Flocking as a business. Industrial equipment. Introduction Flocking at home

Flocking as a business can be quite promising. This topic is interesting, not very common, but it is of interest to consumers. Rarely, when faced with a coating that is unusual in texture, soft, pleasant to the touch, does not touch it with his hand and does not think - how is this done? Upon closer acquaintance, it turns out that the production is not so difficult, the equipment for flocking is relatively inexpensive, with a low cost of materials, given the unusualness, the result can be sold with a good profit. And if it's profitable - you can start!

But, before betting on flock, you need to understand all the intricacies of this matter. Without going deep into technology, let's try to figure out what is needed in order for a business to be successful.

The first thing to think about is how we will position our service - as creative, design, or as a handicraft, akin to finishing work. The final cost depends on this. finished products for the consumer, the requirements for its quality, and the planned amount of work per day.

The fact is that if you make flocked, for example, items of clothing, designer shoes, souvenirs, apply fleecy drawings on leather goods, bottles for cosmetics, paintings, decorate bottles, Christmas tree decorations or flower pots - for this, first of all, you need artist. The technological process can be mastered by any diligent and attentive person, but to make the drawing beautiful, harmoniously combined with the product on which it is applied - here you need an artistic taste and the ability to draw. It is ideal, of course, if the creator himself brings his ideas to life, but more often it happens that it is economically inexpedient to use a high-class designer for drawing work.

If the focus is on covering large surfaces with flock (wallpaper, interior surfaces of drawers in furniture, tables for billiards and table tennis, cladding of car or yacht interiors, floors and walls in recording studios that require increased sound insulation), then other specialists are needed here, here accuracy and responsibility are more important than artistic skills.

It is not worth making a workshop from your own apartment (even if you decide that there will be no hired employees, and the business owner will carry out the whole process from searching for customers to making finished coatings himself) is not worth it. The fact is that it uses glue and specially treated viscose, polyamide, acrylic, polyester and other fibers that are suitable for electroflocking. Therefore, the room must be well ventilated, and you need to work in special protective clothing. In addition, the air in the room should not be too dry, otherwise the pile dries out and does not lay down correctly. In principle, a garage or warehouse may well be suitable.

List of equipment that you need to purchase, is determined depending on whether

But you will have to buy regularly - these are consumables. First of all, it is actually flock and glue, which serves as the basis for its application. The approximate price of glue is $ 20 per kilogram, and the price for flock is from $ 35 for the same quantity. You need to have an assortment of pile colors - at least 7 - 10 items, and if the line of business is decorative design, then more. In general, to get started, you need to spend about $ 300 on materials. Some part will have to be spent on trial work until the master acquires stable skills in working with equipment and grasps all the subtleties of the technology. Then purchases are carried out depending on the amount of planned work.

Material consumption per 1 m2 is approximately 180 g of flock and 180-200 g of glue, that is, the cost of materials per square meter processed will be about $ 10. To this amount must be added the costs of salaries for the designer and foreman, rental of premises, depreciation of equipment and costs of marketing and advertising. But on an industrial scale, these costs will seem insignificant, and in the manufacture of designer pieces, the cost of the work is estimated several times higher than the cost price.

The fact is that the calculation of the price for the buyer is not per square meter, but per square centimeter, and its cost, depending on the region, season, artistic value, originality and demand, can be up to $ 0.5 per cm2 (and in a square meter 10,000 sq. Cm!). But even without taking into account the work of the designer, for example, the cost of flocking one car interior is on average about $ 500 (a little more or less depending on the model).

Therefore, we can say with confidence that this type of business, while it is not yet very widespread and in demand, with a competent approach can become very profitable. Especially on the eve of the New Year, when the demand for souvenirs, toys, cute unusual trifles is increasing, it is quite possible to get into the jet and start a new business!

