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MG TD TF 1500 - TD Glovebox Flocking

Just finished making a glovebox for the TD (looks just like a bought one, only better) & I'm about to flock the inside of the box. Does anyone have a colour pic showing the colour of the original flocking? I believe it was brown. TYIA. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I think brown too. I suspect you will have enough trouble finding brown flock let alone the right color.

I wonder if it was flocked before assembly? I am having a hard time thinking how you will get it flocked smoothly when its a box.

Let us know how it comes out and how you did it.
Christopher Couper

Peter send me an email and I will send A pic I can't get anything to upload salsburyrocketman at Yahoo dot com
W. A. Chasser Jr

I have made several glove boxes and tool boxes for my pre-war MGs, and found the easiest stuff to work with is a thin felt material with an adhesive backing. Closely butted to the adjacent piece it is hard to tell it's not one continuous piece. Available in a number of colors at most large hobby or craft shops.
Lew Palmer

Chris I got the idea it was brown from your site. Checked out flocking videos on U Tube & it's very easy. Your link led me to a supplier in the States who sells brown flock. The U Tube demonstrator just used an acrylic paint the same colour as the flocking & a mini flocker (or a plastic puffer bottle) to apply the stuff. I'd planned to attach the box to the subdash out of the car & then flock, thus concealing all the fixings. WA the email is on the way. Lew if I can't get a suitable brown I'll try the felt suggestion. I used thin black felt & aquadhere to line my side curtain box & you are right, it's impossible to see any of the joins. I'll post the pic here WA. Thanks guys. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Attached is the pic from Bill Chasser Jnr showing the colour of the original brown flocking. I've found a supplier here who imports nylon flocking fibres, in the correct density for automotive glovebox use, from Germany & they will use this pic to ensure that the colour is correct. Thanks Bill. Cheers
Peter TD 5801

P Hehir

Anxiously awaiting your results. I will follow in your footsteps if it works as mine is plain gray right now.
Christopher Couper

Once I'm the proud father you'll be the first to know Chris! Pic of bespoke box attached. Can't wait to flock it.. Cheers
Peter TD 5801

P Hehir

Peter, it hasn't been mentioned but I'm assuming that you know that the box butts against the outer fascia panel so that the mounting screws go into the inner panel. Looks great. Are you going to put the radio-related serrations in the box? Bud
Bud Krueger

Peter: You might want to consider going into the glovebox business :-)
Christopher Couper

Bud as I've remade both the sub dash & the dash based on the ply originals & they're sitting on my bench, I was able to ensure a perfect fit. I've test fitted the box which is snug in the sub dash & as you state it butts into the back of the dash itself. I plan to install the box using staples, temporarily fit the dash then hang the door to get the hinge cutouts in the correct place. I'll flock it before I install it into the car, fitting the screws then. No radio serrations... no radio. I just want to listen to the exhaust note & hear the wind whistle by! Do you happen to know what the mounting screws were? Chris, I've been asked to make a couple more by members of the MG Restorers Association here in Sydney so it seems like I am already! Thanks for the kind words. I was only able to do this because of Kirk & Bill who provided invaluable original info via this terrific site. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

The TD radio mounts were the two L brackets on each side of the glovebox.

I am not sure that the glovebox was retained when the radio was installed. As you can see it hangs down pretty low with the speaker etc.

Christopher Couper

Update on the flocking. I'm about to flock the glovebox & have decided to do the job with the box out of the car & prior to fitting it to the sub dash as it will enable me better access & more control.

I've bagged up the 1 kg bag into 30 gram bags & will use one of these to test the quantity required. The important bit is applying the adhesive evenly as the flock will show any imperfections or brush strokes in the adhesive. After looking closely at Bill's pic above I'm going to use a small fine roller to apply the PVA glue as evenly as I can & then either use a plastic squeeze bottle to puff the flock on or perhaps even just chuck in a handful or two, cover the opening with a plastic bag & shake it around for a minute or so, then recover the excess. The later method was suggested by a professional automotive flocking specialist in Victoria who imported the flocking for me from Germany. My guess is the OEM box was flocked before it was fitted to the car.

I wont be using staples as the box was originally fitted with 11 FHWS & I can cut the hinge cutouts after she's flocked. The location of the screws came from a pic supplied by Kirk Trig. Still waiting for the glovebox screws & the dashboard bottom trim screws to arrive from Adelaide. I'll take some pics of the flocking process & post them as I proceed. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I'll bet the material might have been flocked before it was a box but don't know for sure. Is there any sign of flocking on the edges of the seam?

I have seen flocking done both ways you describe. Because its a closed container I think the dumping in and shake around method will be the easiest and probably give the best results.

