Best Results for Flocking

[ncbuckeye67]

   I see some very realistic looking "carpet" on this forum, using flocking. I seem to get mostly crappy results (spotty,thin,patchy). Recently I've tried other materials, because of my frustration with this stuff. I do use a sifter to apply the flocking, after brushing Elmer's Glue over the surface of my interior floor (it is the Dollar Tree brand though). 

[TarheelRick]

I also had trouble getting a smooth carpet with Elmer's.  I switched to spray adhesive, it is used quite frequently by photographers to attach a finished print to backing board.  One bit of advice, it goes everywhere so you will need to mask where you do not want flocking.  It can be a bit messy, but I have good results with it so I will put up with the inconvenience.  One other option is to paint the floor with a color very close to the flocking and use the wet paint as an adhesive source.  Hope these ideas help.

[StevenGuthmiller]

Try embossing powder.

And thin your glue with water.

I thin it down probably 1:1.

 

With embossing powder, there's no need to "sift" it.

Just dump it on, shake it around, and pour off the excess.

 

 

 

 

Steve

[crazyjim]

I use only Elmer's glue with flocking.  Off brands didn't work as well.

[ncbuckeye67]

2 minutes ago, crazyjim said:

I use only Elmer's glue with flocking.  Off brands didn't work as well.

Yeah, that was my 1st mistake I think.

[ncbuckeye67]

40 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Try embossing powder.

And thin your glue with water.

I thin it down probably 1:1.

 

With embossing powder, there's no need to "sift" it.

Just dump it on, shake it around, and pour off the excess.

 

 

 

 

Steve

 

40 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Try embossing powder.

And thin your glue with water.

I thin it down probably 1:1.

 

With embossing powder, there's no need to "sift" it.

Just dump it on, shake it around, and pour off the excess.

 

 

 

 

Steve

  I have used embossing powder, but I think the texture doesn't look right sometimes. I love it as a "spray-on" bedliner. It's spot on for that, in my opinion. I have not however, thinned my glue before applying the flocking. I read a tip somewhere else, that showed the difference sifting makes when applying the flocking. I thought it looked better sifted. It may also depend on where you get your flocking from, as well. Beautiful interior, by the way!

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

5 minutes ago, ncbuckeye67 said:

 

  I have used embossing powder, but I think the texture doesn't look right sometimes. I love it as a "spray-on" bedliner. It's spot on for that, in my opinion. I have not however, thinned my glue before applying the flocking. I read a tip somewhere else, that showed the difference sifting makes when applying the flocking. I thought it looked better sifted. It may also depend on where you get your flocking from, as well. Beautiful interior, by the way!

 

I have the opposite opinion.

I think that the small granular texture of embossing powder looks much closer to the short pile carpets seen in most vehicles over the long fibers of flocking.

Flocking looks more like “shag” carpet to me.

 

 

 

Steve

[ctruss53]

I paint the parts approximately the same color as the flocking because part color can effect the shade of the flocking.

Then I brush on some Elmers glue. I haven't tried thinning it yet, I just brush on the glue as is.

Then I use a tea strainer screen. Put the embossing powder in that and tap on it to sprinkle it on semi-evenly.

Let the glue dry then shake off the excess powder.

[ncbuckeye67]

1 hour ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

I have the opposite opinion.

I think that the small granular texture of embossing powder looks much closer to the short pile carpets seen in most vehicles over the long fibers of flocking.

Flocking looks more like “shag” carpet to me.

 

 

 

Steve

That is true. It looks like 60's & 70's carpet, and flocking looks like some 80's & 90's carpet.

[Can-Con]

1 hour ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

 

Flocking looks more like “shag” carpet to me.

Steve

[DiscoRover007]

I use spray adhesive. It takes a little more work because you need to mask off the areas you don't want carpeted. But the cool thing is you can spray, apply it, dump the excess and if you still have patches you can respray and reflock again. Or you can fix small patches with the white glue method if you choose to. This gives you a strong and thick layer of flocking without looking matted that Elmer's glue can do sometimes.

 

Edited July 10, 2023 by DiscoRover007

[NOBLNG]

It’s embossing powder for me too. This is two applications using thinned white glue. I dump it on, tamp it in place, then dump it off and tap the part to get the excess un-adhered stuff off.

Edit: I also spray a coat of flat clear on it after each application to seal it and keep it from shedding.

 

Edited July 11, 2023 by NOBLNG

[Straightliner59]

I'm firmly in the Embossing Powder camp. Unlike others have stated, I use a similarly-colored paint, for adhesive. I just feel it has a more realistic appearance. It's also easier to work with.

