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Post by Ray (Flock Man) on Oct 2, 2009 11:19:11 GMT -5
***Thanks to fellow collector Gordon of CA, White Flock Fiber is back in action. Thank you, Gordon, on behalf of all GIjOE collectors! CONTACT EMAIL: flockconcepts@live.com or flockconcepts@outlook.com Only the main mixes (Land, Sea, Air, Gray, white and Black) will be considered a normal reflock- everything else will fall under custom work. To what degree this custom work goes is up to you. See Below for pricing Another note is: messages from this site! Many times this site and others are not so good at forwarding your comments or messages to me. I find they are hit or miss on notifications. So, please use the email if you are not getting a response via this site and some other forums. Shipping address: Ray Cairo
79 Grant Street
Fall River, Massachusetts
02721
To Request Reflocking Services Please send me an email with the number of heads you plan on sending.
A simple example that most do is:
Just add your questions, comments, and information like how many customs, etc., and get the ball rolling.
flockconcepts@live.com
I will email you a Pay Pal invoice!
IF sending a Money Order or Check please make the check out to my wife or myself. Information given in our reply email.
Read below for the new Hairline Style Choices!
(if no Hairline Style choice is made then we will follow the old glue line- The best of the choices!)
YES, The Flocking is waterproof (non-heated). (on the other hand Joe is not. The hooks, elastic cord, some of the steel rivets, and even the plastic itself can be damaged by water), but the flock job has been tested endlessly by my son in the pool, the ocean, and the tub. Now also tested in the snow... I doubt the flock could survive anyone trying to remove it by picking at it, scraping it or boiling it. I haven't found any flocking work that I could not be remove if my intention was to remove it.
flockconcepts@live.com or flockconcepts@outlook.com (note: some email services may not make it through a spyware scan.
Just a note: In 2020 the bulk pricing went away, and the price is $8.49 multiplied by the number of heads for vintage colors, white, and gray. $4. Towards the return shipping on the first 7 heads. 8 or more heads will have free USPS shipping in the USA.
2 tone stripes and longer flock customs will remain the same as below in Customs.
Reflock service Pricing: (pricing is for complete reflocks, and patchwork! It also includes stripping the old flock off and free return shipping in the USA on 8 or more heads (without bodies) heads sent with bodies attached have extra shipping weight and cost more for return shipping!
1 Head $ 8.49 (+ $4.00 USD Return Shipping.)
2 Heads $16.98(+ $4.00 USD Return Shipping.)
3 Heads $25.47 (+ $4.00 USD Return Shipping.)
4 Heads $33.96(+ $4.00 USD Return Shipping.)
5 Heads $42.45(+ $4.00 USD Return Shipping.)
6 Heads $50.94(+ $4.00 USD Return Shipping.)
7 Heads $59.43(+ $4.00 USD Return Shipping.)
8 Heads $67.92(Free USA Return Shipping on orders of 8 or more.)
9 Heads $76.41
10 Heads $84.90
11 Heads $93.39
12 Heads $101.88
13 Heads $110.37
14 Heads $118.86
15 Heads $127.35
16 or more will be $8.49 multiplied by the number of heads.
Customs (2 tones, Special blends, short hair with long beards are $14.99 each- again number of heads X the price) Note this could go to $24.99 if the work is longer fibers or with custom colors or 2 tones with custom stylings. Things that come to mind are full long hair, Dreadlock's and maybe mullets in some cases. When in doubt email and ask.
Note: The pricing setup within a close margin of cost- coming in on the red side more often than the black, but this is something that is part of my hobby now and I put into it and you put into it and it keeps the ball rolling. I'm amazed at the current cost increases over the years of flock fibers, glues, and other materials I use to do this. I think this may be why some many have walked away from flocking over time.
flockconcepts@live.com
International buyers email first for shipping quote! Also:on all international orders- if conditions change in your country from the time you purchased our service to the time of return shipping- you will be responsible for any extra fees or costs to get your heads home. This includes packages returned from your country for whatever reason. Just make sure I have a valid address- phone- and email to add to the shipping paperwork.
