Instruction Sheet

With Projects & Suggested Uses

Soft Flock® creates a soft, velvety finish on almost any surface in a wide variety of beautiful colors.

Soft Flock ® is safe and non-toxic and your brushes clean up easily with water. Simple enough for a child to use, Soft Flock ® creates a beautiful professional looking finish.

Basic Soft Flock® Application Instructions:

Preparation

Because the surface of your project will show through the fibers it is strongly recommended that you first apply a coat of matching acrylic paint to your project.

.If you are using the Soft Flock® fibers applicator bottle fill it no more than 1/2 full. This may be done using a small funnel or waxed paper shaped like a funnel. Snip the tip of the cap 1/8" above the top line.

For easier cleanup place the project in a shallow cardboard box that has been lined with waxed paper before applying fibers.

Apply Soft Flock Adhesive

Soft Flock® adhesive has been specially formulated for use with Soft Flock® fibers. Using a damp, soft brush apply a generous coat of the adhesive brushing it out smooth and even. Your brush should glide easily through the adhesive—if the adhesive feels tacky it has begun to dry. To ensure the adhesive is wet enough for the fibers, after the adhesive has been laid down mist it lightly with water and run the brush back through it once. IMMEDIATELY Apply Soft Flock® Fibers.

Soft Flock® fibers are special rayon fibers uniformly cut to provide a soft, attractive finish. Hold the applicator in the palm of your hand (see Fig. 1) approx. 3" to 4" from your project and squeeze in short bursts making sure the fibers continuously flow from the bottle. Apply a liberal coating (more than you think you need)—only so much will stick and the rest can be reclaimed and reused. DO NOT TAP OR SHAKE YOUR PROJECT!!—you may knock the fibers out of wet adhesive. Set aside to dry.

Drying Your Project

Method A: is an air-drying method. Allow your project to dry for a minimum of one hour before removing excess fibers. Caution should still be used in handling at this point. The adhesive is not completely dry—overnight is best to achieve this. While the air drying method will provide a durable finish, the Soft Flock® can still be removed with a saturation of water. To make the finish water resistant you must use Method B.

Method B: is a quick drying method for surfaces that can withstand the heat of a 300 degree oven. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Place your project on a cookie sheet in the middle of the oven for 5 minutes. This will set the Soft Flock® adhesive making it permanent. Because the finish can no longer be removed easily with water it is suggested that projects then be allowed to air dry completely and excess fibers be removed before making the finish permanent. Method B is not recommended for wood, plastic, foam and any other surface that may be damaged by the heat.

Clean Up

Brushes should be cleaned after use by rinsing with water (if the adhesive has dried on the brush it can still be rinsed off). Once the Soft Flock® finish has dried you may remove the excess fibers by either shaking or tapping the project over waxed paper to knock off the excess fibers. There still may be some residual fibers that need to be blown away. Once again using the waxed paper as a funnel return the fibers to either the bottle or the plastic bag in which it was shipped. These fibers are now ready for future use.

Special Instructions For Lining Boxes

With little effort Soft Flock® fibers create a soft, velvety finish on the insides of boxes. Soft Flock® is recommended for small to medium sized boxes (8"x6"x4" approx.), but with special attention the Soft Flock® finish can be applied to larger boxes (see Hints and Tips below).

READ BASIC SOFT FLOCK® APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Preparation: Basecoat your box with a matching color of acrylic paint. Sealing wooden boxes is helpful, but not necessary. If the surface is slick (varnished or glazed) it must be roughed up lightly with sandpaper.

Adhesive: Apply a generous coating of adhesive by first spreading it all around the inside of the box and then going back to smooth out any lines that may be showing. To ensure the adhesive is wet enough to hold the fibers the brush should glide easily through the fibers; if the adhesive feels tacky it must be remoistened. To do this mist the adhesive lightly with water and run the brush through it one more time. Then IMMEDIATELY apply the Soft Flock® fibers (next step).

Soft Flock Fibers: IMMEDIATELY apply the Soft Flock® fibers, covering the bottom first and then the sides. Apply a liberal amount of fibers—more than you think you’ll need. Only so much will stick, all the rest will fall off and can be reused. DO NOT!! DO NOT!! DO NOT!! TAP OR SHAKE YOUR PROJECT AT THIS POINT. You could knock fibers out of wet adhesive. If you wish to reclaim excess fibers at this point you may gently turn the project upside down over a piece of waxed paper and ALLOW the excess to fall out. Then use the waxed paper as a funnel to return the fibers to the bottle or its original bag for the next time.

Drying: Allow to dry at least one (1) hour using Method A (above).

Hints & Tips

Removing the Soft Flock® Finish: Once the Soft Flock finish has been allowed to dry overnight it will provide a soft, yet durable finish able to withstand daily use. However, if it becomes necessary to remove the finish saturate with water and wipe the fibers away. Then you may apply a fresh coating of the Soft Flock® finish. It is possible to change colors, repair damages or renew a tired looking finish this way. This may be done as soon as the project has dried or months later. If a small amount of water accidentally drips on the finish do not touch and it will dry again and be fine. It is not possible to remove the fibers with water if Drying Method B (heat setting) is used.

Larger Pieces: When working on a larger piece (larger than 9"x6"x4") it is suggested that you work in sections. First mask the bottom of the sides with tape to allow quick application of the adhesive to the bottom without concern for getting it on the sides. Using a larger brush (1" or larger) apply the adhesive to the bottom following ADHESIVE instructions above including misting. Apply the Soft Flock® fibers and allow it to dry at least one (1) hour. Take off the tape and make sure all excess fibers have been removed. Then continue applying the Soft Flock® finish to the sides again masking the unfinished areas. It is not necessary to mask surfaces that are already coated.

Extra Large Pieces: Apply the finish to an area 12"x12" and before it dries immediately coat the adjoining section overlapping the wet adhesive approx. 1/8". Because of the substantial overspray of fibers when working on a large project (that is later reclaimed and reused) this may require more than one package of Soft Flock® fibers.

Soft Flock for Kids

Soft Flock® is safe, non-toxic and so easy to clean up, making it a great craft for kids of all ages. Following these special "Instructions for Kids" makes Soft Flock® even easier to use.

Materials needed: 1/2" masking tape; a cardboard or wooden cut-out shape; Soft Flock® fibers and adhesive; decorations; pin back or magnet; soft paintbrush; water for clean up afterwards.

Step 1 – Place Soft Flock® fibers into a large zippered plastic bag. Set aside for use later.

Step 2 – Wrap a piece of masking tape around the child’s hand with the sticky side out. Attach the cut-out shape to the tape making it easy for the child to hold.

Step 3 – Brush the adhesive onto the cut-out shape wherever a fuzzy finish is desired.

Step 4 – Remove the masking tape and attached cut-out shape from the child’s hand—the tape becomes a handle. Drop the shape into the plastic bag that is filled with Soft Flock® fibers. Seal the bag and shake until the piece is coated (about 10 seconds).

Step 5 – Remove the cut-out shape from the plastic bag, again using the tape as a handle, and set aside to dry (1 hour).

Step 6 – After the cut-out shape has dried—tap or blow off the excess fibers.

Decorate the cut-out with beads, sequins, ribbons, etc using fabric glue to adhere to the Soft Flock® fibers. Attach a pin or a magnet to the back.