Flocking. Purchase of a flocking device (flocator)

The action of the flokator is to impart an electric charge to the particles of the flock and release them to the surface. This is due to the high-voltage emitter built into the device. Aggregates for creating flock surfaces are industrial and manual. For small business hand-held flokators are used more often. They are suitable for working on any surface and are much cheaper than industrial ones. The ideal characteristics of a hand-held flockator are: maximum voltage 70kV, current strength 20-25 microamperes.

Some manufacturers increase these figures, while emphasizing that their models have increased performance. Indeed, the rate of escape of particles in this case increases, but they do not have time to receive a charge, because of this, they fly out chaotically and settle on the surface without really fixing themselves. Consequently, the blockage density suffers, the coating turns out to be heterogeneous - either with bald spots or with lumps. In addition, in this case, material consumption is significantly increased.

A good flocator doesn't need to be shaken to work... On the contrary, the movements when working with it should be smooth, then the flock lays down evenly, creating a velvety surface. The exception is those cases when the work has to be carried out holding the flocking device "upside down", when the flock does not fall on the emitter. In such cases, the flocator does need to be shaken occasionally. Also pay attention to the size of the hopper. If you have to coat hard-to-reach areas, such as the inside of a safe, a smaller hopper may be more convenient. When working on large areas, a large hopper comes in handy. The density of the packing also depends on the material from which the emitter is made. It is best if it is made of aluminum.

An additional advantage of the flocking device will be the ability to work from batteries, it is much more convenient to work with such a flocking device than models powered by a network. Also, given that the device is still manual, you should pay attention to its weight. Also, additional, but not mandatory, characteristics include the presence of power control. To make the right choice, you need, based on your budget, to study the characteristics of the models presented and the reviews of flockers who dealt with them.

Flocking. Preparation of the workplace

The room in which the flocking machine will work must be large enough. Due to the toxicity of the materials used in the process, it is desirable to create forced ventilation.

The quality of flocking depends on the humidity of the air inside the room; humidity of 50-60% is considered ideal. It will also be a plus if a constant temperature of about 20-25? C is maintained in the room. For safety reasons, the room must be equipped with a dry powder fire extinguisher.

The main workplace for flocking is the table, so it must be equipped first. For the convenience of work, the height of the table should be about 1m.

Its surface area is determined by the nature of the manufactured products. If these are figurines, flower pots or other small objects, then the size of the countertop can be approximately 1m long and 0.6m wide. If it is planned to trim with flock, for example, the interior of a car, then the dimensions should be at least 1.6 m in length and 1 m in width. Any part of the car, including the ceiling, will fit on such a table. To reduce the loss of flock, which scatters in the process of work, bumpers can be made on the table.

For this, slats about 0.3 m high are nailed onto the tabletop from 3 sides. This height is the most optimal, it will be enough to retain the bulk of the tissue particles and, at the same time, it will not interfere, even if you have to move around the table during work.

When working with a flockator, do not forget about safety., That's why be sure to ground the table... To do this, it is covered with a galvanized sheet that corresponds to the size of the countertop, and a copper or aluminum wire with a cross section of about 0.5 cm is taken from it, connecting the other end to the ground loop (for these purposes, radiators and water pipes cannot be used).

Then the entire table, including the sides, is covered with thick polyethylene. This is done for the convenience of work - the table will be easy to clean of glue, flock particles will not get stuck in cracks.

The table should be positioned so that it can be approached from all sides, in addition, it should be well lit. By nailing a shelf under the table, you can organize a place for storing a flockator and other tools. In addition to the table, you will need a place for drying products. For these purposes, you can use racks or shelves. Their sizes depend on the amount of work and the size of the products. For high volume production or with some adhesives, forced drying may be required. Then it is necessary to equip the drying cabinet. For this, a cabinet frame with shelves is assembled, and a heater is placed inside. This completes the organization of the workplace, now you can start working.

Flocking. Flocking surface preparation

The preparation of the flocked part primarily depends on the part itself, or rather on the material from which it is made.

