Hey everyone! I've got a piece of wood where I want to attach adhesive Velcro on the ends, but I'm running into problems because it won't stick. I realized that I've only coated it with beeswax, which probably isn't helping. I'm looking for suggestions on what to apply to the wood to ensure that the adhesive Velcro adheres well. Preferably, I'm hoping for something clear so that the wood grain remains visible, but I'm open to painting it if necessary. Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks!
2 Answers
It sounds like you're trying to stick the Velcro to the end grain, which can be tricky since adhesive doesn't bond well there. You should consider sealing it with something that penetrates into the wood, like epoxy or a penetrating varnish. This will give you a smoother surface for the Velcro to stick to. Just a heads-up though, if you really want a good hold, you might want to rethink using Velcro on the end grain—it might not be the best solution for what you need!
Just to clarify, this isn’t a serious woodworking project for me—it's just for a dart marker. I'm mainly using the Velcro to keep it secure while playing. The piece is about 81cm long, 7cm wide, and 2cm tall. So, after sanding, what do you think I should apply?
I recommend removing the beeswax first, then finishing the wood with dewaxed shellac or lacquer. Finished surfaces tend to provide the best adhesion for adhesives like Velcro. From my experience at a cabinet shop, whenever we used pressure-sensitive adhesives, we always pre-finished the surfaces to ensure a strong bond!
Also, since you've already used beeswax, make sure to sand it down to get back to clean wood before applying anything else.