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

1 hour ago, Straightliner59 said:

I'm firmly in the Embossing Powder camp. Unlike others have stated, I use a similarly-colored paint, for adhesive. I just feel it has a more realistic appearance. It's also easier to work with.

I'll usually use enamel paint from the bottle as adhesive. I feel it makes it more sticky and the powder sticks better. With thinned Elmer's I have to go over some bald spots.

[OldNYJim]

6 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

Edit: I also spray a coat of flat clear on it after each application to seal it and keep it from shedding.

I found that my wife’s hairspray works well for that too, when I don’t feel like breaking out the airbrush 

[Dpate]

I was doing embossing powder, but I could never get good results with it on non flat services. So I started using the stuff they use to wrap jewelry boxes etc. stuff comes in lot of colors, and it very thin easy to cut, and sticks really good. Whether or not it looks real or not is mute to me - because isn’t no one looking at a fully built model like MAN that carpet look good - unless it’s convertible or something, but still get ya priorities straight lol. 

Edited July 11, 2023 by Dpate

[Bills72sj]

35 minutes ago, Dpate said:

I was doing embossing powder, but I could never get good results with it on non flat services. So I started using the stuff they use to wrap jewelry boxes etc. stuff comes in lot of colors, and it very thin easy to cut, and sticks really good. Whether or not it looks real or not is mute to me - because isn’t no one looking at a fully built model like MAN that carpet look good - unless it’s convertible or something, but still get ya priorities straight lol. 
 

That sounds MUCH less messy. Where do you get the stuff?

[Dpate]

1 hour ago, Bills72sj said:

That sounds MUCH less messy. Where do you get the stuff?

I got mine from Amazon. Different brands and different colors. But $9 for a 10 pack so enough to do tons n tons of models. I know lot of folks don’t like the look, but done right with better cutting than I did I think it looks the part for what it is. 

Edited July 11, 2023 by Dpate

[ncbuckeye67]

16 hours ago, DiscoRover007 said:

I use spray adhesive. It takes a little more work because you need to mask off the areas you don't want carpeted. But the cool thing is you can spray, apply it, dump the excess and if you still have patches you can respray and reflock again. Or you can fix small patches with the white glue method if you choose to. This gives you a strong and thick layer of flocking without looking matted that Elmer's glue can do sometimes.

 

 

16 hours ago, DiscoRover007 said:

I use spray adhesive. It takes a little more work because you need to mask off the areas you don't want carpeted. But the cool thing is you can spray, apply it, dump the excess and if you still have patches you can respray and reflock again. Or you can fix small patches with the white glue method if you choose to. This gives you a strong and thick layer of flocking without looking matted that Elmer's glue can do sometimes.

 

I've thought about using a spray adhesive, but it needs to be a good quality (much better than what I have on hand.It's too runny). I used 3M on my headliner, back in the 90's. I will definitely be getting some for my next flocking attempt!

[ncbuckeye67]

12 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

It’s embossing powder for me too. This is two applications using thinned white glue. I dump it on, tamp it in place, then dump it off and tap the part to get the excess un-adhered stuff off.

Edit: I also spray a coat of flat clear on it after each application to seal it and keep it from shedding.

 

That is a gorgeous interior! Especially the bits of "carpet" on the door panels & console.

[ncbuckeye67]

Thanks for all the input guys!

[StevenGuthmiller]

Another one done with white glue and embossing powder.

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

 

 

Edited July 11, 2023 by StevenGuthmiller

[peteski]

15 hours ago, Dpate said:

 So I started using the stuff they use to wrap jewelry boxes etc. stuff comes in lot of colors, and it very thin easy to cut, and sticks really good. Whether or not it looks real or not is mute to me - because isn’t no one looking at a fully built model like MAN that carpet look good - unless it’s convertible or something, but still get ya priorities straight lol. 

Yes the fuzzy self-adhesive sticker material looks great, but with stickers I always worry that after few years the adhesive will weaken and the material will relax, and peel away from the curved surfaces.

[Dpate]

5 hours ago, peteski said:

Yes the fuzzy self-adhesive sticker material looks great, but with stickers I always worry that after few years the adhesive will weaken and the material will relax, and peel away from the curved surfaces.

Could say the same bout anything with adhesive like BMF etc, just gotta have faith lol. But IF it did come up a little in a corner or curved surface I wouldn’t ever see it especially being black.  But could always lay down a nice smooth coat of CA glue or etc and, then lay down the felt. Might actually test that out on a scrap part, and see how it bonds. 

Edited July 12, 2023 by Dpate

[BDSchindler]

Ahhh, FLOCK-IT!

No...seriously Just FLOCK-IT! (https://www.flockit.com/)

That said, I haven't tried embossing powders...yet.