samyjane
Tool Gatherer
Craftoholic!
Posts: 95
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Flocking
Jul 29, 2014 20:39:48 GMT
via mobile
Post by samyjane on Jul 29, 2014 20:39:48 GMT
Im looking for some suggestions on where to get flocking or some different ideas on materials to use to make it. I had some pencil shavings like in DmScottys video, but I work in a call center where everyone has their own computer, so there isnt a lot of pencil sharpening going on.
Trying to figure something out for things like grass, gravel, and dirt.
Also, I have no idea where in my town I cant buy it. Nothing at the craft stores I frequent have anything that really works. Its all big patches of moss which are very hard to work with, and id like something loose. Or if there are any good places online that would also be helpful. My game store here doesnt have any, ive already checked.
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Post by Jason on Jul 29, 2014 20:47:17 GMT
Buy a bag of construction sand. Specifically the sand you mix with concrete. It will run you about 4 dollars. You glue it down with white glue and paint it up when it dries. Works great for earth or sand. Playground sand is usually too fine. Cedar chips work great for large slabs of rock. Broken cork works for that as well. I use the flocking from woodland scenics line, but I know that a lot of people here use stuff made from saw dust. I believe they paint it somehow, but I don't know how.
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Flocking
Jul 29, 2014 20:50:44 GMT
via mobile
Post by gnomezrule on Jul 29, 2014 20:50:44 GMT
Kitty litter (unused) Sand from the beach or playground Crumple and crush cast off bits of polystyrene they separate into small balls. I have heard but never tried used dried coffe grounds or tea. I have heard people use parsley flakes. Sawdust
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Post by Jason on Jul 29, 2014 20:51:52 GMT
That tannish color twine (Not the plastic kind). The kind you tie things up to the top of your car when moving something big or awkward. That can be cut and tinted for tufts of grass.
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Post by Jason on Jul 29, 2014 20:53:01 GMT
I once bought some leaf litter from a respected terrain company, that was oregano. I felt really silly.
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Post by Jason on Jul 29, 2014 20:53:47 GMT
Sorry for bombing your post. I just keep thinking of stuff.
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Post by darkslayer on Jul 29, 2014 20:54:17 GMT
There are many threads on here that can help with this question if you dig around the forum a bit more.
Many ideas on flock are presented. Of course, nothing beats buying flock if your going for the best result, however you can also use sawdust mixed with whatever color you want.
Some people use tea for flock, and coffee , ive heard makes a great dirt. You could even get a used up piece of cushion, and put it in a blender mixed some paint in and water, and get it very fine. Flock is just fiber in many different consistencies, so foam cushion is good for foliage if done properly. Also i have used painted twine, still working out the kinks there but you get the idea!
Sent from my DROID RAZR using proboards
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Post by Jason on Jul 29, 2014 21:00:16 GMT
There are many threads on here that can help with this question if you dig around the forum a bit more. Many ideas on flock are presented. Of course, nothing beats buying flock if your going for the best result, however you can also use sawdust mixed with whatever color you want. Some people use tea for flock, and coffee , ive heard makes a great dirt. You could even get a used up piece of cushion, and put it in a blender mixed some paint in, and get it very fine. Flock is just fiber in many different consistencies, so foam cushion is good for foliage if done properly. Also i have used painted twine, still working out the kinks there but you get the idea! Sent from my DROID RAZR using proboards I have had luck with using tinted twine. I take a strip of wax paper, put a short thin line of hot glue, and place the twine. I painted it using a wash and a little highlight. Then cut it for placement. I haven't done this is a long time, and I can't remember where I saw it first.
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Post by darkslayer on Jul 29, 2014 21:07:02 GMT
There are many threads on here that can help with this question if you dig around the forum a bit more. Many ideas on flock are presented. Of course, nothing beats buying flock if your going for the best result, however you can also use sawdust mixed with whatever color you want. Some people use tea for flock, and coffee , ive heard makes a great dirt. You could even get a used up piece of cushion, and put it in a blender mixed some paint in, and get it very fine. Flock is just fiber in many different consistencies, so foam cushion is good for foliage if done properly. Also i have used painted twine, still working out the kinks there but you get the idea! Sent from my DROID RAZR using proboards I have had luck with using tinted twine. I take a strip of wax paper, put a short thin line of hot glue, and place the twine. I painted it using a wash and a little highlight. Then cut it for placement. I haven't done this is a long time, and I can't remember where I saw it first. That sounds better than what i did, lol i cut a bunch of it up into small strands and put it in a ziploc bag with some paint and small drops of water, and just shook the bag. This created unwanted clumps, but alot of it stayed separate which is nice, but your way sounds easier and less messy. My fingers were green lol Sent from my DROID RAZR using proboards
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Post by rane on Jul 29, 2014 22:06:02 GMT
Green tea boxes at the dollar store. A single box will fill up a ziplock bag nicely and last quite a while. They have a nice natural dark green color and can easily be dry brushed with lighter greens and yellows to give variation. Here is some unpainted green tea on the bases of these fallen logs
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Post by Jason on Jul 30, 2014 3:06:50 GMT
I have had luck with using tinted twine. I take a strip of wax paper, put a short thin line of hot glue, and place the twine. I painted it using a wash and a little highlight. Then cut it for placement. I haven't done this is a long time, and I can't remember where I saw it first. That sounds better than what i did, lol i cut a bunch of it up into small strands and put it in a ziploc bag with some paint and small drops of water, and just shook the bag. This created unwanted clumps, but alot of it stayed separate which is nice, but your way sounds easier and less messy. My fingers were green lol Sent from my DROID RAZR using proboards I did that method one time. Used GW wash to do it... I know the green finger feeling.
