Flocked Christmas Tree. Shopping for a Christmas tree and you see some that are flocked. Have you ever wondered exactly what is flocking and how do they do it? Well, if you have, here is some information.
To have a tree look like it is snow-covered, synthetic dust or powder is sprayed onto the branches that were pre-treated with an adhesive.
Actually flocking Christmas trees started in the 1800s using flour or cotton to make the “snow”. It gained in popularity in the mid-twentieth century about the same time as aluminum trees came on the market. At that point in time, it was not unusual to see real and artificial trees coated with pink or powder blue fluff.
Commercial flocking starts with paper pulp, adds corn starch for an adhesive, and then boron to act as a fire retardant. If the flocking is going to be dyed, instead of paper pulp, they use cotton fibers.
It starts with the tree, artificial or natural, being sprayed with water. Covered in protective gear, including a mask, the tree is coated with the flocking substance. This is handled in a separate room closed off with plastic to prevent the stuff from getting into everything and everyone. Here is where the art comes in. You can’t tell if you made a mistake until it dries. The paste applied will expand to the fluffiness that we come to expect with the process. You only get one chance. Reflocking is not an option.
When you have decided on a flocked tree, you need to seriously consider the decorations. With the extra fluff on the branches, the wrong ornaments can get lost. You also need to decide where on the branch the ornament will be best presented. An artificial tree that has been flocked might need a little branch tweaking to make them look naturally snow-laden.
If you are still on the fence, a good option might be to purchase a small, artificial, flocked Christmas tree. It can sit on a side table or in an ancillary room. You will not have a very large investment. It can be moved from place to place. It will give you a chance to decorate it and live with it for a season. If you think that this is the right choice in a full-sized model, there is always next year.
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