Consider the options:

1. Wood and plaster surfaces... These products should be primed as they have many pores. You can not prime the product, but if it does not exceed the size of 10x10 cm. Any primer can be used, but only so that later the glue is compatible with this primer.

The surfaces are best primed with pentaphthalic enamels. PF-226 brown-yellow paint is considered to be the best of those produced to date. In order to remove yellowness from this paint, PF-115 black is added to it in proportions with PF-226: Pf-115 as 3: 1. For uniform application, do not take paint that has been stored for a long time, since the solvent evaporates and the paint itself becomes viscous, which greatly complicates the process. But if there is no other option, then such a paint can be diluted with white spirit.

Too liquid paint is also not good - it is a bad base for floco. Therefore, a lot of attention is paid to viscosity! 40-50 it should be according to the viscometer. This paint will be a good primer and even when reapplied it will become a good flock adhesive. But before applying a second time, you need to wait until the primer is completely dry. If you flocking laminated surfaces, then such products do not need a primer.

2. Plexiglas and plastic products... Before applying the glue, such products must be carefully rubbed with a cleaning composition from fatty contaminants that migrate during storage to the surface of the plastic components. Trisodium phosphate can be used as a degreasing agent. It should be dissolved in warm water in a ratio of 5: 1 liter. The degreasing process itself can be done by dipping the product or using a rag. Before applying glue and flock, the surface must be completely dry.

3. Metal products... Such products must also be degreased with white alcohol or turpentine. It is recommended to prime large surfaces as in the case of plastic products.

4. Glass surfaces... These surfaces, in the same way as plastic ones, should be degreased with detergents.

Flocking. Flock application

Flock coating is applied after surface preparation and the flock itself.

Paint or glue should be applied in an even layer on the surface of the product that you have chosen, without smudges and sagging. It is also required to determine in advance how to apply flock.

So that it is not difficult for the flock to stick into the glue and so that a film of glue with a changed surface tension does not form on the surface of the product itself, you need to start flocking no later than 3-4 minutes after the glue is applied.

In the picture you can see two different results: the result of flocking within 3-4 minutes after applying the glue and the result within 10 minutes.

As a result, it can be seen that:
The villus adheres tightly to the polymer binder film after curing and, accordingly, penetrates deeply into the adhesive layer;
The villi is not securely fixed, since it has penetrated only a small part of its surface, and most likely it will fall out during further use of the product.

The flocking process provides that after the first time it is necessary to blow off the loose villi with a vacuum cleaner, and then repeat the procedure again, i.e. flocking the product, but only without applying glue. This process will allow the new villi to take up the empty spaces in the adhesive layer. In the event that the selected product has a complex configuration, the flocking procedure can be repeated again.

Depending on the selected drying mode for the glue, the product itself must be dried as well. After completing the procedure, you need to wait until the product (glue) is completely dry and only then carry out quality control, cleaning and packaging.

Flocking. Drying parts

Drying of manufactured parts by flocking is determined depending on the choice of one of three types of production.

Let's consider each of them in order.

First - this is a small-circulation production, this will include single items, for example, parts for finishing car showroom.
This manufacturing method is characterized by the usual application of solvent-based adhesives, using a brush or roller. It should be noted that the glue must dry very slowly. The flocking itself is carried out using a manual flocking device.
Drying of these products is carried out in open space while maintaining room temperature throughout the day.

Second – this is the production of a medium-sized run of products, for example, flocking of bottles.
Here, production starts with the same glue application method, but it is also a good idea to dip it, which will allow the use of a special glue with a drying time of up to five minutes. Flocking is carried out both manually and in a volumetric flocking chamber.
Drying with this method is also possible open at room temperature or using an oven.

Third - this is a large-circulation production, here an example will be cases and special boxes for jewelry. The best way to apply water-dispersible adhesive is to use a spray adhesive. Flocking is carried out on a stationary flock machine.
Drying of such parts should be carried out in a special continuous oven.

