Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Techniques
Links to Other Websites
- Time for Crafting - Sara Sandberg's lovely website
- Ladies Mile Miniatures
- Fine Flowers in Miniature
- Scalescenes - Downloadable model railway buildings
- Craft Links - Great link to many UK Craft Sites
- Diane Harfield Miniatures
- ECCrafts - for Parchment Craft and Quilling
- Streets Hill Miniatures
- Elderberry Crafts
- Coombe Crafts
- The Marquetry Society
- Shop Quillers (Japan)
- Filling Your Bottle
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Unscrew the plastic bottle at the wide neck; do not undo the metal tip. Fill the bottle right up the neck, screw the plastic nozzle in place and squeeze out a dot of glue, just to check the flow.
If you have any difficulty you may have used old lumpy glue or have a big air bubble inside the bottle. In either case unscrew the plastic neck again and check the glue or prick the bubble. Put the pin in the end of the metal tip and store upside down.
Always keep your bottle well filled. By doing this you keep the air out! - Storing Your Applicator
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Whether you are using it or not you can stand it upended in a small jar or the top from a liquid detergent bottle. One of my customers made a perfect little stand out of Fimo another recently told me that an "Artists Hand" was perfect for holding the applicator! I found the base of an old toy makes a perfect stand when I am not using my applicator but a jar works just as well.
The reason for this is that, as you use up the glue, any air in your applicator will always be forming the skin at the bottom of the bottle and not in the nozzle itself. It is this "skin" on glue which forms lumps, which you want to avoid. When stored upside down the nozzle will always be full of glue and not air! - Using The Pin
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When you finish using your applicator replace the pin in the nozzle to prevent air from the outside drying the glue in the fine tip.
You don't need to put the pin in and out every time you pick it up just make sure that when you are not gluing for a while, or have finished for the day, you push the pin into the tip.
Some people find a small piece of sponge, damp but NOT wet, placed in the bottom of the jar keeps the tip from drying whilst crafting. - Don't lose your Pin!
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When you take your pin out of the applicator, pop it into the jar. Then when you have finished, you know where it is!
If you have difficulty spotting your special treated pin, amongst your work, try painting the head with a splash of bright or deeply coloured nail varnish.
- Untreated Pins
- Never use untreated pins. This is probably the most important tip I can give you because once you do you will introduce rust into your tip and slowly this will eat into the metal and clog up the tip until it is completely unusable. Tell-tale specks of brown in your glue are a sure sign that it is rusting.
- From our Postbag . . .
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I used your applicator throughout the building of the Station kit and I think it's brilliant, in fact I'm not sure how I survived this far without one! - John Wiffen of Scalescenes
I must say that having given it a try I am also wondering how I have managed to build model card kits for all these years without it, it makes for such easy application of PVA in just the right amount to the point where it is required. - Mark from Durham
"They have changed my life !" says Theresa of Ladies Mile Miniatures.
As a craft tutor I am now ordering extra bottles for the craft class as I can’t get at my own as it is constantly being borrowed! You have made many a crafter in our class very happy – Sandra from Greenock
It's fabulous I wish I had one years ago! – Wendy (Daew_Smith)
Best gadget ever invented!! Christopher of Aberystwyth
Just love this product, already own one but want one downstairs too!!!! writes Chris from Mansfield Woodhouse
Many thanks for the best ever invention for every craft! - June from Telford
I purchased a fine tip applicator off you last week and am delighted with it. Don't know how I managed with the ordinary PVA glue bottle. I now need a couple for my Fray Check glue. - Lynn from Knott End
I have not found anyone having such a fine tip. Several claim to be fine, but when it comes down to the "nitty gritty" they do not do such a good job as yours - Sandra from Leeds
Your Applicator has been invaluble to me over the past few years. Love it ! - Jean from Hove
Very useful for my dollshouse miniature work and for my Husband's trainset. Ordered on Monday, posted Tuesday and delivered on Wednesday,
amazing service, if only all companies were the same! - Hilary in Wiltshire
- Does the applicator come full of glue?
- No. Every crafter has their own particular favourite when it comes to glue, some like it thick and tacky others like it well diluted. Many crafters even have two or three of our Applicators each with a different strength of glue inside for different purposes. Our Original Fine Tip Applicator comes completely ready for you to fill.
- Does the applicator have to be cleaned regularly?
- No. One of the biggest advantages of our Fine Tip Applicator is that both our tips and pins are specially treated to prevent rust and providing they are kept well topped-up it should never be necessary to wash them out.
- How much glue should I buy?
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The applicator will hold 35ml of PVA when full. You will find this lasts you a very long time.
I always find that buying a small bottle of fresh glue is best as there will be no wastage with the Fine Tip Applicator and although you should top it up regularly you will not need huge bottles.
