Foiling is an excellent way to quickly transform the appearance of objects, furniture, cars, and glass surfaces, at a low cost. It involves applying a very thin layer of film to the surface, which changes the appearance and even provides a degree of protection against externalities. Let's see what foiling tools to use and what the process looks like step by step!

What surface can you apply foil to?

Foiling is a popular application in industries such as interior design, automotive, and printing. Furniture wrapping is used to give wooden surfaces a new look without having to replace the entire piece of furniture. For example, a wooden cabinet that has lost its shine can be transformed with a new furniture foil coating, creating a fresh and modern look very effectively.

In the automotive industry, foiling is used to change the colour of a car without having to paint it. Vehicle wrapping is a popular option for those who want to personalise their car, hide scratches and dents or even protect it from minor surface damage. Wrapping is an excellent marketing tool: many people use vehicle wrapping to place advertising messages on the car, creating a moving ‘billboard’.

Foiling is also used on windows and glass surfaces. Just as in cars, glass can be used as an advertising medium, just think of a shop window, in which case the window film is a decorative element. But it's also an excellent choice if you want to restrict the view. Thanks to the window film, the space will not be dark, those inside will be able to see out, but those outside will not be able to see what is happening behind the window. You can apply the window film yourself, especially if the surface area is not too large.

The foiling tools

You will need a few tools to apply the film to the surface. Let's take a look at these and see what you need to know about them.

The foil

First, you'll need the foil itself. Foils come in different colours and patterns: some are plain, some have patterns, some are transparent and some are opaque. There's a wide range, so everyone can find a film to suit their taste.

Knifeless tape

The films are sold in a variety of forms, but most of them are rolled. This means that we have to cut it first. The knifeless tape technology has been developed to cut the foil without further tools, avoiding the tears and cuts that can occur due to the blade. In the case of knifeless tapes, a very strong tape is used to cut, using carrier tape.

Film cutter

Some knives are specially designed for cutting foil. They can be used to cut foil without crimping, and the safety blade ensures that no accidental cutting occurs.

Measuring tool

As mentioned above, in most cases the foil has to be cut to size. You will need a measuring tool, such as a ruler. It is advisable to measure accurately, otherwise, the result will not be what you expect.

Squeegee for smoothing

Once you've measured and cut the foil to the right size, you're ready to apply it! Apply the foil to the surface with a squeegee. This will help ensure a bubble-free finish. You can also use rollers of different sizes to achieve the same result.

Air-release tool

Despite your best efforts, air bubbles can remain. If you don't want to deal with them, you can use an air-release tool to easily remove the bubbles.

The process of foiling

The first step in applying the film is to clean the surface thoroughly. Care must be taken to remove dirt, grease, and fingerprints. This ensures that the film can adhere properly to the surface. The film is then cut to the size of the surface using the appropriate tools. Avoid the use of tools such as scissors or kitchen knives, which can tear the film if not used correctly.

If you can, don't do it alone, but ask for help.

Once the surface is clean and the film has been cut to size, apply it slowly and carefully, smoothing and pressing it onto the surface. To do this, use a flat object, preferably a trowel or a squeegee. Once the foil has been properly placed, smooth it over thoroughly so that there are no blisters or wrinkles. Take care to remove any air bubbles and make the surface smooth and uniform.

The advantage of foil is that it is not only easy to apply, but also easy to remove. If you want to give the surface a new look because you're bored or the film is damaged or worn, you can simply peel it off. To do this, you need to find a point where you can reach under the film with a pointed object and then pull in the opposite direction to remove the film. Be careful not to damage the base surface.

Using the foil is quick and easy. In some cases, you can do it yourself, for example, to wrap a small piece of furniture or a window, but in most cases, it is best to leave it to a professional with the right skills and tools.

Flanker has everything you need! Have a look at our web catalogue!

Vehicles are typically exposed to a wide range of externalities that can damage and deteriorate them. It is the responsibility of the owner to protect the vehicle from environmental factors such as the weather. One of the biggest enemies of cars is corrosion. In this blog post, we'll look at one possible way of protection, and that is applying cavity vax. What is cavity vax and why is it a good choice? Here are the details!

Why protect against corrosion?

Car manufacturers are striving to offer their customers safer and more comfortable vehicles. They aim to make vehicles last longer, so they protect the body against corrosion in several steps during production.

The body panels are more vulnerable to corrosion because a large proportion of them are made of steel. However, the original corrosion protection can be damaged over time, and it is also possible that elements that have not been properly protected are installed during repairs. In such cases, it is important to restore the original chassis and cavity protection.

What is cavity protection?

Cavity protection is nothing more than guarding the car from corrosion and rust. These are typically the result of environmental influences (e.g. rain, snow, salt) and can cause significant damage to the car’s body. Rust "eats" the material, which over time cracks and holes appear, allowing dirt, water, and air to enter and cause even more damage.

