Static grass erection making thingie

[Freddy]

Happy new year for everyone!

I always had a problem with static grass, especially with the longer type. The grass patches made with it look like someone stomped on them, a very few pieces of grass actually point towards the sky. Applying static electricity is supposed to solve this problem (this is why it is called static grass after all), but how to apply that? The school experiment with a plastic ruler does not really work, I heard that there are applicator devices, but the one I found is a bit too expensive unless I am a professional modeler.

So, what solutions do you use? Anything to recommend?
Thanks for the help in advance!

[OSHIROmodels]

You can get reasonable applicators for around £20.

[Freddy]

You can get reasonable applicators for around £20.

Cool, thanks, where?

[infelix]

The easiest way is to use an applicator but as you mentioned, they are quite expensive. If you're good with electronics, there are guides out there how to build one. I tried that, but I don't know enough about electronics and failed miserably.

There's also small applicators that you shake/squeeze out the grass through but they are kinda bad, but cheap.

[zemjw]

Static grass was always way above my ability, so I just go with sand

However, Amazon has a load of applicators, mostly nudging up to the £30 mark. This one, however, is just on £20 - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Applicator-Electrostatic-Miniature-Architecture-Modelling/dp/B0C4BJVDFF/ref=sr_1_8

I have no idea if it's any good, but it's worth a look

[OSHIROmodels]

Cool, thanks, where?

This is the one I use.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131741700211?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=131741700211&targetid=1405282543879&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006460&poi=&campaignid=17218284410&mkgroupid=142217514411&rlsatarget=pla-1405282543879&abcId=9300867&merchantid=115653728

[2010sunburst]

Actually, it’s very easy to make one using an electric fly swatter (tennis racket type) and a metal tea strainer.  Plenty of YouTube vids out there………commercial ones tend to be very dear for what they are.

[Freddy]

Thanks for the info! I found this one from greenstuffworld, for 90 Euros. Anyone tried this? Guess the trademark itself means a few Euros
https://www.greenstuffworld.com/en/static-grass-applicator/2446-portable-electrostatic-flocking-machine.html

I had positive experiences with colouring static grass in my Turnip28 project, so my plan is to make my grass tufts on my own. I just need it to stand up This way the price of the applicator shall be returned over time. Or at least that is what I keep telling myself.

[2010sunburst]

Watch something like this first before you pay GSW.  It really is simple and will come in at less than twenty quid……

To use it just attach the ground wire to the item to be flocked using the croc clip and press the button to activate the electrical field.

[Cinder]

Bit late to this, but  I agree with a lot of the other commenters regarding building your own. Here in the antipodes, professional applicators cost an arm and a leg (Thats roughly 200 Antipodean zsloty).

I made my own following this video, its serviceable and won't kill you if you mess up, the electric shock is comparable to the one you might receive from an electric fence. It works fine with 4mm & 6mm static grass, haven't tried anything longer though.   

I advise you to watch the video through a couple of times and take notes before attempting the build and a hot glue gun will be your best friend when assembling it. I borrowed a soldering iron from my local tool library to complete the build.



A few tips from my experience with the applicator:

1 - Make a "hopper" to contain the static grass, some sort of plastic container above the tea strainer - I used a hummus pottle and lid. This will reduce spillage and means that if you accidentally shock yourself you don't throw static grass across the room  .   
 
2 - Make a handle for the "probe" from dowel or some other wood, this will lessen the chances of accidental shocks  .

3 - Make the wire leading to the "probe" as long as possible, I made mine quite short initially and found it quite frustrating. Make the "probe" replaceable as it will gather adhesive and static grass - I use an alligator clip and a safety pins.

4 - I don't think this device is creating a static charge as such, I think it works by making the static grass want to "complete the circuit". I find electricity and electronics to be as mysterious as black magic, so if anyone has some knowledge on this I would be interested to hear their thoughts.

5 - Moisture and proximity are your friend - Water down whichever adhesive you are using to roughly 50/50, work on small areas as promptly as possible, get the tea strainer as close to the surface AND the probe as you possibly can WITHOUT "completing the circuit".

6 - Multiple passes may be required, but this is good as it allows you to blend colours and get more convincing results   
 
6 - Tufty tufts can be made on silicon baking paper. Just dot on watered down PVA and make a few passes. Leave them to dry and they should peel off easily. I added some cheap paints to my PVA mix to avoid large clearish blobs being visible on the base of the tufts - Choose paint colours that will match your basing or terrain colour scheme.   

Give it a go, its not hard and if you only want to make tufts it should suffice.

[Dr DeAth]

Thanks for the info! I found this one from greenstuffworld, for 90 Euros. Anyone tried this? Guess the trademark itself means a few Euros
https://www.greenstuffworld.com/en/static-grass-applicator/2446-portable-electrostatic-flocking-machine.html

Looks exactly like those on ebay for £30 so you're probably paying more than a few euros for the trademark 

[Silent Invader]

Actually, it’s very easy to make one using an electric fly swatter (tennis racket type) and a metal tea strainer.  Plenty of YouTube vids out there………commercial ones tend to be very dear for what they are.

The commercial one that OSHIROmodels linked to is £16.65 including postage.

I’ve previous made my own, with the end result looking pretty similar, and probably paid about £12-£15 for the parts. So £16.65 for someone acquiring the bits and putting them together does seem like good value (especially now that Maplin Electronics is no more).

[Elk101]

This is the one I use.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131741700211?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=131741700211&targetid=1405282543879&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006460&poi=&campaignid=17218284410&mkgroupid=142217514411&rlsatarget=pla-1405282543879&abcId=9300867&merchantid=115653728

Thanks for this link,  it's always good to go for something someone has had positive experience with. I've just popped one in my basket.

[Malamute]

This is the one I use.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131741700211?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=131741700211&targetid=1405282543879&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006460&poi=&campaignid=17218284410&mkgroupid=142217514411&rlsatarget=pla-1405282543879&abcId=9300867&merchantid=115653728

Excellent, I've just ordered one too!

[2010sunburst]

Wasn’t aware of those.  Agreed though, top pick 👍. Much easier than making your own and has a cap to seal the strainer as well.