How to Remove Static Grass?

[JPD]

I am less than pleased with my first attempt to apply static grass to a portion of my layout. I now want to remove it. I tried soaking it with water and then scrapping it off with a putty knife, but this did not work well and left gouges in the foam base. Is there some better approach? Do I need to soak it longer, like hours rather than ten minutes, before trying to scrape it off?

I am tempted to use my beard trimmer and shave it off!

 

Before I tried applying static grass on the layout, I did several experiments on some spare foam varying the lengths of the grass. These turned out well, but on the layout the longer grass just laid down and refused to stand up. I am using a Woodland Scenics device, glue, and grass. Any suggestions for my next attempt would be appreciated.

 

[mbinsewi]

Here's a thread from last week about static grass with some helpful tips.

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/p/286011/3307733.aspx#3307733

I would think that soaking and gentle scrapping would remove it, not nowing what glue you used.

Mike.

[BigDaddy]

Elmers white glue is water soluble.  There are a variety of other glues that may or may not be and the OP has left it up to the crowd to guess what was used.

If longer soaking doesn't do anything, I would consider sanding.  If you have to sand some foam away, at last you have a smooth surface instead of gouges.

[JPD]

I used Woodland Scenics Static-Tac FS644 to glue the static grass.

[mbinsewi]

The only info I can find is what is on the bottle, "Water Soluble".

I wonder if using "wet" water, water with a bit of alcohol, would do the trick.

Henry's suggestion is an option.

Did you paint the surface before appling the grass?

I guess I'd stick with the soaking and scraping, and if any of the foam surface gets damaged, that's an easy fix with a thin layer of something like drywall mud, or patching plaster.

Mike.

 

[JPD]

Yep, I did paint the foam an earth color before applying any scenic materials.

[mbinsewi]

That should help you out.  Have tried like a thin flat blade, like a sharp putty knive to get under it, and see if you can't "peel" it up?

Mike.

[JPD]

Yes, I used a putty knife when I tried removing it.

I think I will try soaking it longer and be a little more patient

 

[NHTX]

     JPD, have you tried placing wet (not dripping) paper towels on the area in question?  Let them cover the offending area for a few hours (4-6) and then try scraping off the unwanted scenic material with a plastic putty knife.  Depending on the thickness of the glue, you may need to re-wet the towels as they dry out.

[JPD]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will give them a try. However, I have to put off working on this for now. I am now laying tracks in my expanded around the room layout. I will get back to the scenery on my branch line after I finish the track work. I will report back when I figure out the best way to remove the static grass.

 

[SeeYou190]

Is it possible to get a really sharp chisel and just shave off the top 1/16" of foam, static grass and all?

-Kevin

[mbinsewi]

And if the surface is gouged, it's easily fixed with drywall mud or spakling compound, not a big deal.

Dig it out, get rid of it, fill in anything you need filling, and move on.

I was thinking that if the Woodland Scenic cement dried like Elmers white glue, you could get under it, pry it up, remove it and carry on.

Mike

[SeeYou190]

Lastspikemike

Putty knife should be sufficient to scrape off the "grass". Chisel is way overkill and would be easy to gouge the underlying surface.

That is why I specified a sharp chisel. The OP is concerned with gouging. A putty knife will gouge, a good quality sharp chisel will cut smoothly.

-Kevin

[SeeYou190]

Lastspikemike

The rigid blade of a chisel will not work.

So you are saying a sharp chisel will not work to cut a thin layer off of foam board?

                                   

You really are just too much. I guess ten plus years of building CosPlay props with my daughter out of foam board I just imagined how we shaped the stuff.

JPD had an honest question, and I offered a suggestion worth a try. I have shaved thin layers off of foam board with a sharp chisel many, many times.

-Kevin

[maxman]

Don't the static grass applicators require a battery?  I would think that putting the battery in backwards would un-static the grass and it could be removed with a vacuum?

[mbinsewi]

maxman

Don't the static grass applicators require a battery?  I would think that putting the battery in backwards would un-static the grass and it could be removed with a vacuum?

I like the mowing idea.  Mow it, siderake into windrows, and bale it, then plow, disc, and replant with your choice of ground cover. 

Mike.

[Lakeshore Sub]

Mike,   mowing it is what I was thinking about also but using an old electric razor or trimmer and vacuuming as Maxman suggested.

Scott Sonntag

 

[JPD]

Just a quick belated update. I used my beard trimmer on the static grass and it worked! No damage done to the trimmer that I have noticed. 

[doctorwayne]

Glad to hear that you got some good results, as I was about to suggest that sandpaper would likely do a pretty good job of cleaning-up the mess.

Cheers,

Wayne