Sadly I can no longer accept shipments from Mexico- apparently Mexican Customs and the Mexican Postal Service can't do their job and get the packages back to you. This effects other shippers like FedEx, UPS, etc. since they all have to go through customs and Mexican Customs basically tosses your incoming stuff in the trash. Makes me sick that our fellow collectors in some parts of the world miss out. Maybe someone will take the information on this forum and start offering reflocking in Mexico!
How it works:
1. Email us with the number of heads you are sending (if you are sending the bodies) and what part of the world you're in (for return shipping).
2. We will send you a Paypal Invoice and the shipping information (Make sure you open the invoice to see the shipping information).
3. Tell us what you need to have done (example: color, hair & beard, just hair, etc)
4. We'll confirm when you heads arrive via your paypal or other supplied valid email address.
5. We'll strip the old flock off your head(s).
6. We reflock the head(s) and send you an email with a picture then ship the finished head back to you (picture depends on volume of work load).
7. Your happy- we’re happy- Joe’s happy.
8. You can post a comment on this forum or by email (some may want to be kept private)
9. If you’re happy do it again (we know you will be).
Your GI JOE flocking will look like the Joe's in the old print ads, and TV commercials. Your old friends can have that perfect flocking again without costing you a fortune or looking out of place next to vintage heads. Just add some lint and in time you may forget that they are reflocks. Also Read the FAQ below!
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Post by Ray (Flock Man) on Aug 5, 2010 18:33:21 GMT -5
Air Adventurer Mix Sea Adventurer Mix Land Adventurer/ Talking Commander/ Man Of Action Mix Adventurer/ Black Talking Commander (black mix) Gray mix  White mix  Custom Colors - Just know these will take much more time to complete at a small extra fee. Colors are limited! 
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Post by Ray (Flock Man) on Aug 13, 2010 11:25:57 GMT -5
Get your Club Joe's Reflocked and be truly happy with them. Attachments:
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Post by Ray (Flock Man) on Aug 13, 2010 11:29:01 GMT -5
Another angle! Attachments:
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Post by Ray (Flock Man) on Aug 16, 2010 19:09:30 GMT -5
FAQ
Facebook and other websites:
Facebook and various forums are part of the GIjOE hobby, but they are not part of my Reflocking Hobby. There are too many to keep track of and PM's get missed here and there which lead to hard feelings from some collectors. Your best bet to find out information about this project is to email me direct at: flockconcepts@live.com
Most Facebook or other webforum emails go into the spam box never to be seen again. I understand many collectors are linked to these sites via their phone, etc.- I'm not.... so it's hit or miss on whether I'll see these facebook type messages.
Can you copy other reflockers custom work from pictures on their sites?
Well, I can try to, but I may not have the exact colors they use. Anything other than the standard mixes will have an added custom work Fee.
The reason being these customs take hours in most cases to complete.
Do I have to strip the head?
No! We strip the heads for you!
Do you paint heads, scars, or eyebrows?
Sorry no painting! I only deal in flocking, but many others do restoration work.
Will the hair match exactly to vintage?
What I do is try and run the middle ground between the numerous production run shades. Sometimes I can add a little tweaking here and there and get it pretty close and a little time and dirt will do the rest for you. Many who have a larger collection will know about the variations in shade, but at times I will get newer collectors that have only seen one color shade for a given hair color and will believe that my mixes are off dramatically. It's not the case. Plus, remember the hair was a mess and now they are reflocked- which would you rather have on display. Overall you'll get an awesome reflock for basically the cost of materials. For those who want more than that it may be better to stick to vintage flocked heads and only collect those. My goal is not to sell this concept to you, it sells itself. I'm here as a collector helping other collectors bring back their hair damaged Joes.
I did offer some aging at one point, which consisted of clean dryer lint, play sand, thread clippings, cotton balls, and carpet samples from the Home Depot. I would roll the heads around in a can of this mixture and brush them out. I stopped this practice because many believed it was more of a fading process added over the new flocking and not just a instant way to dirty them up, but using clean products.
What’s the turn around time?
