Tips & Techniques

“I have found out that if I fill one applicator with diluted PVA and a drop of washing-up liquid it makes the diluted mixture flow more smoothly. I can use this to fix all the track ballast to my model railway without it bunching together, it is much easier than trying to use syringes etc.”

'I find that the controlled amount of PVA that I can apply with the Fine Tip Applicator to the veneer joints on my marquetry, makes the job easy and saves mess and waste. The cleaner I can keep the veneers, the easier it is to sand and finish later in the process.'

It is fantastic for making Doll's House miniatures where you only need a tiny spot of glue. On this table top each small diamond of veneer had to be individually glued in, so using your fine tip glue bottle was just the job for putting glue exactly where I needed it.

Your metal tip is so much better than other bottles with plastic tips, because with time, when inserting the pin in them you end up pushing it through the plastic tip.”

‘Making flowers is much easier than you think, especially if you use the Fine Tip Applicator. First seal the end of the stem with a dot of glue from the applicator and allow to dry. (This acts as a stop)

Make a hole in the centre of the flowers and slide up the stem securing with a dot of glue. Add leaves to stem . . . so easy as the applicator allows you to put the tiniest dot of glue just where you want it . . . and just the right amount. So simple! I don’t know where I would be without it!’

Tip: Make up sheets of glittered corrugated card ready for backgrounds. Work quickly on a small area at a time, two or three rows, then add Ultra fine glitter, shake off excess before doing the next section. This way the glue is still damp enough to stick the glitter. Start with the applicator just off the edge and run on into the corrugated valley so that you get an even line of glue and glitter, at the far end just run off the card before removing the applicator.

"The first place I use it is to add a tiny drop of glue to the drilled holes in the seat of the stool, before I push the legs into place. If I decide to reform the way a paw is placed I often have to add another drop of glue underneath the paw - so you can probably imagine how little that drop has to be!

It's just so easy to get the tiniest drop of glue exactly where you need it using your applicators!"

"They are perfect in every part of miniature doll and furniture making, delivering the tiniest spot of glue in the right place. I use them in place of 'fray - check' to seal fabric before cutting."

"When you have cut out your patterns the glue is then applied to the channels (created by embossing your design) the fine glitter is then sprinkled over the glue and then tapped off and left to dry.

The main point of this process is that you need a very fine tip to your glue and preferably one which does not require washing after every session and this is where I have found yours invaluable."

I paint the background black although it can be any colour; red, green or white are popular.
The pattern is then copied onto the item and I then fill parts of it with a thin Gesso which is a mixture made of animal glue and whiting (chalk dust). This is made much easier by putting the mixture into the Fine Tip Glue Applicator and squeezing it out. When this is dry the next stage is to apply very thin sheets of gold leaf over the Gesso. After painting the other parts I finish it with French polish.
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