What about one of the spray can adhesives?
Christopher Couper

Dunno Chris. I don't have an original box so can't answer your question. The original boxes are assembled with biff rivets with no sign of any glue being used so you may well be right. I decided to glue mine together & just use the rivets in the roof of the box (domed top & bottom, see pic above) as they would be visible if used to secure the rear panel. As a chippy I'm a big fan of PVA (Selleys Aquadhere) particularly when working with wood. The strength of the bond never ceases to amaze me. The attraction with the spray can approach is the desirable even application but I'm reluctant to use a product I'm not familiar with. I'll do some tests with the roller & PVA on a spare bit of fibreboard before I risk buggering up my glovebox. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Look forward to seeing the results

Cheers Mate

Bill
TD4834
W. A. Chasser Jr

Peter,

Great looking job. Thanks for the credit for the pics. Good luck on the flocking!

Kirk
Kirk Trigg

PVA is not looking promising as it dries way too quick! I'm using the outside of the box to test the application method & have now sealed the exterior with a coat of slightly thinned Aquadhere. I've borrowed a strainer from the boss's utensil stash to break up the balls in the flock. I'll have another go tomorrow. If I can't get a pleasing result I'll try Chris's suggestion. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Job done! A few pics follow to show the finished product & the necessary kit. Went with the spray adhesive using a local product "Boyle Spray Adhesive". A test on the exterior showed this dried fairly rapidly as well, so a fast means of applying the flock was called for. It is essential that the flock be first put through a sieve or strainer of some sort as it seems to want to ball up in the bag. The 30 gram bag is plenty, perhaps even enough for two boxes.

A 15 to 20 seconds spray over the interior followed by quickly dumping the sieved flock in, placing a plastic bag over the front of the box then shaking every which way for two or three minutes. Shake the excess into the bag, which can apparently be reused, remove & place in the sun to dry. The pics were taken as soon as I'd finished. The white specks are actually the sun reflecting off the nylon flocking & are not as evident to the naked eye. When completely dry I'll shake off any remaining excess. Compared to the original in Bill's pic above I think the colour match is pretty close. If anyone is interested I still have quite a few 30 gram bags which you can have for $5 AUS each plus postage. Cheers
Peter TD 5801

P Hehir

Pic 2

P Hehir

Pic 3

P Hehir

Pic 4

P Hehir

Pic 5

P Hehir

That's flocking wonderful, Peter.

(Oh, come one... eventually SOMEBODY had to say it!)
Kevin McLemore

Yeah Kevin, I think it's flocking great!
P Hehir

Looks great Peter!
W. A. Chasser Jr

Glovebox glue is now completely dry & using a clean cloth I have been able to remove what appears to be the loose balls of flock with no disturbance to the finished surface. I now have an original looking TD glovebox. My thanks again to both Bill & Kirk. Mission accomplished. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter, I know that you've already mastered this but I just thought of you when I received the latest Rockler Woodworking and Hardware catelogue. I've not tried flocking with either of these devices but for a one time project and for seven bucks the mini-flocker looks like it could be worth a try.
http://www.rockler.com/mini-flocker-applicator-for-suede-tex-fibers
http://www.rockler.com/air-assisted-flocking-gun-with-canister
Jud
J K Chapin

Wow, isn't that nice! Peter, are you planning on making any for a TF? Just kidding, well, maybe not! Grin. PJ

Is there a pattern for a TF box?
Paul S Jennings

Thanks Jud. The mini flocker is a useful tool but because of the size & shape of the TD box the dump & shake method is the recommended approach. There's a mob in Victoria (Meet The Flockers) who imported the flock for me from Germany & Jody recommended the shake method as did Chris Couper. Problem is the quick initial skinning of the rattle can contact adhesive hence the need to get the stuff on as quickly as possible. The air gun looks good & if I had to make multiple boxes I'd consider it, but then again $80 is $80 & the shake method costs nothing.. Check out the other live thread. "TD Glovebox Jig". Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Solutions looking for problems but maybe if you were doing a wall or the whole car. Shake-N-Bake passes the KISS test but I just thought you'd like to know. I belong to a British car club and a ballroom dance club but I'm not sure I could handle belonging to a club full of a bunch of flockers :-). Jud
J K Chapin

Update. The adhesive shown in pic 5 above has proven not to be durable. I subsequently went with a rattle can of Mission Brown enamel paint as the adhesive & the dump & shake method. Now happy with both the finish & the durability. Rob I used a different adhesive (from Sika) on yours so you'll need to test it to ensure that it doesn't rub off. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

This thread was discussed between 10/08/2014 and 13/11/2014

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