Hand trimming flock wallpaper

[aphex]

Hi,
I'm a decorator in the UK. One of my clients has brought some hand printed flocked wallpaper from the states which requires hand trimming. Obviously, I want to avoid getting paste on the flock face and am unsure of the best way to proceed. Should I trim on the table or on the wall? How do I get the best result.
many thanks,
alison
Aphex Decor UK.

[Jeff Evans]

Hi Alison,
Well, you can do it all three ways if you want. Trimming on the wall would require you to paste the wall, wait for the paste to tack up slightly, and then work fast to get the paper on the wall so as to keep the next edge wet enough to grab the paper. You might have to wet the back of the paper to let it relax so it doesn't bubble up on you when it hits the paste. All that might sound like a lot of trouble- it sure does to me as I'm no great fan of that method. But others like it best so hopefully one of those folks will chime in with more detail on how to go about dry hanging the goods if that's what you want to do. Also, trimming on the wall requires a soft but sure touch, striking the proverbial happy medium of cutting through the paper while not cutting into the wall.

You can trim the rolls dry if you're confident that you can apply the adhesive without getting it on the flocking when pasting on the table. You can also trim them dry and then dry hang as described above. Personally,in this case, I'd prefer to paste the goods on the table prior to trimming, staying away from the edges of the sheet since you'll be trimming them off anyway. Then book the sheet by folding it together, not creasing it at the folds. You can then trim both sides off, using the trim marks as a reference, but hopefully checking them first to see if the are accurate as to a good match. I've included a couple pictures of a job I did where I wet trimmed the paper after pasting it like just described. The benefit of this way is that as long as you steer clear of the edges while pasting you'll be able to keep the paste confined underneath your folds and off the flocking. Then unfold at the wall and carefully join the strips together.

What part of the UK are you from? I lived over there in the early 80's for a couple years, all around the London area, and I wish I could go back for a visit. And, when you say you're a decorator I assume you mean by that a paperhanger. Over here, in the Colonies:lol: , a decorator is sometimes a person who got bored shuttling their kids to soccer and baseball games and got some business cards printed up saying they know how to design interiors.:D Then we, the poor paperhangers, are left to pick up the pieces. Oh, the humanity!

EDIT: I forgot to delete the first photo, which is of a paper I was trimming dry. The last two are of the job where I wet trimmed

[Steve Seidman]

Hang as a normal paper that you would double cut or trim on the wall, execpt protect the overlap from your tub paste with low tack tape to keep the paste off the surface. Just go slow & careful.:eek:

[aphex]

Hi Jeff,
thanks that's really helpful. Think I agree with you about method 1- gonna give that a miss.
Looking at your photos, the first thing I think is that I need one of those straight edges or something similar. I haven't seen anything like that in any of our decorating supplies stores.
I'm in London, and we have exactly the same type of interior designers here -Not a bad way to make a living - shopping for nice stuff with other people's money!
thanks again,
alison

[aphex]

thanks Steve,
I'm going to experiment with all suggestions on some offcuts before I get started on the wall - and then approach it with a zen-like calm.
alison.

[Jeff Evans]

Alison- go to www.paintstoreonline.com and you'll be able to purchase a straightedge for around (big pause here while I pretend to know the exchange rate) 30 pounds. They stopped selling that zen like calm stuff in a can when the complaints became incessant, so good luck with that part as you're on your own.:banana:

[Boston Hangman]

the first thing I think is that I need one of those straight edges or something similar. I haven't seen anything like that in any of our decorating supplies stores.

What about Hamilton Acorn in the UK, do they supply all tools for paperhanging or just brushes and such? I will include a link. Also you could try ebay but buyer beware you want a true straitedge!:devil:

Good luck!

http://www.hamilton-acorn.co.uk/PublicContent/Pro_Default.asp

[Hantshanger]

Hi there, perhaps you could use someone who has experience with flocks in the uk !!......me or there are some other good paperhangers around.

Personally I have hung quite a number of Cole & Son flocks and found that dry trimming was ok to do as long as you can paste in a good manner afterwards.

Nowadays the Cole & Son flocks come on a non-woven and are also pre-trimmed which is very kind and helpful of them. Also this means rather than pasting the product you can paste the wall.

If you would like my details, please ask and I:thumbup: :help: can forward them onto you.

[Chris Nelson]

Jeff,ever been to Ryslip? That is where I was born.

What part of the UK are you from? I lived over there in the early 80's for a couple years, all around the London area, and I wish I could go back for a visit.