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How To Apply Suede-Tex Instruction Sheet

Applying Flock It! Suede-Tex
The application of Suede-Tex is a simple process used in junior high school woodshops. Its simplicity is one of the beauties of the finish. Floc It! Suede-Tex finish allows you to create a professional looking suede-li e texture with no pre"ious experience. Important points to remember: # $o not s imp on the adhesi"e. # $o not s imp on the fibers. # %esist the temptation to touch the surface before the finish has dried. If you are concernedfind a junior high school student to help you!

Step 1 - PREPARE THE SURFACE

&lean the surface remo"ing excess dirt and grime. Seal crac s' sand rough surfaces so that they are relati"ely smooth. The surface does not ha"e to be perfectly smooth' but the finish will show bumps and crac s. If applying to plastic use a (paint primer( to assure the finish will adhere permanently. If the surface is porous, it is essential that it be sealed. The purpose of sealing is to pre"ent the absorption of the undercoat adhesi"e. If the adhesi"e is absorbed' the fibers will ha"e nothing to adhere to and the finish will ha"e thin spots. )"en surfaces that appear solid can be porous *e.g. +asonite, and will absorb the adhesi"e. Sealing may be done with lac-uer' shellac' sanding sealer' polyurethane' etc..anything that will pre"ent the surface from soa ing up the adhesi"e. If the surface is very porous *i.e.' soft woods' open grains' foams etc, be sure you ha"e sealed it sufficiently / it may re-uire more than one coating of sealant. If the sealer lea"es a "ery slic finish' rough it up slightly with sandpaper. +etal' glass' and plastics do not re-uire sealing' but may need a sanding to roughen up the surface. The sol"ents in the adhesi"e may affect certain plastics and foam. It may be necessary to put a protecti"e coat of a rubberbased primer *e.g.' latex paint, on these surfaces' and then it will be o ay to apply the Suede-Tex undercoat adhesi"e and continue with the coating process. 0ecause it is difficult to achie"e a permanent bond on plastics it is ad"isable to first use a paint primer on the surface. The Suede-Tex undercoat adhesi"e dries stiff' and therefore is not meant for flexible surfaces such as fabric' cushions' soft foam' etc.

Step 2 - APPLICATI ! PREPARATI !

If you want to get the most co"erage with the Suede-Tex fibers it will be necessary to set up a special spray area so that you can reclaim the excess fibers to reuse. To create a spraying area' line the inside of a cardboard box or a large trash can with a large plastic bag. Alternati"ely' using a large *refrigerator si1e, container create a booth that allows you to contain your fibers. If the object is too large for a booth line the floor with newspaper or plastic and ta e care not to contaminate the fibers.

C"e#ting # $p"#ying #"e# u$ing # c#"d%o#"d %ox #nd # l#"ge pl#$tic %#g&

1.

3.

# Fold o"er and tape open the flaps of a box. # &ut out the bottom corners a little

# 3ut a plastic bag in the box and tuc the mouth of the bag under the flaps. # 3o e the bottom of the bag through the corner holes in the box.

# 3ull the excess bag through the corners so it is tight within the box.

larger than needed to po e a finger through.

Fill the applicator of your choice *+ini Floc er' Air-Assisted Spray 4un' or &3 56 )lectrostatic Applicator, with Suede-Tex fiber and set aside. Filling T'e Applic#to"$ Mini Flocker

Slide the two cardboard tubes apart7 fill the unmar ed tube without the holes approx.289 full. This will allow space for the air to circulate the floc ing fibers within the +ini Floc er. 4ently slide the other tube *with the holes, o"er the one filled with floc fiber. Set aside for later use. Air-Assisted Spray Gun

%emo"e the cap from the canister. :sing a funnel with a large *2 ;(, spout' or a funnel made from a piece of waxed paper' pour the floc ing fibers into the canister. :se a pencil or stic to ensure the floc ing fibers continue to flow. Fill approximately ; full with Suede-Tex fibers. %eplace the spray gun handle7 ma e sure the top of the sprayer is in line with the large arrow on the label. It is helpful to ha"e a second' bac up canister already filled with floc fiber if your object is large.

C !" #lectrostatic Applicator

%emo"e the screened co"er and fill no more than < full with Suede-Tex floc ing fibers. &3 56 &hec that your transformer is plugged in and set at the correct "oltage. This will usually be at 56 =. 3ress the >on? button to ma e sure the floc ing fibers are flowing before beginning your coating job. 3reparation of the piece to be coated electrostatically is important. 0ecause a positi"e charge coming from the applicator is drawn to the object being coated it is necessary to create a ground at the object to maintain its negati"e field. If the piece is made from metal it is possible to ground directly to it. 0e careful to attach the ground lead in an area that will not be seen. If the object being coated is not conducti"e you can line the bac of it with aluminum foil and attach the ground lead to the foil. @arger objects *bigger than 2A( s-. in., re-uire either more than one ground lead or that the ground lead be mo"ed.

