Window film is used, among other things, to decorate and protect glass surfaces. Its great advantage is that it can be applied very quickly, easily and simply, even by hand. In this article, we will show you how to apply window film at home!

What is window film for?

Window film can have many different functions, depending on the type and colour of the film. Some people use it for decorative purposes on the surface of the window or glass, others to prevent people from seeing through the glass into the room or car. Shading is also achievable through applying films.

The film or foil can be applied to any kind of glass, whether it's a window in a room, a shop window or even a partition wall. Special types of window film are those designed specifically for cars, read more about them here!

Window films can filter out a good 85% of UV rays, and some types are also shading, which helps to keep the space they enclose from getting hot.

The film is hard-wearing and long-lasting, so it will remain on the surface for up to 10 years. It is waterproof so it does not get wet and the surface is easy to clean. It is important to note that normal window film is not the same as safety film, the former is an aesthetic plus, the latter also protects against breakage.

Window filming at home

Window filming is an easy DIY operation, all you need is a tape measure, scissors, a trowel, and some water. Let's look at the process step by step!

Step zero

The first and most important thing to do before you start with the foil is to clean the surface to be foiled. The window or glass surface must be free of dust, dirt and greasy fingerprints, as this will affect how well the film will adhere.

Step one: preparation

Cut a piece of foil approximately as big as you need. You don't have to be exact, but make sure you don't cut out a smaller size. Once you have the foil in your hand, use water to wet the surface of the glass. The easiest way to achieve this is to use a spray bottle.

Step two: fitting

Next, remove the protective layer of self-adhesive film and press it against the glass surface. When applying the film, be careful not to let it slip! Find its position and wet the other side of the film while you are doing this, so that smoothing will be much easier.

Step three: smoothing

Once the self-adhesive film has been applied, the next step is to fix it, i.e. smooth it down, just like you would with wallpaper. This should be done using a trowel, which can be a window sander or any other tool that can be used to smooth the film. The main thing is to remove any air, bubbles or unevenness. It's a good idea to move the trowel from the centre outwards, slowly, to make sure all air bubbles are removed.

Step four: shaping

Once the foil is stable, you're almost done. What you still need to do is to remove any excess using a scalpel or wallpaper cutter. If you need to, use a ruler or straightedge to make it straight.

Step five: cleaning

Window filming is a framing process at home, so start with cleaning and finish with cleaning. Once the window film is applied and cut to size, there's nothing left to do but clean the surface.

Get everything you need for window filming from Flanker! Check out our online shop!

Preserving your health is important in the office environment too. Creating the right working conditions is essential: more and more people are now choosing ergonomic chairs, taking care of the positioning of the seating and desks, and ensuring that there is enough light and air in the office space. However, not much is said about how to protect your hands when sitting in front of your laptop. In this article, we'll talk about the importance of using a wrist-rest alongside your mouse pad.

The office desk layout

It's essential to find the right place on the desk for your office equipment, mouse, mouse pad, keyboard, or monitor. It is best to have the laptop keyboard so far away from your body that the arm is at a 90-degree angle.

It's not just your back and brain that get tired during long hours behind the laptop, but also your hands, which are constantly straining in a rigid position over the keyboard and mouse. Keeping the arm on the armrest and having a mouse wrist rest on the desk can help relieve muscle strain.

Beyond the office...

Using a wrist rest is also essential in a completely different area. Nowadays, leisure activities often involve several hours of gaming which has negative effects on the joints too. Among the so-called "Gamer" products, the wrist rest certainly plays an important role.  Mouse pad wrist-rests are particularly recommended for games that require monotonous, non-intense mouse movements. Preserving your hands in these situations is a must.

The mouse wrist-rest

With the help of a wrist-rest, you can avoid excessive fatigue of the hand or wrist or numbness and pain caused by poor circulation. The wrist-rest is usually made of elastic material, so it can mould to the wrist, take its shape, and helps keep the wrist and the back of the hand in a natural state.

The wrist-rest has a convex shape, and the filling material is typically silicone, gel or foam. It can be attached to a keyboard, mouse pad or stand-alone, and is available in a variety of patterns, transparent colours, and leather covers.

