Hi all, for those who have added static grasses to your layout, which adhesive did you use and why? Woodland Scenics of course suggest you use their "Static-Tac" or "Tuft-Tac". Has anyone used white glue with success, or even Matte medium? I'm trying to save a few bucks here but want my grasses to look good. Let me know what you all used and how it turned out.
Thanks.
JRP
I use 50:50 diluted white glue and it works perfectly well. Most any glue that can be used for other ground cover will function well with static grass.
Lakeview Grass 1 by wp8thsub, on Flickr
Lakeview Grass 1
DSC02762 by wp8thsub, on Flickr
DSC02762
Rob Spangler
I wouldn't use anything but matt medium for ballast but for static I use white glue, just works better. I water it down just enough so that will stay viable for the grass as pure white glue skims over too fast. I apply the grass, give it a static charge, hand press it slightly and give it another charge, this makes sure it is set well in the glue.
I also use diluted white glue. I use 1 part glue to 3 parts water. This is the same mixture I use for scenic cement or ballasting. I use a gallon jug of glue from the hardware store and mix it in small glue bottles with applicator tops. I use a cheap Grass-Tech applicator and generally 4 and 6 mm grass. I only do a square foot or so at a time with lots of pins to keep moving around the ground wire to keep it close to where I'm applying the grass.
I have about 6 or 8 bags of grass flock in different colors and lengths. I use them to create a more realistic look of non-uniform ground cover.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I use diluted white glue, too, but have had better results using the shorter "grass". Some of the longer stuff has worked, too, but it's hit or miss at the moment...
Wayne
Most people have issues with the longer grass because they don't make sure it is stuck in the glue properly and they don't have a proper static charge. You need a device where the metal charged screen is on the outside like the flyswatter type with just a sieve on the end. You need to get the charge just above the grass.
This is not the problem with longer fibers, what you are seeing with the flyswatter type is when you get close enough that the fibers will stand up the closer you get. But you can't get fibers up that are already laying flat in the glue. This problem starts already at the device and is directly related to the static charge. A flyswatter or any convertion that uses the flyswatter as basis only produce a static charge of 2,000 Votls. This is just enought to make most 2mm fibers stand up. The longer the fibers get the more will lay flat in the glue.
The solution is to get a static device with at least 20,000 Volt to create a larger and stronger static field. With that you get relatively good results with 2mm and 4mm fibers but when you come to the 6mm fibers you will also see fiber laying flat in glue. Professionals are using applicators with 70,000 Volts and up.
I had a custom build device with around 40,000 Volt to do my HO scenery but I had the same problem when I did 12mm fibers. I recently changed to a 55,000 Volt device and noticed a better result, not as the same as on 6mm fibers.
So the conclusion goes back to the tool you are using. If you want to see professional results you have to use professional tools. A $4 flyswatter will not give you the same as a $500 (and up) profi device. But for most of you you will find a 20,000 -30,000 Volt device more then sufficient but yu need to be aware of the fact that you have to invest between $100 - $200 to purchase one.
The device I recently purchased is the 55kV RTS-Greenkeeper (a German Company) and it creates very good results.
I hope that clarifies the myth with static grass a bit. On word of advice, people with peacekeepers should stay away from those devices.
RRVRRI hope that clarifies the myth with static grass a bit. On word of advice, people with peacekeepers should stay away from those devices.
Thanks for that information.
You may wish to edit your closing comment, though, as I'm guessing that "peacekeepers" should have been "Pacemakers".
I don't have a Pacemaker, but do, occasionally, get a good shock off my homemade "Grass Blaster"...makes my hair (what's left of it, anyway) stand up better than the "grass".