I know theres up towards 800 hits when I search for “sticky finish”, however in this case I want the exact opposite of most people.
I have an interesting question: How would you suggest to go about making the stickiest finish possible?
I have some requirements:
1. I need the sticky finish to last for as long as possible.
2. I need it to be as sticky as possible without the finish transfering to the fingers
I know this sound like a joke and some of you may consider this as a borderline offensive question. 😉 But I am very serious in this.
To give some context I work with muesums and exhibitions and have to make something that represents resin coming out of a tree. Actual resin doesn’t work because it will become too much of a mess with all the kids. So then I remembered how my kitchen top keeps that slightly sticky corner and thought maybe that’s a way to go.
Thanks for any input!
Replies
Interesting question. One thing that comes to mind is shellac that has gotten old after being mixed. The way you tell when shellac is too old to use is that it doesn't cure and stays sticky. The problem is, unless you happen to have some old shellac around, you will have to dissolve some flakes in alcohol and then let it sit for 6 months or a year (or maybe more) until it undergoes the chemical change that prevents it ever fully curing. You test it by putting a drop or two on a piece of glass and waiting to see if it fully cures.
It sounds like you want what is used as an adhesive on the back of Post it notes. 3M uses a pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive for this. You might look into this to see if it will work for you.
Contact cement brushes on, dries to a shine, and stays tacky while it waits for its mating surface to arrive. I've never left it open for a long time, and I don't know that it is safe for kids. Rubber cement is another possibility, it dries and stays tacky, plus it is removable/ revivable with thinner.
You don't say how much of this material you need, but a couple of products come to mind. Would some peel and stick shelf paper placed sticky side up work for you? Of course, you would have to use something like contact cement to glue it down. As mentioned, you should check it for safety. Another material that would be even stickier would be the peel and stick rubber flashing material. I've used it and it sticks very tightly. Again. Safety? I'm guessing that no material like this will stay sticky for long as dust, dirt, and skin oils get into it.
Safe for children is the key to your answer. Most finishes are not safe until they dry. Hide glue by itself is a natural base glue. Will it not transfer to fingers? If you do not know what's in the product you are using good and bad why take a chance with some one else's health. The tape company's that make stickie tape have proprietary formulations. They also have lots of lawyers.
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