Mica powder as flocking. Lessons learned.

[Bills72sj]

I tried an experiment this evening of using a couple of my mica powders combined together as flocking. Results were mixed. I picked a blue and a green to attempt to match the turquoise of my interior. Previous handling of the mica powders forewarned me of how potentially messy than can get. Preparation and carefulness kept everything to a minimum. I was able to get close enough to the shade I desired by adjusting the mix. I selected a scrap piece of painted plastic to minimize the background's color effecting the end result. However, after trying thinned Elmer's, Plastruct Bondene and Mr Cement I still ended up with various amounts of undesired clumping. The texture, sheen and color definitely have potential but, none of the adhesives I used are satisfactory. Then there is the issue of the masking needed to keep it off of where I do not want it. So, at this time, I am not ready to apply it to my mostly detailed interior.

What adhesives have any of you has success with?

P.S. This job definitely needs to be performed in the paint booth.

[stitchdup]

you might get a better result using double sided tape bacause the glue isn't wet. when you add the mica powders to the glues the reason they clump is due to the fine grains of the powder. its like adding baking soda (or any other powdered substance) to superglue to use as filler. also you wont be able to use some paints as some mica powders are made to melt into paints to make your own colours while others are more like adding flake to a 1/1 paintjob. you could also try those glue sticks we used in school, the brand on this side of the pond was called pritstik and again its a fairly dry glue but I've never tried it on plastic or painted surfaces and due to the nature of the gluestik it might not work for tight corners unless you reshape the end of the stick but they can be mashed back together after. they usually cost around 2.50 for 5 in the toy section or with the pens and paper. the tubes are a bit bigger than lip balm tubes

[Straightliner59]

4 hours ago, Bills72sj said:

I tried an experiment this evening of using a couple of my mica powders combined together as flocking. Results were mixed.

I see what you did, there. Very punny!?

[StevenGuthmiller]

I'm thinking that pearl powders would be too fine to give even results.

It's hard enough to get a courser powder like embossing powder to cover evenly.

 

 

 

 

Steve

[Bills72sj]

12 hours ago, stitchdup said:

you might get a better result using double sided tape bacause the glue isn't wet. when you add the mica powders to the glues the reason they clump is due to the fine grains of the powder. its like adding baking soda (or any other powdered substance) to superglue to use as filler. also you wont be able to use some paints as some mica powders are made to melt into paints to make your own colours while others are more like adding flake to a 1/1 paintjob. you could also try those glue sticks we used in school, the brand on this side of the pond was called pritstik and again its a fairly dry glue but I've never tried it on plastic or painted surfaces and due to the nature of the gluestik it might not work for tight corners unless you reshape the end of the stick but they can be mashed back together after. they usually cost around 2.50 for 5 in the toy section or with the pens and paper. the tubes are a bit bigger than lip balm tubes

Thank you for the feedback. It gives me more options in this experiment.

[Bills72sj]

1 hour ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

I'm thinking that pearl powders would be too fine to give even results.

It's hard enough to get a courser powder like embossing powder to cover evenly.

Steve

Thanks Steve. You may be correct in the end but since I already have all this material I figured maybe I could come up with an additional use for it.

[Mike 1017]

On 7/29/2023 at 3:34 PM, Bills72sj said:

Thanks Steve. You may be correct in the end but since I already have all this material I figured maybe I could come up with an additional use for it.

Pearls powders are liquid soluble. They are used to be mixed in with paint to achieve the desired pearl effect. Any contact with any type of liquids, glues included will start the pigments to dissolve. There are tons of different colored embossing powder available.

Good luck

Mike

[Bills72sj]

7 hours ago, Mike 1017 said:

Pearls powders are liquid soluble. They are used to be mixed in with paint to achieve the desired pearl effect. Any contact with any type of liquids, glues included will start the pigments to dissolve. There are tons of different colored embossing powder available.

Good luck

Mike

Thanks for the feed back Mike. when I did my paint test, the powders did not want to mix with Future (acrylic). They did mix very well with clear lacquer but I would not call it dissolved. I have not tried the pearls yet.

[peteski]

On 7/31/2023 at 3:25 PM, Mike 1017 said:

Pearls powders are liquid soluble. They are used to be mixed in with paint to achieve the desired pearl effect.

I believe you used incorrect term. "Soluble" means they will totally dissolve in liquid. Like when you put sugar crystals in your tea and stir it.  The crystals totally disappear because they dissolve.

Pearls powders do not dissolve. They stay suspended in the liquid. That is why the liquid with pearl powder in it will remain sparkly. Same with metallic paints - the particles do not dissolve in the liquid paint.

Edited August 2, 2023 by peteski

[Mike 1017]

10 hours ago, peteski said:

I believe you used incorrect term. "Soluble" means they will totally dissolve in liquid. Like when you put sugar crystals in your tea and stir it.  The crustals sotally disappear because they dissolve.

Pearls powders do not dissolve. They stay suspended in the liquid. That is why the liquid with pearl powder in it will remain sparkly. Same with metallic paints - the particles do not dissolve in the liquid paint.

I stand corrected.