The fiber brake is a tool used to separate the woody part from the textile fibres of flax and hemp contained within the stalks. It consists of a wooden stand with one or more slits and a movable beater, which has complementary slits. The bundles of flax or hemp were placed transversely on the lower part of the fiber brake while the beater was moved repeatedly and vigorously to break the stalks and therefore separate the woody part from the textile fibres (gramolatura).