Hand flocker unit usage

[mazinfriki]

I've managed to get a notch unit form a friend. He uses it for grass, so he told me to put a nail into the glue and attach the floc unit cable to it. I've doing some tests and the result is low density hair.
Another guy told me to put an iron piece INTO the head an attach the cable to the metal part.

It would be nice if you could share your knowledge about the best way to use a hand flocker

[Ray (Flock Man)]

From what I've seen from a friends Noch Unit (and I may be wrong), but When I watched it used in person it didn't seem to have enough juice to really toss the flock around. I think this is because it's battery operated. When you open one it's the same looking piece that they sell at Electronic Goldmine (well they used to have 2 models a 12 volt DC at 15kV (15,000 volts output and the one they sell now 120VAC at 7.5kV (7500 volts) output)
See I think that when using a 9 volt battery you're reducing the output to around 3kV (3000 volts)- maybe less. Then factor in RH (relative humidity) it may not have enough, but I'll tell you what I use for a full head Flock with a hand held.


First I used an old microwave carousel dish. On top of that was a heavy piece of wood with a bolt that fit inside Joes head attached to the ground clip. As I spun the plate I would shake the flock unit over the head. It worked good, but later on I would just use a PVC tube with a wooden dowel stuck in the end that fit into Joes neck and clip the ground onto Joes neck in the back just barely touching the wet glue. Still I think that the Hand flocker is more of a complete skill unit. It took me a while before I got the hang of it and by then I was already working on the cabinet type flocker.
When you watch a person like Zane use the hand held you can see that he has mastered that style with lots of practice.

Now if I use a hand unit, I just put a plate behind the head and clip the ground to the plate or if it’s a spot repair- I use a probe made from a paper clip taped to a pencil or PVC tube- clip the ground to that and pin point where the flock goes.
I’ll try and put together some pic of these things.

[Ray (Flock Man)]

The main point is to work the head in the charged field between the High voltage and the ground. Now if in humid condtions you could let the flock sit in an AC room for an hour or if you've left the flock out for a time and it has gotten too dry- either a very light mist of salt water and or a quick spray of static guard should get it jumping again.
Your flock has become too wet when it balls together.
Your flock has become too dry when it sticks together like a rope or it goes on looking like a mini pine tree.
In a humid area flock may "felt" which will piss you off! Felting is when the flock looks like it went on real thick and you let the head sit overnight to dry and in the morning when you go to brush off the excess flock all of it brushes off because very little actually penetrated the adhesive. I will have to look for it, but I have like a 200 page PDF which I read about flock reaction in a charging field. I know I fell asleep many nights reading this informative, but boring study.

[Ray (Flock Man)]

You do not have to get fancy. You can get Pro results just from using a $1 store tote, a plate of some kind of metal, a piece of copper or steel as the electrode, and the part from Electronic Goldmine or from the place in, I think it's Australia. Your in Spain if I remember right so it may cost you a bit more to get the part your way. I will let you know if this China Deal goes through. I asked them for 30kV units and they are putting together a sample model for me to test out. If it goes well and the demand is high enough I'll get them and try to sell them at around cost just to help people out. As long as I break even it works for me. Just don't want to lose money, but even works for me on some things.

Still waiting on the 30kV deal from China, but you can get
the ion generators at:
www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G1783
or
secure.oatleyelectronics.com//product_info.php?products_id=327

or if your technical (which I have done this, but it was a task because I’m not a electronics pro)
www.imagesco.com/science/high-voltage/high_voltage_devices.html

[Ray (Flock Man)]

voltage graph!

[mazinfriki]

So if I understood well you would attach the clip to a metal plate and put the head between the plate and the unit isn't it? I was supposing the metal part has to be INSIDE the head for better results.

Maybe I'll try to make a cabinet. Tha bad thing is I have few time to research and make the unit, but maybe I'll do.

I have to get a good adhesive also. Shame you could not send the adhesive to Spain, I'm having trouble to find the correct one here

[Ray (Flock Man)]

You could put metal in the head if you want, but I never found it necessary with any flock unit I’ve built. The point of the nail and the clip for making grass on a train diorama is, to ground out a large area by using the glue as part of the grounding. On a 3D object it only needs to be in the charging field. You could wrap aluminum foil around a wooden stick, put the head over the foil leaving some out of the neck and clip to that.

On the adhesive side of things- When I went to the Post Office and asked about shipping the glue, they said, “will it have a reaction at 10,000 feet?” I have no idea what it will do at 10,000 feet and I don’t want to be responsible for a plane crashing or something crazy like that, but I checked around European countries and found this link that may help you out:

www.uno-flock.cz/en/adhesives/

You could also try waterbased polyurethane, also some are using LIQUITEX GEL MEDIUM or Flex medium Varnish.
Also others are mixing craf-bond wood glue with clear acrylic.

Hope this helps!

[troubleshooter]

Hi
I did try out the polyerathane using a fine hair brush and what do you know it's working. I thought it wouldnt set up but it did. was a bit of a mess first try but i think I got the hang of it now. I put it in the sink adn the hair didnt come off. I mess up on one and had to take off the polyerthane and it did leave a little bit of a stain on a duke beard line. Does the water type work better?
Kev

[Ray (Flock Man)]

Sry I've been so busy with other things I haven't finished testing.