With wrist-rests against health issues

As the wrist muscles can work for up to 8-10 hours in a working day, they are subject to a lot of stress. If this situation persists over a long period, it is easy to develop tendonitis, ganglion, or even carpal tunnel syndrome.

By supporting the wrist, the wrist-rest helps to prevent the hand from being overloaded and developing the above-mentioned diseases. The computer is now an essential part of most office and home lives and its use cannot be reduced or excluded, but with little things like a wrist-rest, we can help to keep our health.

In addition to wrist-rests, Flanker offers a wide range of other accessories for home and office workstations. Examples include privacy films, anti-glare screen covers, notebook/laptop stands and precision mouse pads.

Sanding is generally considered an unpopular activity, but that doesn't mean you can get away with it. It is an activity involving a lot of dirt and is designed to remove surface irregularities. However, it is not all the same what material you use and exactly how you do it. Let's look at the properties of abrasives and what you need to know about them!

The importance of sanding

Sanding is a cutting process that removes surface roughness, improving the quality of the surface by making it suitable for a wide range of uses. Sanding can be done by hand or with a sanding machine, but the main aspect is the sanding material itself.

Sanding may be necessary for all sectors, especially where the use of metal, wood and glass is paramount. Sanding requires the right skills and experience with multiple surfaces, as thanks to advances in technology, it is possible to buy special sanding discs for different materials, thus ensuring that the quality of the sanding is good and that no damage is done to the material.

However, it is not enough to choose the right abrasive, you also need to pay attention to the grinding pressure, the cutting speed, and the feed rate to achieve the right result.

Properties of abrasives

The properties of abrasives determine the applications for which they can be used. Their structure is very simple, usually consisting of a carrier material, a binder, and abrasive particles. Let's look at them!

The carrier material

The function of the substrate is to provide a base for the grains, which is why it must withstand the various mechanical stresses, pulling, bending, and repetitive and dynamic movements. Typically, the following materials are chosen as substrates:

• paper, which can be denoted by the letters A, B, C, D and E, based on g/m2,
• fabric, denoted by X, XF, YX, J and JF,
• vulcanised fibre, which can be denoted by thickness as V8 and V6,
• foil.

The popularity of paper carriers is high. Paper carriers are very reasonably priced, but not so strapacious, and are therefore mainly used for flat grinding. Tissue backings are stronger than paper and are therefore well suited to processes such as abrasive stripping or profile sanding using abrasive belts. Vulcanized fibre, or fibre material, is made of cotton and cellulose fibres. This type is used only and exclusively for fibre discs. Finally, the foil is a thin layer of polyester, best used when fine sanding is done with discs or belts.

The binder

The bonding agent ensures that all abrasive particles adhere to the surface of the substrate and do not detach from it. It must therefore provide sufficient strength, yet still, allow for elastic movement of the grains. Resin is the most suitable material for this purpose, but natural adhesives may also be used as a bonding agent.

The abrasive grain

Abrasive grit can be made from a variety of materials, including corundum, zirconia-corundum, ceramics, silicon carbide and diamond. The following is an overview of the types of grit that can be used to grind which materials:

• Ruby: this is a natural abrasive grit with a hardness grade of 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale.
• Smirgel: this is a harder (7.5-9) but natural grain, like Ruby. It is used for grinding non-ferrous metals and precious metals.
• Cycron corundum: cycron corundum is a synthetic material with a hardness grade of 9. It is used for grinding minerals, CK (cement-bonded chips), and steel.
• Brown corundum: also a synthetic material, brown corundum has a hardness grade of 9.
• Semi-precious corundum: reinforcing the corundum camp, it is a synthetic material used for grinding wood and metal.
• White corundum: white corundum has a hardness of 9,4 and is used for sanding wood, paint and varnish.
• Silicon carbide: silicon carbide with a hardness grade of 9,3-9,7 is widely used for grinding glass, stone and MDF.
• Diamond: the strongest abrasive grit is diamond, suitable for grinding glass, marble and ceramics.

