiber Industry Development Authority. http://fida.da.gov.ph/Templates/market_report_abaca.htm

Next post will go into more detail on the various uses of abaca fiber.