Glue starts to harden once it is exposed to air so if you buy a large container and only use it very slowly there will be a lot of air in the container for a long time and lumps will start to form in old glue. These lumps don't show up much when you fill your applicator but I have found them big enough to clog up the fine nozzle tip. This is very frustrating when you are trying to stick your work!
Obviously your special treated pin can be used to unclog the tip but I never buy big amounts of glue now so it is always fresher!
I suggest you store your container of glue upside down for the same reasons as your applicator! - What type of glue should I use?
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Our applicator is designed to be used with PVA glue and that is what we guarantee it for. PVA is also sometimes called 'White glue or School glue or Tacky but it is always white, non-toxic and dries clear.
If you use the Fine Tip Applicator for other types of glue, you must avoid those, such as Superglue, that make a 'string or filament' between the fine tip and the item being glued.
If such a filament does form, when you have squeezed some out, it is not a water-based glue and may well damage the Fine Tip beyond repair.
However, we do know that many other crafters are using our product for different substances and you can see in the gallery some of the crafts for which the Fine Tip Applicator has proved to be such a success. We are always very interested to hear of different uses that have worked well and would be pleased to add you to our gallery, so do let us know.
Please note, however, that if you intend to use our applicator for substances other than PVA glue it is at your own risk. - Can I just buy the metal Tip?
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Sorry No!
The big advantage of our specially treated tips over others is that ours are more robust and provided they are used properly do not rust. Consequently as the cost of the metal tip is the major part of the total applicator cost, we do not sell them separately.
- If I lose my pin can I buy another?
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Yes, spare treated pins cost 25p each plus P&P, which is the same no matter how many you buy. This is because we have to send them suitably protected as a LARGE letter to avoid injury to the postal workers
- Do we make any other Products?
- No, we are both retired but continue to make these for crafters as they are so useful.
- Do you sell to the Trade?
- Yes. Please contact us for wholesale rates. Our discount structure starts at 25 applicators.
- Miniature Flower Kits
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Theresa Stringer of Ladies Mile Miniatures says
"Using your applicator has changed my flower kit making considerably, it is so much easier now" - Fray Stop
- Several customers have told me how useful the applicator is when using Fray Stop on fabrics for smooth hems, particularly for miniatures. Steph Sharland says she uses two applicators. "They are permanently filled with either fray stop or glue , they are marked so I know which contains which, as they look alike. I get really "miffed" if one decides to hide itself amongst the fabrics too".
- Using Flower Soft
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The Fine Tip applicator makes using Flower Soft very easy indeed. You can draw your own shapes or designs or write with the applicator then shake on the Flower Soft and tap off the excess and allow to dry.
- Using Fine Glitter
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Run the applicator along the valleys of corrugated card, sprinkle with ultrafine glitter and shake off excess for sparkly backgrounds.
Write Greetings, Highlight or Draw with your applicator then sprinkle with glitter for that extra glitz!!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.
- Gluing Wood and Clay
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Liz Smith of Streets Hill Miniatures writes:
"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!" - Quilling
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This 3-D arrangement was made using both 2mm and 3mm Quilling paper in a three-fold aperture card.
The roses were made using pinking shears on the quilling paper edge and leaves were made using wheatears and teardrop shapes.
Anne made it for a Golden Wedding Card for one of the family. - Working with Veneers
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Rosie Ives writes: 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.”
- Miniature Dolls and Furniture
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Robin Britton of Coombe Crafts says, "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." - Medallion Stamping
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Barbara Crawford in Cyprus sent us this example of medallion stamping on parchment.
She writes:
"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." - Decorating Ceramics
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Sue Brown, of Sticky Earth Café, fills our applicators with underglaze paints so her customers can draw and write with fine lines when decorating ceramics.
- Gilding
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Tina Bradburn described how she gilded the lines on her card. “Once I had leafed the fine lines I gently pushed any thicker ones into shape, I cut out the layers once dry. I had to make sure that the glue was not too thin as to flatten and spread or too thick. I used (EBERHARD FABER) size for metal leafing It is very runny so I mixed PVA glue with it and shook it in the applicator bottle, it worked fine. You have to have a lot of patience and a steady hand but I love taking my time over fine lines, the finer the better.”
- Gutta for Silk Painting
- I have used the Fine Tip Applicator very satisfactorily for applying Gutta for outlining designs when silk painting.
- Dimensional Paints
- I am told that the applicator is very handy when using dimensional paints on intricate designs. It is not something I have tried myself but several customers have mentioned it.
- Henna
- One of my customers, in Scotland, uses the Fine Tip Applicator to do Henna Hand Painting.
- Chinoiserie
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Chinoiserie means in the Chinese fashion usually with figures and pagodas like the Willow pattern china.
Wendy Smith (aka Daew) mostly decorates furniture both large and miniature. Her other hobby is illuminated calligraphy; both hobbies use gesso and gold leaf.
Daew writes: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.
You can see more at www.daews.blogspot.com