Turn around is a day or two(on this end). The whole process could take a week (shipping time here, flocking time, and return shipping time.) Custom work can and most times will take much longer. Muti-colors cure a day or two before the next color is added, and some colors have to be mixed up to match a desired look requested. At this point the customs are few and far between, but as they become more prevalent and time consuming they will fall under a different category than normal vintage reflocking and the charge will be per the piece.
I give priority to smaller (20 and under head) orders over say, a toy companies orders (which usually have set completion dates). Most times I just follow the PayPal payment dates when setting up batches and what order they are worked. I email you when the head(s) get here with an estimate of when they’ll be flocked. When they are dry I will email a picture and ship the next day (as long as the post office is open). Note the picture isn't pro quality... it's just a normal light pic to give you a sneak peek of what's coming home and it keeps you in the loop on the progress.
Custom Work
Customs pose a problem- Hours and days are spent on these and get the whole project behind schedule. Now these custom commissions can get special time set aside for them and they will not work into the regular reflocking schedule, but on their own until completed.
Can you ReFlock Club or Walmart GijOE’s and do they look like vintage when done?
Yes, I can flock just about anything. Yes, they will look more like vintage Joes. The head sculpt is not really the same, this is why I say more like vintage joes.
Can Reflocking damage the head?
Not from anything I’ve seen, but the epoxy will bite into the hair and beard line some so turning a reflocked bearded head into a beardless head later on would be a no go!
Is the Reflock waterproof?
My son takes his reflocked Joes in the tub, the pool, and the ocean and the flock has held up. My best test for anything is to give some to my son and let him go at it. Do I recommend sticking Joes in water? I wouldn’t do it because the clothes are not waterproof, the elastic cord inside him is not waterproof, and most of the rivets and metal hooks that hold him together are not waterproof, even the plastic body can crumble after getting wet/then dry over time. We all know the vintage flock is not waterproof, but the reflock is.
Can I put hats on a Reflocked Joe?
I do all the time. On thing I noticed putting hats on our reflocked heads are that even if the flock flattens out a little it’s easier to re-fluff the flocking then it is on vintage flocked heads. Most times just a brush with you thumb fluffs up the flattened flock after wearing a hat for a while. This is the advantage of Nylon Flock over the old vintage Rayon. Nylon is very tough and durable. Nylon is basically plastic so it’s tough. Rayon is based on plant material so it can get moldy, degrade, fade, etc.
Shipping Address:
Ray Cairo
79 Grant Street
Fall River, Massachusetts
02721
flockconcepts@live.com
Pricing?
This is a big one…
First, all I can say is “Math”. It just comes down to numbers. My motivation with this and most of my sales on ebay is helping out collectors. It’s not about money. Granted, I will not go broke in doing so, but I start with what it costs me and go from there. Breaking even or gaining a few bucks here and there is fine with me. The flock and reflocking sales pay for the flock and reflocking. These sales keep the my flock supply, glue, dye, etc. going and at times I grab an iced coffee and it’s a fun part of my hobby. Some of the larger orders help me try new things or buy upgraded equipment, but it all comes back to math and numbers. If I buy a head for $5 +3 shipping I know I have to get that back plus the ebay listing fee, sales fee, paypal fee, cost of the flock/glue/time, and the shipping/packaging. Anything I offer for sale I buy just like you. I'm not getting or grabbing a few things from work or taking advantage of a collector who is down on his luck and buying $1000. worth of stuff for $100 ( I’m not knocking those that are lucky and do this... I wish!) I’m just stating that I go the normal route like most of you do to buy things so my motivation on this is not the dollars. I was just a collector like many of you who wanted to try a better concept. I was tired of others saying, "hey that was reflocked by xxxx xxxxxxxxx!" if they saw a picture of a loose Joe in my collection. This way it's a bit harder to tell right off and they blend in with vintage flocked heads much better. The only fault is that they look a little too neat where many of the vintage flocked heads are a bit uneven or faded by now (hey they're old... I bet you don't look like you did 40 years ago... lol)
Truth be told, I get sick seeing all those forgotten Joes sitting in displays at Toy Shows. Dirty, balding, and lint filled figures wasting away. I can’t buy them all, but I figure if we all buy one I know I can flock them and make them look like they did back in the day. Or I can show you how to do it for yourself.
