Before your cleaned and oiled fibers can be drawn out and spun into yarn, they usually require some futher preparation.  Some just need a gently teasing with the fingers prior to spinning, but others will require carding.  When you card the fiber, you staighten and dress it, forming a  roll or batt that is even in texture, and free of lumps and tangles.  When your carding is done properly, your spinning will be smooth and effortless.

If you are planning to do any amount of spinning you should invest in a pair of carding combs or "carders."  Carders are simply a pair of paddles, usually rectangular in shape, with handles attaches.  Each carder is covered on one side by little bent wire teeth, that are pitched at an angle.  These teeth are embedded in a backing of some sort, often leather or cloth.  There are many types of carders.  Some spinners prefer the heaviers metal ones because they are more durable.  Carders are also available in both flat-back or curved back styles.  Size is also a factor to consider.  If you buy carders that are very small, they won't hold as much fiber; it's wiser in the long run to buy ones that measure at least 4 1/2" x 8 1/2".

You will learn too, that there are carders with large, widely spaced teeth, and carders with small, fine, and closely spaced ones.  The ones with the larger, widely spaced teeth are better for working with fiber that is coarse, tangled, or very lumpy.  Carders with fine, closely set teeth are better for fiber that has already been carded once, but needs futher carding, or for fibers that are very delicate, such as furry or downy ones.  I think the best all-around choice for a beginner is a pair of mediu gauge wool carders, number 9 or 10.  These should be adequate for most purposes.

If you have old carding combs, you should be still able to use them.  If there aren't any missing teeth, and they are still embedded firmly in the backing, they are probably fine.  You can take a sharpening stone--the type used to sharpen knives-- and stroke the teeth from top to bottom several times.  Then stroke from bottom to top until the teeth have been sharpened enough to do a good job of carding.  This can be done with the newer carders too when they become dull.

If your teeth on your old carder are very loose, or falling out, or if they are very worn, you can sometimes buy another piece of card clothing with new teeth.  There are some companies that send you replacement clothing; while others will not.  If you can get the new card clothing, remove the old clothing and tack on the new one.  The backing and teeth on some new carders can also be replaced.  It just depends on the manufacturer. 

If you plan on spinning long fibers, ones that are really too long to handle on regular carding combs, you should have a long-toothed metal comb (like a dog comb) or a flicker comb on hand.  A flicker comb is simply a small carder that is used for "flicking" or spreding longer types of hair or wool so that the fibers are easier to draw for spinning.

Now for the spinner (like me) who has very large amounts of fiber to card, crank-operated cylinder carding machines are also available.  These carding surfaces are attached to two cylindrical drums, which rotate when the crank is turned.  The fiber is then fed under the smaller drum and is automatically spread on the larger drum.  The batt is then pulled off by hand.  Carding Machines may have either a wood or metal fram, and some models are much more efficient than others.  Each carder comes with its own directions.