Step ( - APPL)I!* THE U!+ERC AT A+HESI,E

Floc It! Suede-Tex undercoat adhesi"e can be brushed, sprayed or rolled onto the area to be coated. If spraying' it may be necessary to thin the adhesi"e slightly with mineral spirits *no more than 2 tablespoon per pint, in order to spray it through your gun. The adhesi"e does tend to thic en when ept in a cool area under B6 degrees. If it appears too thic ' allow it to warm up before adding mineral spirits. Apply a generous coat of adhesi$e.that is' enough for the fibers to dig into when applied. This coat should appear li-uidy. The undercoat adhesi"e remains open to the fibers for 26 to 2C minutes.this is your %orking time. If you are wor ing on a larger object use a larger brush' apply the adhesi"e with a paint roller or spray it on. CAUTION: If you are wor ing on one continuous piece' &' (') %ork in sections as the lines between the sections will show. If you are wor ing on a project that has many small sections *compartments,' re-uiring a more detailed application' finish a few at a time. If you co"er the uncoated section*s, with a piece of cardboard and then mo"e the cardboard as needed you will not ha"e to wait for each compartment to dry before applying the fibers to the next area.

Step - - SPRA)

! THE SUE+E-TE. FI/ERS

To apply the fibers place the adhesi"e coated project in the lined cardboard box. :sing the applicator of your

choice' at a distance of E-26(' apply a $ery generous coating of floc fibers to the surface *holding the applicators as seen in the photos below,. Fnly so much will stic 7 the rest will fall off and can be reclaimed to be reused. Mini Flocker

Hold the outer tube *printed one, with one hand7 twist the inner tube *see photo abo"e, while pumping to spray the object you wish to coat. Geep the +ini Floc er E( to 26( from surface and as close to H6 degree to the object as possible. Iou may ha"e to prop up your object to create this angle as you will not be able to wor directly downward with the applicator. +a e sure there is a steady stream of floc fiber coming out of the applicator or you may be drying the adhesi"e. Air-Assisted Spray Gun

Set your compressor at 26 to 2C psi *it is o ay to go up to 96 psi' but the floc ing fibers will spray out of the canister more -uic ly re-uiring fre-uent refills,. Hold the gun on a slightly downward angle *see photo, and depress the trigger at the handle. Geep the AAS4 E( to 26( from surface and as close to H6 degrees to the object as possible. Iou may ha"e to prop up your object to create this angle as you will not be able to wor directly downward with the applicator. +a e sure there is a steady stream of floc fiber coming out of the applicator or you will be drying the adhesi"e. If the flocking fibers are not flowing check: 2. 9. D. A. the pressure to the gun the amount of floc fiber in the canister to ma e sure the handle is in line with the arrow on the canister if you are correctly holding the gun on a downward angle *see photo,

C.

if all fittings are tight.

C !" #lectrostatic Applicator

Hold the electrostatic applicator A( to C( from the surface being coated. Slide the switch forward and depress button until you see the red light go on. 4ently roc the applicator to assure the floc ing fibers continue to flow into the static field. Slowly mo"e the applicator around the piece. The floc ing fibers will be drawn at a H6 degree angle to the piece that is grounded creating a dense' e"en coating. Ta e care not to touch the applicator or the object being coated with your free hand or you can complete a current and recei"e a shoc . Hint: When coating boxes, after you have applied the adhesive, it is best to first spray the flocking fibers on the bottom and then spray the sides. If you tilt the box on its side you can aim at 9 degrees to the bottom first! then place the box flat and finish applying the flocking fibers to the sides. Hint: To ensure the floc ing fibers continue to hit the project on the same angle' hold the applicator at the same angle to the piece you are coating *as much as possible, and raise and lower the applicator. $o not tilt it when possible.

Step 0 - +R)I!*
Fnce you ha"e applied sufficient fibers set aside your project to dry for approximately *" to *+ hours before you remo"e excess fibers. If you need to reclaim some of the fibers before this drying process is completed you may turn the project upside down to allow the excess to fall off. &o not tap or shake the project at this time as this may dislodge fibers that are sitting in wet adhesi"e. It is possible to speed up the initial drying time with a heat lamp. It will now ta e approx. 5 hours depending on your en"ironment. )A,# CA-# )' ,## ).# .#A) /AM A) /#AS) *01 A2A3 F-'M ).# FI4#-S. &' (') 5S# A .#A) /AM 2I). A 4/'2#-. IM '-)A().Jhile the adhesi"e is dried at this point *26 to 2C hours, it will ta e 59 hours to 2 wee for it to cure completely. &are should be ta en in handling during this time.

Step 1 - CLEA! UP Cle#ning )ou" Applic#to"2

Mini Flocker

Separate tubes and empty the unused floc ing fibers into the original plastic bag. A gentle tap will remo"e any excess floc ing fibers. Air-Assisted Spray Gun :nscrew the canister and empty the unused floc ing fibers into the original plastic bag. A gentle tap will remo"e the rest of the floc ing fibers or you may blow them away with compressed air. C !" #lectrostatic Applicator %emo"e screen and empty the unused floc ing fibers into the original plastic bag. 0low excess floc ing fibers from plastic canister and screen. If there is a tiny amount of floc fiber left inside the applicator' it will blend into the next color used and not be noticed *with the exception of white,. Cle#ning )ou" P"o3ect2 To remo"e the excess floc ing fibers from your project after it has dried sha e the item o"er a lined cardboard box.remember these flocking fibers are still usable. Fr' using a dry' clean' soft brush' remo"e the excess floc ing fibers. &ompressed air may be used' but ta e care during the initial AE hours. =acuuming may be used after the project has cured completely.