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Post by sgtslag on Jul 30, 2014 15:04:30 GMT
Sawdust can be picked up, usually for free, from any wood/carpenter shop in your local area. It is a flammable material they need to dispose of, so you are helping them by taking it! Anyone with a table saw, or other woodworking tools, should have a 'supply' they give you -- take along some large zip-lock baggies to fill. Cheers!
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Post by Pagemistress on Jul 31, 2014 3:20:13 GMT
I use Woodland Scenics static grass, but instead of sand I actually use dirt from my yard. I live in a sandy/rocky area and our soil is just like the construction sand you find in Home Depot. So when I run low, I go outside and dig some up, crush it up and strain it. I also use aquarium sand for muddy/beachy areas (mostly because I had a bag of it left in my garage).
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Post by gnomezrule on Jul 31, 2014 3:56:38 GMT
I had some old sewing thread that I pulled all the thread off cause I wanted the spools and then I thought I would cut it up and drop in a bit of green paint and see what happened. After I cut it up i looked at the whites and reds and pinks and realized that I would be doing a reef before long so I am just going to use it as is for clumps of urchins and other such reef clutter.
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Post by Cyan Wisp on Jul 31, 2014 4:08:15 GMT
I had an opportunity to use oregano after I spilt the container on the kitchen floor. It worked out nicely.
Paper/card put in a blender makes nice nest or rubbish piles, or even an interesting texture for rugs.
I find piles of sandy rock stuff everywhere on the sides of footpaths and roads. Fine gravel sometimes spills onto road sides. I actually find that I'm a bit of a scavenger, assessing the merits of any materials I see lying about as I drive or walk by.
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Post by gnomezrule on Jul 31, 2014 4:36:52 GMT
From what I understand woodland scenic flock is actually foam like from couch cushions in very fine pieces. Just like their clump foliage is just not as fine. I found a vid on clump foliage from rubishinrubishout on youtube that was good. He mentioned not being able to get the foam smaller to make his own flock. I realized that there are different types of floral foam. They put these in the bottom of arrangements. There is a very closed cell foam that they sometimes pour water over. When it is crushed it gets really powdery rather than spongy like most foams. My guess is that this could be mortared and pestled down to a fine powder. I will have to check next time i find a cast off piece at a garage sale or otherwise.
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Flocking
Jul 31, 2014 12:31:20 GMT
via mobile
Post by beetlewing on Jul 31, 2014 12:31:20 GMT
I put together a kit I use to make flock. It consists of a colander and a couple of small trays, all of which I got at the dollar store. Most of my material has come from the end of my driveway. I just sweep up a pile of sand and shake it through the colander. What goes through the colander becomes my fine flock, and what the colander traps becomes my rubble. I pick out any twigs, blades of grass, etc and store each kind of flock in a separate ziplock box.
If you don't have a driveway, look on the edges of any old parking lot where the asphalt meets grass or anywhere that sand would collect after rain, like near drains. Paths in a park would also work. Simply scoop some into a container and sift/sort it at home.
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sotf
Advice Guru
Posts: 1,084
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Post by sotf on Aug 17, 2014 5:27:38 GMT
Honestly, I just buy it...
Just never buy it from a miniatures places, the wargames flock is the same as the railroad flock, and the railroad flock comes in rather large amounts for both terrain and bases...normally you will need to buy two close colors, but even then you end up with enough to fill a half gallon jug in tight pack to the top from two of them. I keep mine in a larger plastic tub that I've refilled with the middle green with lighter and darker green ones I've used that adds a larger variation
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Post by clanoneillguy on Aug 24, 2014 17:09:16 GMT
I have enough trouble keeping my dogs off the gaming table as it is. I can't even imagine what would happen if I flocked my bases with tea, coffee or oregano!
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