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towelie: Liquid PTFE - Not smooth when dry (9. Sep 2007 16:00)

Hi all,

I have some "Liquid PTFE" from ScrewFix here in the UK (link: http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=25548 ) - it is actually more like blue gel. My tank is perspex, so I have applied some of the PTFE onto a test piece of perspex.

The very fine layer I applied yesterday took ages to dry, but doesn't seem smooth to the touch now - it's tacky if anything.

I have applied a thicker layer this morning. It's taking ages to dry, much longer than the "30 mins" I have read it should take - several hours so far and it's still a thick blue liquid on the perspex.

I'm interested to know how long it should take, and whether the product I have is even suitable? Also what should it feel like when it's dry? Presumably smoother than the tank edges itself.

Thanks!

Sced: (9. Sep 2007 23:04)

Hmm in the description it seems to be designed for metal surfaces.

miszt: (9. Sep 2007 23:52)

a few people have reported problems with the gel version of PTFE on here

PTFE should have an almost Greasy feeling when it is dry, due to lack of friction, find a good teflon frying ban for a comparison of how it should feel

towelie: (14. Sep 2007 12:22)

I can also report that sheets of pure PTFE are no good either. The ants seem to be more hesitant about walking on it, but can still do so easily, even when it's vertical or more than vertical.

I'm probably going to try talcum powder on PTFE sheet next.

miszt: (14. Sep 2007 13:47)

Vasaline works great :) i wrote a post on it in the begginers section

towelie: (14. Sep 2007 15:45)

Vasaline works great :) i wrote a post on it in the begginers section

hmm, how much vaseline do you use? (how thick?) I just watched a first generation lasius niger walk right across a 3cm wide strip of vaseline along the edge of my tank

miszt: (14. Sep 2007 16:15)

lots :) about 1mm thick

i've not tried it with Lasius Niger, works great for p.pallidula & t.nylanderi, am trying it out on my c.herc's aswell, but they arent very adventrus at the moment n dont climb the glass anyway lol

towelie: (14. Sep 2007 22:54)

hmmm, ok, I've got one tank with thick vaseline, one with talcum powder - let's see which works best for lasius niger :)