The best conditions for carrying out flocking processes indoors are: a humidity level of 50-60 percent with a temperature of 25 degrees. To control and maintain such conditions, it is best to use special devices in the room.

Flocking result.

Flocking. Necessary equipment to start a business

Flocking is a technology for creating a velvety shell on various surfaces. This business idea has not yet gained widespread acceptance. But flocking phones, car panels, laptops and safes are in demand. It is fashionable, aesthetically pleasing and quite modern.

Flocking can be used to create exclusive bottles, souvenirs and other unusual items.

For the organization production process it is necessary to purchase a manual flokator and consumables - flock and glue. You also need to have production room with a work table and shelves, grounded. The room temperature in the room should be constant with a humidity of no more than 75%.

Flokator.

For electrostatic flocking, you can use a hand-held flocator (for example, U02M). It includes a high-voltage generator, mains adapter, flock bin and bunker mesh. Personally, I have RF-U03, I bought it for 11,000 Russian ones - now it may have already risen in price.

Glue.

The first stage of work is the application of an adhesive base to the product. For High Quality flocking use the glue of the German company SNT, which has a high electrical conductivity. It is applied to the product with a brush (in some cases, full immersion in the glue is used). A flock is sprayed onto the adhesive layer with the help of a flocator.

Flock.

For flocking products, a polyamide flock with a length of 0.5-1 mm is usually used. You can achieve the color scheme desired by the customer by mixing several colors. Their compatibility, proportions and the resulting shade are determined experimentally. Excess flock spilled on the worktable can be reused by pouring it into the flock bunker.

Flock is stored in a dark room in a tightly closed container, as it becomes unusable when frozen, heated and wet.
Average consumption of flock is 150-200 gr. for 1 sq. m.
Finished products must be dried within 24 hours, which will require special racks.

Flocking is the transformation of any surface into a velvety and pleasant to the touch. This niche is free to start your own promising project, since popularity is just emerging. This type of business requires a minimum of investment, both material and mental. For this business, there is no need to graduate from courses or receive higher education, but all expenses will pay off in the shortest possible time.

Flocking of a car interior is the process of applying small drags of cotton, wool or velvet using an electrostatic field. This procedure is carried out using a special device - a flocator. This is a generator that generates a low voltage and supplies it to the electrode.

Ultimately, the flock for the flockator flies out with the necessary force and is evenly distributed over the working surface. For high-quality fixing on the material, the surface is covered with high-quality glue.

Our business valuation:

Initial investment - 50,000 rubles.

Market saturation is low.

The complexity of starting a business is 1/10.

What do you need to start your own business?

Before starting work, you should study, select and buy equipment for flocking: flocking device, flocking glue
and material. If you live in a big city, then there will be no problems with this question. Otherwise, you will have to purchase materials from the Internet in large cities, since many in small villages do not know about such a project.

The choice of premises for work is no less important issue. It is highly discouraged to work at home, as the glue has an unpleasant specific odor and dries for a long time. It is important that the selected room is warm and dry. Otherwise, you can work in the winter. When designing a room, it is necessary to install a work table with grounding, as well as normal ventilation. High-quality lighting is important. All this will require minimal costs, which will pay off in the shortest possible time. How much does it cost to open this business? Investments here are minimal and limited by the need to purchase materials for work.

It takes practice to work quickly and efficiently. It is with her that experience and skill will come to you. This way you can spend a minimum amount of time on preparatory work. If you are a creative person, you can be very creative with ideas for work and offer clients unique projects. Otherwise, the Internet will help you, where there is a mass interesting ideas and suggestions. So, how to do flocking with your own hands?

The flocking technique is simple, but practice is required to ensure that the products are flawless. Different material has its own villus length, density and application fit. It will take some time to do the job efficiently and quickly, and experience will come.

What can you offer your clients?

• flocking of walls;
• auto flocking;
• flocking of photo frames;
• flocking of bottles and paintings.

What do you need to know about the flocking process?

