D.I.Y flocking kits

[Prey]

It's very hard wearing stuff if prepped properly.

I've yet to flock any wheels but I have a set for myself which I'm going to try.

[Prey]

This man is your best bet, see iainel's project thread for pics of his stuff. Alot better quality than my efforts!

Don't down yourself mate - that is brilliant considering it was a puffer!

[Southie]

Flocking wheels, get a grip man

[Benn]

iirc paul used one, its not really flocking, more just covering your dash with glue then throwing flock material at it, ive tried the ebay stuff and the Frost kit, all i'll say is that id never use it on a full dash. waste of time imo

Not true. You can buy the guns that make the anti static charge to make the balls of flock stick glue, and other the glue. So there is no masking up and stuff.

[novaboyopr]

i really wouldnt bother mate, its cheap as chips from companys, ive currently got an astra mk4 dash with suffolk flocking services. really good blokes to deal with and in newbury.

[bazil]

Not true. You can buy the guns that make the anti static charge to make the balls of flock stick glue, and other the glue. So there is no masking up and stuff.

Yes on eBay you can get a flock applicator, the cheapest I've seen was £80 fir a used one and £150 for a new or or get a fabricoater one for £350, then there is the issue of propperly conductive resin and then the dye to colour the resin never mind buying the actual flock aswell,

I've yet to see this amount of stuff sold as a kit, the DIY kits that you get on eBay for £30 and frost aswell are nothing like proper electrostatic flocking kits.

Trust this Benn I have looked deeply into this Market and all possible types of kits avalible for different applications, I have bought the 2 bottle kit from eBay and a very similar kit from frost and was disappointed with the results, but I suppose you get what you pay for.

[Benn]

Ah ok dude, i've never looked in the the machine so.

[Chris @ PRP]

The DIY Puffer kits are OK if your doing very small trims like vent surrounds etc but anything bigger you will need an Electrostatic flock applicator. This charges the flock fibres and makes them attach to the substrate at right angles.

Then, its all about careful preparation using the correct materials (resins/primers) and also the enviroment that your going to be doing the flocking.

Ideally, the flocking area/room should have a relative humidity of 60% and a temperature of 20C and must be sealed. Doing it in your shed or garage will reflect on the final finish (Cack)

You then need to think of prepping the substrate which is the most important part as plastics in most cars are designed to be self releasing to repel dirt & particles from sticking to them. The consequence of this is that no epoxy resin will naturally glue to this surface. This is where you need to use special solutions before the adhesive is applied to help the epoxy gain a chemical bond with the plastic to be flocked. If you dont do this then the flock will naturally peel off in time.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Chris

[Prey]

Then, its all about careful preparation using the correct materials (resins/primers) and also the enviroment that your going to be doing the flocking.

totally agree, the actual flocking process itself is *relatively* quick/simple after all the prep and setting up.

[NADUK]

any one use them ?
weres the best place to but a kit etc

thanks

If you want something with a decent finish and lifespan don't bother with a kit.

I've done a few bits with the frost kit.

Results aren't the best, but for the money it's not bad if you take your time. Very messy though!

Thats not a bad finish for the puffer kits, I'm impressed.

Whats flocking like to clean when it gets dusty.

As before, wash, wipe, hoover, my external stuff will stand up to jetwashing, couldn't say for other companies though.

Is this any good for you?
http://ramsport.com/shop/index.php?m...index&cPath=15

I'm not sure if Ramsport do it in house, if they do they certainly don't use their kits they sell

Hover it, wash it, wipe it etc etc. I've seen many things flocked from dashboards to rocker covers to even wheels!

Most likely mine seeing as I was the first to do wheels and rocker covers. I carried it out as durability testing which was why I did it.

It's very hard wearing stuff if prepped properly.

I've yet to flock any wheels but I have a set for myself which I'm going to try.

The main issues with wheels is the complexity of them, you will most likely need to use an air assisted machine to get the best finish.

Flocking wheels, get a grip man

As above, they were done for durability.

Yes on eBay you can get a flock applicator, the cheapest I've seen was £80 fir a used one and £150 for a new or or get a fabricoater one for £350, then there is the issue of propperly conductive resin and then the dye to colour the resin never mind buying the actual flock aswell,

I've yet to see this amount of stuff sold as a kit, the DIY kits that you get on eBay for £30 and frost aswell are nothing like proper electrostatic flocking kits.

Trust this Benn I have looked deeply into this Market and all possible types of kits avalible for different applications, I have bought the 2 bottle kit from eBay and a very similar kit from frost and was disappointed with the results, but I suppose you get what you pay for.

You would be suprised how many companies dont use the proper glue or even use dyes, hence they cheap prices. The glue and dyes are the most expensive consumable, flock is the cheap bit.

The DIY Puffer kits are OK if your doing very small trims like vent surrounds etc but anything bigger you will need an Electrostatic flock applicator. This charges the flock fibres and makes them attach to the substrate at right angles.

Then, its all about careful preparation using the correct materials (resins/primers) and also the enviroment that your going to be doing the flocking.

Ideally, the flocking area/room should have a relative humidity of 60% and a temperature of 20C and must be sealed. Doing it in your shed or garage will reflect on the final finish (Cack)

You then need to think of prepping the substrate which is the most important part as plastics in most cars are designed to be self releasing to repel dirt & particles from sticking to them. The consequence of this is that no epoxy resin will naturally glue to this surface. This is where you need to use special solutions before the adhesive is applied to help the epoxy gain a chemical bond with the plastic to be flocked. If you dont do this then the flock will naturally peel off in time.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Chris

Chris, you don't work with Raj by any chance do you or close to him as he was Wrexham based, well still is but not by DT any more.

Thought I would drop in a few pics that may interest.


Latest set of wheels at Players show



Set of Honda control arms and lower brace



Refurbed Momo steering wheel



Flocked two tone british flag for a mini roof



Bentley wing, basically the painters messed up all the panelbeating etc and the car was needed next day for a wedding so we decided to flock it to hide the defects (the rest of the car was trimmed in black leather outside).



Mk2 Atra Turbo inlet manifold (done all the polished bits as the owner has got tired of polishing them, distributror, fans etc etc)



Rocker covers and finally below, some old wheels that eventrually covered 17k miles



oh and my flocked Evo