It is also important how the grains are positioned on the substrate, i.e. how the grains are distributed. With open grit, the grains are less frequently spaced, allowing the dust generated during grinding to settle temporarily between the grains. This is advantageous because it prevents dust from remaining on the surface. With closed grit, the grains are more densely spaced, which means that there are more of them and therefore more cutting edges. While open grit abrasives are recommended for softer materials, closed grit abrasives are recommended for harder materials.

The higher the value, the smaller and finer the grain. In the process, it is, therefore, advisable to use a coarser grit for pre-sanding, followed by an intermediate grit, and finally a fine grit for finishing.

The abrasive varies according to the application. There are, for example, sanding sponges, sanding belts, sandpaper, sanding rollers and sanding discs for machines.

Epoxy and resin are both adhesives used in various industries, but they are also often used for household and creative purposes. These materials have excellent bonding properties and can withstand temperature tests, physical stresses, and chemical exposures. Both are so-called plastic adhesives, but what are epoxy adhesives and what are resins?

What is epoxy resin?

Resin is a strong adhesive that can be bought in liquid or powder form. It takes a long time to dry, up to 8-10 hours. The higher the external temperature, the faster the resin can dry.

When using epoxy (or epoxi as it is often called) resin, two liquids (the resin and the cross-linking agent) must be mixed in the right proportions to create a material that cross-link and harden when it solidifies. It can then be easily sanded and drilled if required.

There are several types of epoxy resin, and you should choose between them based on the following factors: cure time, use-by time, bonding property, viscosity, UV resistance, chemical resistance, and scratch or wear resistance.

It provides a particularly strong bond, making it ideal for industrial applications. It is widely used for woodworking, wood panels, flooring and worktops. It can be used for garage flooring, decorative coatings for residential properties, various decorative objects, tables, jewellery, etc. Because it is waterproof and has excellent water resistance, it is also suitable for general purposes in places where water can cause problems, such as bathrooms.

What is epoxy adhesive?

Epoxy adhesives are the kings of their category. They can bond surfaces together so strongly that they are even used in the assembly of cars and aeroplanes. They are resistant to heat, chemicals and moisture.

Epoxy is a petroleum-based adhesive containing substances such as epochlorine, which is responsible for forming the hard layer. It dries quickly and, depending on the type, can take from a few to 30 minutes to become fully solid. Its price is higher due to these benefits.

 It is fairly easy to use, but there are a few things to bear in mind:

Before applying the adhesive, the surfaces should be degreased and thoroughly cleaned. Petrol and alcohol are the best solutions for this. After cleaning, it should be wiped dry so no moisture remains on the surface, as this is the only way the adhesive can dry properly. Once the area is prepared, the adhesive can be applied.

It is ideal for bonding wood, metal, ceramics, porcelain, concrete, polystyrene and plastic surfaces, for indoor and outdoor use, industrial use, but also for domestic use. They are available in two-component and one-component versions and a variety of colours, including blue, black, transparent and beige.

A wide range of epoxy adhesives can be found on Flanker's webshop. 3M™ Scotch Weld™ 7240 B/A epoxy adhesive, for example, is a two-component epoxy adhesive that is high-performance, flame retardant and should be mixed in a 2:1 ratio for use.

There are also adhesives available to meet specific needs. 3M™ Scotch-Weld 2216 epoxy adhesive is a high-strength adhesive that provides a strong bond while being extremely flexible, making it a good choice for applications where thermal expansion, shrinkage or even vibration are a concern.

Differences and similarities

Both epoxy adhesive and resin are suitable for forming strong bonds, but the former is slightly more durable. The most significant difference between the two types is the drying time, which is significantly shorter for epoxy adhesives, even though the adhesive components must be mixed before use.

Another important difference between epoxy adhesive and resin is the price. The former is more expensive than resin due to its superior properties. Therefore, when speed is less important and there is time to wait for the adhesive to dry, many people prefer resin. If, on the other hand, you need a quick and failproof solution, epoxy adhesive is the best choice.

Flanker is also an online store for builders, renovators, craftsmen and tradesmen. We have been in the market for almost 25 years, serving our customers and partners with quality materials and tools. Have a look around our webshop!