"Industrial Application of Flock" Topic

I'm about to start looking into glue application for an industrial application of flocking.

Anyone have any suggestions? I don't think the standard PVA glue methods will work. I'm looking for something rather robust and easy to apply.

When you say industrial, are you talking about a lot of terrain pieces, or a large surface area?

Large flat surfaces. I'm assuming any spray glue would work but kinda curious what others have used in the past.

Industrial meaning I need to do a lot quickly and preferably cheaply. It will also need to be durable to excess. Up to a quality that you'd expect from a commercial product.

Will you be applying with a static wand? or is it just the standard flat flock?

If it's a sawdust or foam flocking, your best bet might be a latex paint. Apply a medium thickness coat with a roller, liberally dump the flocking over, then once dry re-apply the paint (thinner coat) and let dry. You could even drybrush at this stage if you wanted.

Latex paint is durable, can be color matched, and is (relatively) cheap. I've done this with large, heavily used, gaming tables.

If you're doing a static grass, I'd probably recommend a thick spray adhesive, and a static wand to help make it stand up.

+1 for Latex paint. Just use brown to simulate earth or color match your flock.

Joey

We used to do flocked car mats, with logo, etc.
We would screen print the water based adhesive.
Then, use a static applier, with the mat resting on a metal plate, and driving the nylon flock into the glue with the electric dispenser.
It was VERY messy.
Very durable too, if you then baked the mats in front of IR heaters.

Please do not ask me for the brand of the adhesive or the flocker. It was a long time ago, and not my department.

I use latex paint for this sort of thing too.

I have ben using a product from Noch (61130) called Graskleber (Grass Glue) and a Static Grass applicator (either plasic squeeze type or a static wand). Holds well, dries clear, applies with a brush. Retails for 6.49 euros here in Germany (about $8.63 USD US) Has about a 15-20 minute working time.

Good luck with your project.

Try searching for "flocking adhesive" if you want indistrial products – here is one result for the UK
link

And one from Dow
link

It all seems to depend upon the application method, substrate, usage of the finished product and what solvents you prefer

My next big project will require a few thousand square feet of flocked terrain and forest. I'm planning on using Super 77 to do it. It's expensive at the retail level but you can get it cheaper in large quantities:

link

You're basically spraying silicon at the cloth. Advantages are no warping, vice-like hold on the flock and it dries in fifteen minutes. After the first layer it's a bit tacky still so you have additional time to add on highlight flocks and such. The stuff dries sort of clear, but also a bit cloudy so its only really good for that first layer. I've used latex paint, watered down artist medium and good old fashioned latex. Super 77 is the best I've found, hands down. The only problem is that is dried tacky, so when you're done you have to spray either artist medium over it to seal it in or several layers of hairspray, just to get the tackiness off. But it avoids the entire drying phase which saves a LOT of time.

My next

Latex seems to work for my needs. I've got to change my process a bit. I just painted it on a bit and probably stress tested it a bit early. I got some parts that flaked off. I need to get a paint sprayer so I can cover them in a light coat and let that dry, then a thicker coat to hold the flock. I think that will prevent the white from showing through. Might not be necessary if it is sprayed evenly and let dry properly.

I did a laser cut test on one piece. I can now add grids. Working out the details of hexes. I'll have to get panels that are not square. I'm also working on city streets. Testing some ballast mixes for concrete and asphalt. I'm on the fence about laser cutting road details into them. It might be an optional extra cost. They will probably include styrene sidewalks.