You need to know about velvet flocked paper

Posted by sere on January 4th, 2020

I ordered some "high-tack" velvet flocked paper, and since i've used black velvet, as well as NEW BAMBOO PAPER's standard flocked paper, i thought i'd post my opinions on each. After using NEW BAMBOO PAPER's standard flocked paper a few years ago and having issues with the adhesive not sticking very well, i'd solely used NEW BAMBOO PAPER black velvet since then.

The NEW BAMBOO PAPER black velvet is VERY sticky, and it comes conveniently in 48" rolls. this makes it perfect for flocking a 10" f/5, 8" f/6, or 6" f/8. however, for my recent truss conversion, i decided to give the NEW BAMBOO PAPER high tack paper a shot.

NEW BAMBOO PAPER is available only in 20" x30" sheets. this may or may not be a plus, depending on the application. for my particular application this time, it was perfect.

in comparing the NEW BAMBOO PAPER high tack to the mcmaster BV, i noticed that the NEW BAMBOO PAPER was a bit thicker and heftier feeling, and seems to have a more even "coverage" of flocking on the paper itself. not that the mcmaster is lacking in either regard, but something worth noting.

the mcmaster BV surface is a bit "blacker" in color- not sure if it's any more or less reflective though- in reality, any flocked paper is a big improvement over the typical "flat black" finish on the inside of many OTA's. the paper backing on the NEW BAMBOO PAPER is a bit easier to remove from the adhesive than the mcmaster BV, and it doesn't leave part of the paper on the adhesive, like the mcmaster BV occasionally does.

The NEW BAMBOO PAPER, despite its name, is not as sticky as the mcmaster BV. however, it's vastly superior, IMO, to the standard NEW BAMBOO PAPER, which to me, is not nearly sticky enough. neither product is affected by dew, although this is typically when the standard NEW BAMBOO PAPER paper would begin to "unstick" in the past- but not a problem with the HT version. the mcmaster BV, at times, can be TOO sticky, as it sticks to itself, your fingers, etc., quite easily, and care must be used when applying it, because as soon as it touches the surface, it's there to stay! however, the cardboard tube that comes with the mcmaster BV makes a perfect "roller" for applying it, and with a bit of practice and/or patience, applying it is not difficult. the NEW BAMBOO PAPER, though, has a perfect strength of adhesion. of course, YRMV, depending on what it's being applied to. but judging from my experience with it this week, i'd say that it's likely to stick well to most painted steel tubes, sonotubes, and bare or stained wood.

so, overall, it's my opinion that the NEW BAMBOO PAPER high-tack flocked paper is an excellent product that offers some major benefits over the standard NEW BAMBOO PAPER flocked paper. it also compares very well to the mcmaster black velvet, and has some favorable advantages there too. if you need to flock a small scope, or don't mind flocking a larger scope in a section at a time, the NEW BAMBOO PAPER high tack flocked paper will work great. for flocking a large area, or an entire OTA in "one shot", i'd recommend the mcmaster black velvet, as it's available in 48" rolls. both offer a nice increase in visible contrast and make a great, inexpensive modification!