Flocking originated in China, where the entire process of work was carried out by hand. Today, work is carried out using a flocator, which gives the villi a negative charge and sprays them over the surface, securing the result with a strong glue. You can buy a flocator in specialized stores or online.

The work includes the following steps:

• choice of coating surface;
• drawing a picture;
• glue application;
• flock application;
• the process of drying the product.

It is important to do all the actions as carefully and accurately as possible. Only in this case the final result will look perfect and have no flaws. Practice will help you with this and over time your work will be perfect the first time. Be aware that the price of a flocator depends on the power and manufacturer.

The nuances of choosing equipment

We recommend a manual flockator Russian production... It is easy to use, has an optimal cost and meets all the necessary parameters of quality and reliability. It is necessary to choose a product based on its power. The device must be able to adjust it. In this case, you can work with both small and large surfaces, which will expand the scope of your activity.

Glue is an essential part of the job. His choice should be taken seriously. It should be chosen based on the surface on which the work is planned to be carried out: glass, ceramics, metal, plastic or furniture.

And the most important element is the flock itself. You can buy flock for flocking on the Internet. It can be of several types:

• multi-colored;
• with elements that glow under ultraviolet light;
• for use in nail design;
• furniture;
• water-repellent.

Flock should be good quality and it is desirable to give preference to foreign manufacturers. As practice shows, they are more reliable, and the material will be durable and of high quality.

What are the advantages of flocked surfaces?

• Excellent surface appearance for a long service life. Flocking is capable of making an original thing out of an old thing with an attractive appearance... You can also change the color scheme of your favorite thing and give it a new look;
• Flock does not spoil during temperature fluctuations and look great even in the heat, even in the cold. Protective functions allow it to be used under any conditions.

Today flocking is gaining popularity and demand in the market. You are the one who can organize profitable business With minimal investment that will bring you an adequate level of income. When choosing materials for flocking, pay attention to reviews.

Where is flocking applied?

The application is wide enough and it is difficult even to cover all areas where this direction is relevant and in demand. Let's consider the main options:

Business prospects and its features

The flocking business is a business where there are no limits. If you learn how to create simple coatings, then the question will only be in the perfection of your skill. You can move on to more complex design projects that have a higher cost and value.

Today, flock wall decoration is becoming fashionable, where you can show your imagination and design vein. With a finish made of this material, surface defects can be hidden. It is very pleasant to the touch and looks original. If you can use it to create 3D pictures, then you are guaranteed success. Love your job and put your soul into it. It is important to choose a quality flocking machine.

Advertising campaign and search for potential customers

First of all, you can offer your services in various stores and shopping centers where the maximum number of people pass. It is also quite logical to create advertising pages in social networks and at local sites. After the start practical work with high-quality execution, advertising will be in the form of word of mouth, where customers will tell their friends and acquaintances about your activities. It will not be superfluous to distribute flyers to attract your first customers.

There are not many people who have experienced flocking. This direction is only gaining popularity now, so opening a flock decorating business is a profitable business. In order to establish yourself as a good contractor who does his job well, you need to carefully study what it is, what the flocking technology looks like, what consumables and equipment are needed.

What is flocking?

Sooner or later, any person can be visited by an idea, to give individuality to the car interior or the interior of the house, to update the atmosphere, add new colors to everyday life. It is not necessary to completely redo everything, it is enough to change the color or texture of some details. In this case, many resort to flocking. It is the process of giving a velvety texture to surfaces using a material called flock. Such elements add elegance, coziness and luxury to the atmosphere, help to create an extraordinary charming design, pleasant not only in appearance, but also in touch.

Flocking is used in many areas, for example, flock can be applied to clothing, furniture, bottles, walls, but most of all this trend has gained popularity in car decoration. The velvet surface on the details in the car interior looks chic and gives individuality. Many car enthusiasts prefer to flock the car interior also in cases where it is necessary to hide imperfections or damage on surfaces.

This procedure is, in principle, feasible in a garage. Therefore, you can think about how to do flocking with your own hands or even open own business in this direction.