However, by using cavity protection sprays and materials, small gaps, holes, cavities in components, and welded seams can be filled with a specially formulated material that prevents the deterioration process from starting on metal components. Regular use can significantly increase the lifetime of the car, preserve its condition and, as a result, its value does not decrease so rapidly.

Types of cavity protection materials

There are two main types: primers are applied before the paint is applied, but there are also liquids and coatings that are applied to the painted surface. Primers adhere to the surface to prevent oxidation. They are typically colourless or black and can be purchased in the form of cavity vaxes.

There are also cavity protection liquids and powders, the former applied to internal components by brush or spray gun and the latter by paint nozzles. Here's how cavity protection works!

Use of the Cavity Vax

The cavity protection process consists of the following steps: preparation, cleaning, surface treatment, and application of the cavity protection material. The first step in preparation is to cover the surfaces where you do not want the material to get on. This will protect the surfaces from contamination. The full body of the car should then be cleaned. Cleaning and washing is a meticulous process of removing dirt and rust and preparing the surface. For example, if you have a new part in the car, you don't have to remove the rust, but you still have to give it a thorough cleaning.

The surface must be prepared before the cavity vax is applied. This can be done using an anti-corrosion primer, which forms a chemical layer on the applied surface and helps prevent rust. Once this has been done, it is time to apply the cavity protector and apply the material. It is advisable to use a brush or a cavity protection spray, which can be used quickly and effectively. The drying time of the cavity vax depends on the type used, but it is usually best to allow 24 hours for complete drying. There are several ways of application, depending on the formulation and the surface to which the material is applied. For example, some applicators can be used to treat hard-to-reach areas.

What are the benefits of cavity vaxes?

Cavity protection is a method of preventing corrosion. Let's look at the benefits and why you should not skip this step!

Chassis protection, corrosion protection, and cavity protection can help to preserve the condition of your vehicle. Treatments can significantly increase the lifetime of your car. They protect against the damaging effects that promote rust and the spread of rust. Because the condition of the car can be preserved, repair costs and depreciation can be reduced. Not to mention the fact that a corroded surface is not very aesthetically pleasing, but if you protect against it, you can keep your bodywork looking good for a long time.

The adequacy of cavity protection should be checked regularly and, if necessary, maintenance should be carried out. Visual inspection from time to time will help to spot any damage and corroded areas in time. The best time to check the cavity protection is during the car's normal maintenance period when the car is in the workshop. During the visual inspection, the chassis should be inspected, as well as the doors, fenders, bumpers, and window frames. It is worth paying particular attention to corrosion and possible damage.

If any damage is noticed during the inspection, it should be rectified immediately, as these usually lead to corroded areas and cracks which can lead to further corrosion damage. It is advisable to seek professional help if repairs are required. He or she will replace, repair, and clean the damaged parts and also ensure proper cavity protection.

Looking for automotive supplies? Have a look around Flanker's webshop and choose from our range of products!

A flat or ribbon cable is a multi-conductor, parallel cable that takes up little space but can still carry a lot of data. What do you need to know about flat cables and their uses? Let’s find out in our new article!

What is a flat cable?

A flat or ribbon cable is a series of wires running in parallel, making it a very efficient transmission tool. It takes up little space and is quite flexible, so it's no wonder it's so popular and widely used. A typical application is in the computer industry: it plays an important role in connecting components. It is commonly used to connect hard disk drives, optical drives and other devices. The flat cable is longer than other types of data cables and has a flat, strip design, so it has a higher data transmission speed.

A flat cable is therefore made up of several strands of wires with a protective sheath around them. The wires are typically not shielded as they do not need to withstand external electrical influences. However, if the data transmission cable has some poles (there are poles in a USB cable or a power cable, for example), these are well-marked with symbols printed on the cable.

What are the advantages of the flat cable?

Flat or ribbon cables have several advantages over other data cables. Let's list the most important ones:

• Higher data transmission speed: flat cable generally has a higher data transmission speed than other types of data cable.
• Connecting multiple devices: allows you to connect multiple devices (e.g. hard disk, optical drive, etc.) to the motherboard. This can be an advantage for those who need large data storage capacity.
• Support for multiple standards: supports ATA, IDE, SCSI and other storage interfaces, which means it can be compatible with a wide range of devices.
• Cost-effective: Generally cheaper than other types of data cables, which can be an advantage for those looking to save and cut costs.

Overall, the flat cable is an efficient and reliable data cable that is widely used in computers and other electronic devices.

Types of flat cables

There are two main types of flat cables: ATA and SCSI. The ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) flat cable is one of the most common types and is most commonly used to connect hard disks, optical drives and other data storage devices to the motherboard. There are two versions of ATA flat cables: 40-wire and 80-wire, depending on the speed at which you want to transfer data.

SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) flat cables are typically used to connect larger data storage devices such as hard disks or tape drives and are often used in professional and industrial environments. SCSI flat cables have higher data transfer speeds and can connect more devices than ATA flat cables.

 There are different types of ATA and SCSI flat cables, some with straight and L-shaped connectors, and some longer and shorter versions.

There are different types of flat cables, for example, 14-way (17.91mmx30m), 16-way (20.45mmx30m), 24-way (30.61mmx30m) and so on.

Colour coding

To prevent reverse switching, flat cables are colour coded. This makes it easier to identify the cables, the connector, easier to install and safer to work with. Data cable colour coding varies depending on the type of data cable, but the most commonly used colours are red (power), blue (command), green (data), white (feedback) and yellow (synchronisation).

It is important to note that the colour codes are not always standard and may differ from the colour codes of other manufacturers' cables.

Use of the flat cable

The flat or ribbon cable is used in many sectors, from the electronics industry to the automotive industry. It is used in computing to connect multiple electronic devices, to provide data transfer between the motherboard and, for example, optical drives and sound cards, it is used to improve audio and video recording, sound and image quality, to move and transfer media files, to connect automotive electronics systems, and last but not least, it is used in automated manufacturing processes, on test and measurement equipment and industrial robots.

Flat cables at Flanker

Flanker offers a wide range of flat cable types and packaging. For example, we have 3M 3801/40 flat cable with a circular cross-section, 3M round shielded/shielded twisted flat cable HF659/26 and 3M flat cable 3365/16SF in 30.48m spools. The use of a special ribbon cable connector is recommended for the connection between the flat cables.

The main purpose of screws is to hold together and bond the mating surfaces. However, over time, the threads of the screws can loosen, and wear out due to weight and force. By using thread-locking adhesives, we can prevent the loosening of the screw joints. This material contributes to ensuring that the screw does not come off due to vibration or impact. Let's see what you need to know about threadlockers!

What is a threadlocker?

A threadlocker is a liquid substance that fills the gaps in the screw threads, ensuring that the screw cannot loosen due to movement, vibration, or wear and that the bond remains intact. The application of this one-component adhesive is simple, without creating mess or contamination, and its effect is long-lasting. Due to these properties, it is widely used in various industries.

The bonding time for the adhesive ranges from 20 to 60 minutes, depending on the characteristics of the surfaces, but it may take 12 to 24 hours to reach full strength.

What are the advantages of threadlockers?

Threadlockers have numerous advantages that make their use worthwhile. Here are the most important ones:

• Applicable to any thread: It doesn't matter what type of thread it is; the adhesive spreads in the thread, fills it, and creates a secure bond and seal. This is a great convenience for professionals as they don't need to deal with specialized seals, and the same solution can be applied in every situation. The versatility also leads to lower inventory costs.
• Prevents corrosion: By permanently securing the connection, the adhesive prevents corrosion from damaging the metal.
• Bonds to all surfaces: Threadlockers can bond to any surface, even passive surfaces such as aluminum, coated surfaces, or stainless steel.
• Can be used on slightly contaminated surfaces: The adhesive can create a proper bond without the need for a perfectly clean surface. If there is mild contamination on the material, the adhesive can still exert its effect and create a secure bond.
• Creates a vibration-resistant bond: Some elements are subject to significant vibration. In these cases, screws can easily loosen if they are not secured with adhesive in the thread. Typical examples are screws in pumps, presses, and gearboxes.
• Can be assembled with hand tools: Despite creating a strong bond, the components can be easily disassembled using the appropriate hand tools.
• Clean application: The adhesive is typically equipped with a suitable-sized dispenser, making it easy to use anywhere, anytime. Its use does not involve excessive mess or dirt; only a few drops are needed to reinforce the screw joint.

Applications of threadlockers

Adhesives of this type can be used in various industries wherever screw reinforcement is needed. Typical examples include automotive manufacturing where resonance caused by the engine or engine block can loosen screws holding the vehicle's components, such as those in the suspension system. The adhesive prevents the screws securing vehicle parts from loosening, preventing them from falling off and causing damage to other parts of the car. Noisy and moving components can cause wear, exposing the car to unexpected malfunctions.

Threadlockers from Flanker

For over two decades, Flanker has been providing comprehensive solutions for industrial players. Our product range includes structural adhesives, including threadlockers and screw-locking adhesives such as 3MTM Scotch-WeldTM TL70 Threadlocker, which is a one-component, high-strength adhesive that ensures a durable bond. A classic threadlocker is the medium-strength 3MTM Scotch-WeldTM TL42, which allows fasteners to withstand vibrations, impacts, and corrosion. Another variation is the 3MTM Scotch-WeldTM TL62, which provides rapid curing. Take a look at the Flanker website!