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Static Grass Applicator

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  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Brisbane Australia
  • 568 posts
Posted by Alantrains on Sunday, July 6, 2008 7:03 AM

Yep,

Cheap, simple to build and it works.

 

Cheers 

Alan Jones in Sunny Queensland (Oz)

 

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: New Jersey, USA
  • 126 posts
Posted by myowngod on Saturday, July 5, 2008 7:51 PM

I have a few links for you.

Bug Zapper Grass

Grassinator

Neg Ion generator

I made the Bug Zapper one just because I had the parts at my store.  I would like to try the other one, It seems to have more power.

Good luck.

Keep the axels greased and the tender full, we're rollin' now.

Ron

My layout progress posting Named "PRR Schuylkill Division"

Link to my Youtube videos. http://www.youtube.com/user/myowngod2

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,571 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Saturday, July 5, 2008 7:44 PM

Here's a link to one made from one of those electronic fly swatters ....

http://www.009.cd2.com/flyswat.htm

There seems to be a lot of ingenious methods coming up for home-brewed versions !!!

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Amish country Tenn.
  • 10,027 posts
Posted by loathar on Saturday, July 5, 2008 7:42 PM
Where can you get the cheap DC static generator from?
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Riverside,Ca.
  • 1,127 posts
Posted by spidge on Saturday, July 5, 2008 7:06 PM
 Midnight Railroader wrote:

It took me 20 minutes to build the one from the hand-held bug zapper available from Harbor Freight.

Works great, cost $6 for the parts, and it is powerful. The zap is strong enough to start a fire if used near a flammable adhesive. (Don't ask how I know this...)

Very nice.

You wouldn't have those instructions handy would you?

John

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Prescott, AZ
  • 1,736 posts
Posted by Midnight Railroader on Saturday, July 5, 2008 5:19 PM

It took me 20 minutes to build the one from the hand-held bug zapper available from Harbor Freight.

Works great, cost $6 for the parts, and it is powerful. The zap is strong enough to start a fire if used near a flammable adhesive. (Don't ask how I know this...)

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Riverside,Ca.
  • 1,127 posts
Posted by spidge on Saturday, July 5, 2008 11:23 AM

Karnack say price of original grass master will fall abruptly as home versions take its toll.

Be carefull not to accidentally buy the ac version of the ion generator. Yours trully did this and is stuck with a pile of nifty looking trash.

Glad to see you were successfull. Have any pics?

John

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Rhode Island
  • 2,216 posts
Posted by davekelly on Saturday, July 5, 2008 11:10 AM

Just finished building the static grass applicator as described in Joe's video.  I built mine with a toggle switch vice the slide switch.  I have to say it works pretty darn good and at a much much lower price point than the Noch.  Pretty easy to put together too! 

Thanks Joe!!

If you ain't having fun, you're not doing it right and if you are having fun, don't let anyone tell you you're doing it wrong.
  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 1,089 posts
Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 12:42 AM
 jfugate wrote:
Absolutely, and it works great.

If you'd like to know the details, just email me.

 Hey Joe!  Thanks for jumping in here!  There is an email on it's way to you.

Heh, there used to be a memorex commercial years ago with Ella Fitzgerald I think..."is it Ella or is it memorex".  Anyway, when it comes to scenery, since visiting your forum/seeing videos, I like to think "is it real or Joe Fugate". Smile [:)] Thumbs Up [tup]

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 1,089 posts
Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 12:27 AM

 Left Coast Rail wrote:
The subject was covered in this thread last year.

Yes I have seen that thread.  I didn't notice any actual instructions on how to build a static grass applicator though...mostly just discussion of the high price of the noch product.

There was some mention of the applicator made with the Wimshurst machine, (which this is not) that was described in an article in MR in the 80's.  I've got that article reprinted in a later MR publication titled "Scenery Tips & Techniques" or something like that.  Anyway, the Wimshurst machine looks like an accident waiting for a place to happen and is supposed to be $150 by itself.  At that price the Noch applicator is a better deal likely.  The applicator described in the link I posted could easily be built for less than $30.  The DC ION generator is cheap at $13.00 IMO. 

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Portland, OR
  • 3,119 posts
Posted by jfugate on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 12:27 AM

Absolutely, and it works great. Here's a picture of my version next to Noch's applicator:


(Click image to enlarge)

And it works very well -- the static charge is slightly stronger than the Noch Grass Master. Here's a YouTube video demoing it in action.


(Click image to enlarge)

If you'd like to know the details, just email me.

Joe Fugate Modeling the 1980s SP Siskiyou Line in southern Oregon

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 1,089 posts
Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 12:16 AM

 spidge wrote:
I sure would like to see this link but it just refuses to load.

 

Strange it, (the web page)l oads fine for me.  Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the applicator. 

If you are trying to view the pdf just right click and save it to download it then open it.  I couldn't get the pdf to load in firefox either. 

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Left Coast
  • 519 posts
Posted by Left Coast Rail on Monday, January 14, 2008 11:55 PM
The subject was covered in this thread last year.
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Riverside,Ca.
  • 1,127 posts
Posted by spidge on Monday, January 14, 2008 11:19 PM
I sure would like to see this link but it just refuses to load.

John

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 1,089 posts
Static Grass Applicator
Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Monday, January 14, 2008 9:36 PM

Has anyone tried building this home made applicator using a DC negative ION generator?

Static Grass Applicator 

 

 

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