Starting a flocking business

This direction is still not very widespread, little-known in wide circles. It is promising to open your own flocking business: there is not so much competition on the market, consumer demand is growing due to the growing interest. Flocking businessmen have the opportunity to occupy an empty niche in their direction. The technique of applying the material to the surface is simple; it is necessary to purchase a flocking apparatus, additional equipment and consumables. Given the narrow profile of the service and low prices for consumables, the business is profitable.

Where is flock applied?

Before you start to act, you should think about the direction in which to develop. There are many options for using flock. Start with 2-3 directions, in the future there will be an opportunity and funds for the purchase of additional equipment in order to develop in all areas where flock is used.

And so, where flocking is used:

• Cars. Flocking panel, roof, doors. Particularly creative car enthusiasts cover some of the exterior details of the car. In this case, it can be combined with other auto tuning services.
• Walls. With the help of flock, unusually beautiful 3D images are made on the walls. Flocking walls can be added to the list for interior decoration or decoration as an additional service.
• Furniture. As a way to restore faded or worn surfaces. If there is a suitable resource, then there is the prospect of development in the direction of furniture manufacturing.
• Nails. The velvety pattern on the nails attracts the beautiful half of humanity. The application of flock to the nails is considered as additional service in a nail salon.
• Souvenirs. Decoration of bottles, photo frames, boxes, notebooks and more. Especially popular as wedding props. You can add gift shops or holiday agencies to the list of services.
• Gadgets. A completely new direction is the decor of tablets and smartphones using flock. Perfectly hides scuffs and adds personality. In combination with other services for decorating gadgets, it will definitely find success.

It is difficult to please everyone, but by choosing, for example, flocking cars and furniture, you can already attract a fairly large audience. To get started with flock, you first need to understand how this procedure works.

Flock application technology

There is no need to take specialized courses to learn how to apply flock. The flocking technology is not complicated, but it requires special care. Application steps:

1. Prepare the selected surface.
2. Apply a drawing (in the case of designer flocking).
3. Smear with glue.
4. Apply flock.
5. Dry.

The surface on which the flock is to be applied must be thoroughly cleaned and degreased. In order for the material to lie flat, the glue must be applied in an even layer. Since it has a transparent structure, it is easy to mistake the amount applied to the prepared surface. Many flockers specially tint the glue before starting work, in order to avoid unevenness.

Flock is applied using special apparatus- flockator. It creates an electrostatic field, with the help of which the flock fibers are attracted to the glued surface. To fix the result, the product must be well dried. And so, having figured out the technology for applying flock, you can judge what equipment you need to open your own flocking business.

Necessary equipment and consumables

In order for the start of a business to be successful, it is better to purchase a high-quality modern equipment... It will certainly pay for itself over time, but there will be no problems with customers dissatisfied with the quality. For flocking you will need:

• compressor;
• glue;
• flock for flokator;
• drying;
• other consumables.

The flocator itself is of different types. To begin with, you can buy a manual flocator, but in the future, with the development of your business, it is better to buy a stationary device. The kit for any flokator also includes a generator (for the formation of an electrostatic field), an adapter, a flock compartment - a hopper and a net. In addition to the standard set, several other bins of different sizes can be purchased. When working with an apparatus such as a hand-held flokator, grounding is required, since the work is carried out with open electricity.

The glue must be selected depending on the surface from which work will be carried out more often. For example, if you need to decorate car interiors, you will often have to work with plastic and leather. The whole work as a whole depends on the quality of the glue, since everything rests on it. Therefore, it is better not to skimp on glue.

Consumables are an integral part of the process, so you definitely need to buy a flock for flocking.

It can be different:

• color;
• with long or short hair;
• with particles that glow in the dark;
• impermeable to water;
• special for furniture;
• special for nails.

At the initial stage, it is worth purchasing several colors of the universal flock. Over time, you can learn to work with pile of different lengths and textures.