Special Note on Invoices: I email at least 20 a day, but only a handful are ever paid so, after a week or so I cancel all the unpaid invoices so I don't have to keep looking at the email reminders, etc. If your invoice is cancelled just email me when you are ready and I can send out another one. Simple enough!!!
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Post by Ray (Flock Man) on Aug 31, 2010 0:18:28 GMT -5
Shameless plug! Attachments:
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Post by Ray (Flock Man) on Sept 25, 2010 22:51:50 GMT -5
Of course following the old glue stain is best because if you choose a style that doesn't cover the old glue stain (which 99% of the time the stain is permanent)it will show. On my own heads I've found that most times the stain goes pretty deep into the surface. You choose what Hairline Style you would prefer from these choices! Just remember the above note. These are not set in stone, but some like to have the choice. Just note the color and style when you ship your heads. Color codes:AA= Air Adventurer (blond) LA= Land Adventurer (brown) SA= Sea Adventurer (red) MOA= Man of Action (brown/no beard) obviously no style choice neededAST= Astronaut (blond/no beard) obviously no style choice neededThe Style Choices are pictured below: Attachments:
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Post by Ray (Flock Man) on Sept 25, 2010 22:54:19 GMT -5
For the African American heads: Color codesAV= Adventurer (black) BC= Black commander (black/bearded) Hairline Styles choices pictured below: Attachments:
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Post by Ray (Flock Man) on Sept 26, 2010 13:51:26 GMT -5
Just a quick easy way to pass along to me what you want done on your reflock. Attachments:
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Post by Ray (Flock Man) on Apr 15, 2012 20:38:21 GMT -5
Know that heat and added abrasion can release the bond. You are dealing with 3 plastics, Nylon Flock Fiber (hair), Epoxy/ Polyurethane (glue), and Soft PVC (head). Heating and the sometimes difficult task of twisting the head on to the neck post can result in breaking the bond between the 3 plastics. It’s the case with most plastic/flock coated items. Care must be taken when placing HOF or 40th type heads back n the neck posts.
In the reflocking world we call the common technique used by many as “boiling in oil”
This is not actually the case, but popular belief is that boiling a head is the way to go.
I’ve done this as well in the past. I would take the head and drop it in some heated water or run it under hot tap water, then I would try and push the head back on. Some went on easy and others I had to twist and turn forcing them on which 9 out of 10 times resulted in me sending back the head to the reflocker (insert one- I’ve used them all in the past) or embarrassed by what I did I would send the head to a different reflocker. It is what it is and I’m guilty just as most are.
Now I take a different approach on HOF/SA style heads. The best thing is to leave the head on the body, but most do not want to pay the extra shipping, so- If, I attempt to put on these types of heads I try only to heat the neck and stretch the neck hole a little using a wooden dowel.
I’ve found that the glue/flock bond is not the culprit, it’s the expansion of the soft PVC that causes the trouble.
In doing this reflocking I get a chance to see what has happened to many of the other reflockers work after the heads go home and I see that many get there butt kicked, which is fine because they belong to the owner and he or she can do as they will.
I do have to add that if your actions are destine to damage the reflocking it is on you brother and there is nothing I can do about it other than say, “Send it along with your next order and I will reflock the head again.” Will you have to pay for it to be redone?… Yep!…. and it is what it is. I know what they can go through and what they can’t. My son and I have run them through the mill on this end on purpose along with reflocks by others so it would be difficult to come up with something that we have not done here.
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Post by Ray (Flock Man) on Oct 23, 2015 18:57:47 GMT -5
I know there are a few out there that are still hesitant to hop the fence and get your Joes reflocked- just know it's pretty painless and before you know it they'll be back home for you to enjoy. I post this because I've noticed some worry about turn around time. Turn around time takes a great deal longer when you haven't sent the heads for fear of turn around time. Then there is cost. I'm also a collector of all this as well and fret over shipping and prices, etc., but to get a head reflocked will set you back about as much as a coffee/ breakfast sandwich. I've gone to great lengths to try and keep it that way. Get them out of the attic box and back in action!!! Attachments:
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