Blu Tack vs. Silly putty

Hi Brian,

Remember that "Blu-Tack" is a specific product  made by Bostik. IF you ask for "Blu-Tack" by name and they don't stock it, then that's that. 

What you want to look for, if Blu-Tack is unavailable, are the generic versions, which may be named "Power Tack", "Poster tack", "Poster putty" etc etc.

You should be able to find these or equivalent at any stationery store and "dollar store" type places. 

Excellent, thank you Phil!

Brian

The "Blu-Tac" or poster putty is available at most office supply stores as well as hardware and home centers...check the paint department or where the carry picture hanging supplies.

Silly Putty or a variation of it is available at most toy stores, craft stores or department stores that have kids toys. I found mine at Hobby Lobby and it came inside an egg...Big Putty! I was something like 89 cents on sale!

I would recommend Silly Putty, over Blu Tack any day. It has so many uses including masking off camo, such as masking off the teeth of a tread, to masking off pieces from mufflers to wheels for painting, the uses are almost endless. Just look at these pics:

I have had problems getting Silly Putty to stick and have been using blu-tack, handy-tack, UHU and others for ages. I use hadny tack the most since it is easily availabe at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Stay away from the stuff at Staples as it was very oily. 

If it stains/discolors the base coat it is usually due to the paint not being fully cured.  Any time that has happened to me the 1st gloss coat for decals evened everything out and it was invisible.  The best way to get those little sticky bits is with a ball of the same stuff.  just knead is a second or 2 to get some "fresh" stuff and press it on the stuck stuff a few times and it is gone. 

I prefer Flarp it masks it well and makes a funny noise

on a more serious note Has anybody ever tried play-dough style clays to mask and fit modles together not sure how that'd work.

Thanks for all the suggestions folks!  I picked up some HandiTAK I found at Walgreens.  It is yellow, but it appears to be along the same vein.  I also found an interesting link to making your own silly putty from regular white glue (which I have tons of) an some liquid startch (I think my mother has some lying around somewheres in the laundry room) so I may try making a nice large batch...for free!!!  Now thats economical!

Brian

New Hampshire wrote:

....Now thats economical! Brian

the doog wrote:

New Hampshire wrote:  ....Now thats economical! Brian You been getting tips from Hans Von Hammer?! LOL!

He may have rubbed off on me a bit, but I swear Doog I will NEVER use corn starch again

Brian

falschimjager wrote:

on a more serious note Has anybody ever tried play-dough style clays to mask and fit modles together not sure how that'd work.

I have used play dough once for masking. It works reasonably but playdough dries over time, so after a day or two it cracks, becomes brittle and shrinks. So it's only useable if you paint inmidiatly.

I have used a cheap generic Blu Tack variant with no residue problems.

Borg R3-MC0 wrote:

I have used play dough once for masking. It works reasonably but playdough dries over time, so after a day or two it cracks, becomes brittle and shrinks. So it's only useable if you paint inmidiatly. I have used a cheap generic Blu Tack variant with no residue problems.

For a second there, I thought you were making doughnuts or something. LOL

the doog wrote:

New Hampshire wrote:  ....Now thats economical! Brian You been getting tips from Hans Von Hammer?! LOL!

 LOL oh man...

I use "blu-tak" or whatever the heck it's called. Like Marc said, whenever some get stuck I just "blot" it up with some more. That usually works pretty well. I've found that the longer you leave the tak on, the more "boogers" you get.  It's good stuff though. I highly recommend it!

mg.mikael wrote:

For a second there, I thought you were making doughnuts or something. LOL

Yes, it looks strange. But the thicker you make the blue tack, the more you have a soft edge. For a hard edge you have to flatten the blue tack.

New Hampshire,  

Did you ever try "BluStik"?    

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/productIndex.shtml?L2=Reusable&operator=prodIndexRefinementSearch&originalValue=Adhesive&L1=Adhesives%2C        

Branch: 466

370 E. Industrial Dr.
Manchester, NH 03109
Phone: (603) 668-7161
Fax: (603) 668-8495
Branch Hours:
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Monday - Friday)

Philc40 wrote:

New Hampshire,   Did you ever try "BluStik"?     http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/productIndex.shtml?L2=Reusable&operator=prodIndexRefinementSearch&originalValue=Adhesive&L1=Adhesives%2C         Branch: 466 370 E. Industrial Dr. Manchester, NH 03109 Phone: (603) 668-7161 Fax: (603) 668-8495 Branch Hours: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Monday - Friday)

No I did not know about BluStik.  I did pick up some of the generic stuff from Wal MArt.  It is yellow, but is, I assume, the same general stuff.  If the yellow stuff is a no-go then I now at least know to check Grainger (who my company does a fair amount of business with).

Brian