For the convenience of applying glue and flock, you will also need other materials, such as paints, brushes, sandpaper, painting tools and squeegees, foam rubber, stencils. In the process of working for yourself, you may find that there are still not enough additional tools, for whom it is easier to work with. In the future, you can purchase a stencil machine, a machine for applying 3D-drawing with flock, and other devices that expand business opportunities.

Before buying equipment for flocking, you need to decide on the room where the application process itself will take place.

How to choose a room?

The process technology implies the need for a separate room, since the glue has an unpleasant odor, and working with electricity requires grounding. You can choose your own garage for the room, the main thing is that it is dry and warm enough. You need a lot of space to work, it is better to choose more spacious rooms, preferably with ventilation, otherwise it will have to be installed additionally.

The humidity in the room should be at approximately the same level - 50 or 60%. This is necessary for better adhesion of the adhesive. The air temperature should also be at the same level - 20-25 degrees Celsius.

There should be no flammable objects in the room. There must be a fire extinguisher for safety. Now that the equipment and premises have been selected, it is worth thinking about how much it all costs, what costs should be expected.

The size of the cost of starting a business

At the initial stage, you will need the very minimum of equipment and materials that can only be assumed. The costs will go to the purchase of equipment and Supplies, renting a room and hiring staff, since it is difficult to apply glue alone and hold a flocator. Another issue is that the positions of designer, accountant and marketer can first be combined in one person.

So, in order to open a business, you will need:

This list of costs does not include the point of renting premises, staff salaries and advertising costs, as it is minimal. The price of a flocator can be higher or lower, depending on its functionality and quality. To start your own business, the listed cost items will be enough. The cost of the service can be calculated taking into account what materials for flocking were spent, in what quantity, how much labor and electricity per square centimeter was spent. On average, you can set the price at 30 rubles, but vary it depending on the complexity of the pattern and the surface of the product. Due to low competition and growing popularity, you can make very good money on such a business.

Flocking is presented as a technique for applying flock by means of an electrostatic field. Flock, in turn, acts as a collection of small particles of textile fibers. As raw materials, synthetic or natural materials can be used, which are finely chopped or cut. The thickness of this element varies from 0.2 to 0.5 mm. To do flocking with your own hands, you must first of all acquire a flocking device, which acts as the main tool.

You may also be interested in a very interesting article by our specialist telling you how to do it.

The fibers are preliminarily subjected to chemical treatment with electrolytes. The flocator, in turn, generates an electrostatic field with a negative charge, due to which the fibers adhered to the adhesive base are perpendicular. This provides the effect of a special velvety texture.

To make the color of the flocked surface ideally match the stylistic design of the interior, the villi are pre-painted.

As for the surface of the car, which can be flocked, it can be any element both in the cabin and outside, even the body. Few decide to transform the body, but the transformation of the interior, in particular, of its individual elements, is a popular type of styling among modern car owners.

Advantages and disadvantages

Since the disadvantages of the surface decoration technology under consideration are much less than the advantages, it is worth starting with the negative sides:

• the technology is unknown to a wide circle of motorists, and not everyone has a flocator;
• the structure of the coating is deformed under the influence of alcohol-containing liquids;
• the phenomenon of electrification in relation to individual materials is possible;
• consumables are expensive, and so are the hardware.

Considering the flocking of the car interior in the price aspect, it is worth focusing on the cost of other types of finishes. For example, the use of Alcantara or genuine leather will cost even more, and the Carpet hauling, on the contrary, is a budget option. As for the advantages of this technology, there are many more:

• a wide range of texture solutions and color shades;
• ease of maintenance of such surfaces;
• fire resistance;
• the surface treated with flock does not absorb foreign odors;
• resistance to UV rays (does not fade in the sun over the years);
• in terms of thermal insulation, 2 mm flock replaces 10 mm of thermal insulation material;
• soundproofing characteristics are also at a decent level;
• environmentally friendly material in relation to the human body and nature in general;
• long service life due to the strength of the material.

