Using Zig Glue on Mats What happened

[ncborn]

I read on this forum to use Zig 2 way glue so I do not have to ever buy mats again. I cleaned the mats really good with glu gone and then washed real well with soap and water and let dry then I used the large Zig glue to cover the mats and let it dry. I was so excited. I then took an old tshirt and patted it so the glue would not be quite so sticky. Then I placed my card stock on the mat and then tried to remove to see how sticky it was and the card stock stuck and tore all to pieces when I went to remove and even left pieces that I cannot even get off. Please help someone. What did I do wrong?

[DogCarbon]

I have not used Zig Glue, but have used Aleene's Tack it over and over.... and I have to use a VERY THIN layer of glue, and the first few pulls of paper were like you described.

I use the "hand" method of un-sticking my mats. I just pat them down.... I saw this on this video.. http://cricutdan.blogspot.com/search/label/sticky

[Soraya]

I used the zig glue and others since then... don't be generous when applying the glue. What I do now is i apply one layer and let it dry to see if it needs more or not. Don't squeeze the bottle too hard because too much glue will come out.

It's just trial and error.

the hand method of un-sticking the mat is good.

[lindamac]

It also depends on what type of card stock you use. If you use the cheap Michaels card stock, it is more prone to sticking and tearing. Especially the black card stock. Same with Walmarts black card stock. Did you make sure your glue was completely dry before putting your card stock on the matt? I let mine dry over night. Try washing your matt again to get the card stock off of your matt. Hopefully you didn't glue it on permanently. A thin coat of glue is definitely best. I have heard of people watering the zig glue down a bit to make it even thinner. Definitely trial and error.

[janmowvmom]

here is what I do to restick,I have tried about everything not zig yet.

First I clean my mat with hot water and dow scrbbing bubles bath cleaner and one of the mr clean magic sponge. You are not cleaning off the left on sticky stuff just dust, dirt and paper.

Let dry really good Over night.

tape off edges with wide masking tape then I tape it to a corner on a wall in my bathroom so it flaps back and forth.

Take my hairdryer on high heat and heat it until it is warm to the touch. then I spray it with Krylon easy stick. reheat and repeat.

Let it cool completely.

Works great and lasts a long time too.

[JustAnsa]

I use a quiltting spray.
I tape the edges...give the matt a light spray...and it works!

http://www.save-on-crafts.com/quilbasspray.html

[ncborn]

Thank you all so much. I think everything with Cricut is trial and error as I sure have made many errors. I love the Cricut and SCAL but I wish there were not so many trials. At least I know through you all that there will come a time that I will know all of these things like you all do. You are all so helpful and I know we beginners sure appreciate all of you.

[sandyj]

Using info gleened from this site, this is how I do it and it works like a charm.

Spray old mat with a light coat of WD40. Let sit for 5 minutes then scrape with a paint scraper or putty knife. Glue comes right off.

Wash mat with hot water and Dawn (or grease cutting soap) to get all WD40 off. Let dry.

Tape off edges with painters tape and spray with Krylon Easy-Tack Repositionable Adhesive - my can says 7020 for lightweight materials, don't know if there are different strengths. I spray in a zig-zag pattern in one direction for about 3 seconds, then turn the mat and spray again. Better too light than too heavy (you can always add more). Let dry for at least an hour.

When I touch the mat, it doesn't even seem like there's any glue on it, but it's there. It makes the mats light stick so I can even cut regular copy paper and not tear it. When the stick lessens, I re-spray without removing the old glue several times. I'm so used to light-tack mats that I take the glue off even new mats and 'fix them'. Best of all, no more glue balls!

[MadGrammy]

I use the Aileen's Tack-it over and over to restick my mats.

I have instructions on how to do it on my blog : http://www.craftychatter.com/2009/11/re ... -mats.html

[cydnew]

You didn't do anything that many of us didn't do at least once. You just need a thinner coat of adhesive, OR a more mild adhesive. I haven't tried Zig or quilt basting spray, but I have tried Elmer's spray and Aileens Tack-it-over and they were much too agressive for me. (I had similar results to you) even when I applied thin layers.

I finally found Krylon "easy-tack" repositionable spray works well for me; I can only find it at Michael's (in the fine art section) locally. It is mild enough that if I stick to thin coats (spraying just until the entire mat has a coating), it requires 2-3 coats to get to the right stickiness (give them a minute or so in between coats). Or one thicker one if I am in a hurry. I have really liked this because it allows me to build up stickiness instead of trying to tone it down.

I know that this is a spray artist's use for temporary mounting; my husband also used a similar product in school that is probably equally "friendly"- he used it on vellum and thin art papers and was able to safely remove them. So other artist's temporary / removable spray adhesives might work as well.

Good luck.