Flock Printing?

[ericheartsu]

I have a client who just asked us to do flock printing.

I've never even thought about doing this. what do i need to use/do in order to do this?

[Frog]

I did this back when I was a mere tadpole (1969, far out man) on both shirts and posters, but never at a production level
I merely printed an adhesive, manually shook on the flocking (wearing a mask), and dried as normal. This was an air dry solvent based adhesive.

The real deal has some sort of hopper for application with a vacuum for excess like the plastic powder used for raised print thermography business cards.

I believe that there is also heat seal flocking to cad-cut, and I seem to remember sheets that adhere like foil (but I may be wrong on this)

[sweetts]

Yes heat flock works just like vinyl did a couple they look nice use a 60 degree blade I think and more pressure. I also think a place like stahls offers it

Sent  from samsung gem(the worst smart phone ever)

[Colin]

I believe that flock transfer sheets are still available as well. 

Print the design like a transfer on the flock paper and heat press it on the shirt.  Voila. 

[mk162]

I had an employee that worked at a shop years ago where a guy flocked his entire car.

[sweetts]

Now that is awesome how did he get it in the press LOL

Sent  from samsung gem(the worst smart phone ever)

[mk162]

they used electro-static flockers there.  just like powder coating.  he explained the whole process to me at one point, I just can't remember crap.

[alanhamilton]

Flock printing is very attractive as it give a velvet look. Its simple procedure is that we use a special kind of powder which is then pasted on a surface through a process in which powder particles are place once they are statically charged. The othe product is Round Cling in which a special material is used cling stock which is already statically charged!

[Dottonedan]

Thanks Alan for the info. I always wanted to know more about the details of being able to do this.  I've seen vids but they did not focus on this. Just passing by the operations.

[tonypep]

Heres what I know on this. True flocking involves triciking Rayon particles to stand on their end. This is an an electrostatic process that involves a realatively heavy ink deposit that will give the particles some "ground" to stand on. The Rayoyn particles are subject to being airborne quite readily. Therefore either the platens need to be electrically charged (for an auto) or manually stimiluated with a hand held device. Either way tricky and expensive and with all due respect to the people involved in trying to make this a viable process after considerable research I found that retail would not bear that expense. This is a slow and laborious process.
tp

[Frog]

Heres what I know on this. True flocking involves triciking Rayon particles to stand on their end. This is an an electrostatic process that involves a realatively heavy ink deposit that will give the particles some "ground" to stand on. The Rayoyn particles are subject to being airborne quite readily. Therefore either the platens need to be electrically charged (for an auto) or manually stimiluated with a hand held device. Either way tricky and expensive and with all due respect to the people involved in trying to make this a viable process after considerable research I found that retail would not bear that expense. This is a slow and laborious process.
tp

Another of the retro methods looking for a comeback, better suited for heat seal, in many folk's eyes.
If you want to blame someone, I vote for Pedro.
I think that the original shirts are done with die cut flock letters, even though some of the ones available online brag that they are direct screen printed, not some "iron on" imitator! lol!

[tonypep]

Yes I have had some success with flock transfers but again they are very pricey, need to hit minimums, and have found them to be less permanent and labor intensive with slightly less loft and washfastness.
Still a fail in my booki

[ScreenFoo]

Just out of curiosity Tony--Have you tried flock from Fiber-Lok, or is that who you're talking about?
If you have a deep-pocketed customer who really wants high quality flock transfers, I'd check them out.  They're (right down the street) in Fort Collins, CO, and although they aren't cheap, they do some pretty amazing work.
I've known a few people who worked for them, and it kind of sounds like wonka's flock factory--Beautiful MHM presses get installed, and then half destroyed and rebuilt with parts from their own CNC department for the electrostatic process... 
Pretty crazy stuff.

And on a related side note, if you use a mouse, but not a mouse rug--you haven't been living.   

[mk162]

i heard s-roque has done 4cp flocking on their presses.  I haven't seen it, so I can't verify.

[tonypep]

Yes I am vagely aware of Fiber-lok. When I was researching them almost a decade ago it appeared that their main focus was in the automotive and gaming industries amoung others. That said it would not suprise me if they have not turned the focus to apparel but my guess it would be more financially advantageous to the major retailers. It's all about the set up costs and minimums IMO