Since we figured out what a flock is, it remains to consider the varieties of this material in order to be able to competently approach the issue of its choice when buying.

The texture in the form of felt, velvet or suede directly depends on the quality of the thread, as well as its thickness and length.

Taking into account the material, it is worth highlighting the following options:

• polyester is problematic to paint, but the surface is durable;
• cotton, on the contrary, is short-lived, but it is cheap and demonstrates resistance to moisture;
• viscose is easily stained, it is also easy to use, but poorly returns its shape after deformation;
• acetate demonstrates temperature resistance and plasticity, but wear resistance is not at the highest level;
• polyamide - the most common option due to its plasticity, elasticity and durability;
• mixed flock belongs to the category of combined materials and is represented by a combination of polyester, cotton and nylon;
• Flock made of carbon fibers is considered to be an innovative material, the performance parameters of which have not yet been fully studied.

Flocking of the car interior

So, flocking: what is it, what preparatory work needs to be done, what materials to prepare and what is the technology?

The room where you will work with the elements of the car interior must meet the following criteria:

• dry and warm;
• the presence of a table with grounding;
• the presence of a ventilation system;
• good lighting.

For the correct execution of work, you must purchase the following in advance:

1. Electric manual flockator with a power of approximately 70 kV at 25 microamperes. Choose a model with a power adjustment function and the ability to work autonomously from the mains on batteries.
2. As for the glue, the usual "Moment" will not work. The composition for flocking must be special; such products are represented on the market by a wide range.
3. - the third main component and there was a talk about the varieties of this material earlier. Swiss and English manufacturers are now most trusted, but their cost is appropriate. Chinese products are more affordable, and the quality is almost identical. There are also Russian brands among manufacturers, but domestic products are not suitable for use as a material for a car. Rather for souvenirs. As for the color palette, the variety of which has already been mentioned, the choice is not only matte shades, but also for bronze, gold and silver, artsy fluorescent colors.

A special surface treatment is mandatory before flocking:

1. Remove the slightest signs of dirt and dust.
2. It is enough to simply treat plastic parts with alcohol to remove oily sheen.
3. The elimination of any defects on the surface is also a mandatory step.
4. A primer for plastic parts is used when working with polypropylene elements.
5. Ground the part, not just the work table;
6. Apply an even layer of glue. You can first add a coloring pigment to it in the color of the flock so that the flaws and errors are not striking. Remove excess adhesive and smudges immediately with a dry brush. On this stage you have 10 minutes to spray the flock before the glue dries. Any contact between the ground wire and the adhesive is excluded.

Flocking process

The flocking process involves the use of special equipment in the form of a flocator for spraying fiber particles:

1. It is necessary to fill the flock into the bunker of the device. Mixing fibers of different shades will allow you to invent a new color. In the latter case, stick strictly to the proportions or experiment in advance.
2. Grasp the metal handle with your bare hand to create a ground connection.
3. The distance from the nozzle to the work surface is 13 cm, the tool is positioned perpendicularly.
4. Determine the power according to the size of the fiber. The smaller the flock fiber, the less power.
5. Try to distribute the first layer as evenly as possible, remove the rest of the flock with a hairdryer. Repeat the steps of applying and blowing out residues until the finish is as you intended. Often 3 layers are more than enough.
6. Dry the resulting velvety surface for a day at a temperature of +20 degrees Celsius.
7. Remove excess fluff again, this time with a brush. Assemble the finished part.

conclusions

If you are working with this technology for the first time, you should not reproach yourself for the presence of errors and inaccuracies, within an hour after application you can remove the glue layer along with the flock where the defect was found. If unused fibers remain in the tool hopper, they can be poured into a bag and stored until next use. Maintenance of the surface in question is limited to vacuum cleaning. Remember, you cannot save on the quality of materials, since the duration of the service life of the treated surface primarily depends on them.

(2 estimates, average: 5,00 out of 5)