Author Topic: Flocking and White UV paint old decoys (Read 2372 times)

Special T · « **on:** October 31, 2011, 09:41:29 AM »

I purchased a package of the Areo Outdoors Velvet Feather flocking kit at my local sportingood store, Holiday market on 20. I also puchased some UV paint from Michels in Burlington. it is the American brand Snow White (Titanium). I wrote the company and it does indeed have titanium oxide in the paint. (The active part that reflects UV) It comes in a 2 OZ bottle for about a buck.
I had some old heads for some shell decoys i have. I figured removable heads were good becasue they could be protected in a sock or something for storage or transport.
In addition to the kit you need a squeeze bottle for the felt, a 1/4 wide brush for the glue, and a bin like my rubbermade container to capture excess felt. I also have a dowl or rod to hang the heads on and some hooks made from clothes hangers i stole from my wife. I would also recomend a propane/butane torch like the ones used for sodering pipe.
I cleaned the heads with soap and water and roughed them up with a scotch bright pad. After i let them dripp dry i took the torch to them and just let the flame work its way across the head. This made sure there was no moisture, and i believe a heated surface bonds the glue better.

Special T · « **Reply #1 on:** October 31, 2011, 09:51:42 AM »

I found that it was best to just apply glue to one head at a time. I think the flocking works best when you arn't stingy with either the glue or the flocking. I started at the neck and worked to the head while applying the glue and the reverse order when applying the felt... I found it very helpful to open the squirt bottle's hole to 1/8" like the directions say it went faster and i had less pluggin of the nozzel. I then hung the heads upside down on the rod for about 7 hrs inside where it is warm. After the glue had set i used a small paint brush, like the kind for a kids water color set, to apply the white paint. It only took a drop on each cheek to get ok coverage. I then hung them back up to dry. I think they will need one more coat to look really good. I will try and post another pic after the 2nd coat.