Tony Davis Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 I have built one of the flyswatter based static grass applicators and, having seen instructions for building a negative ion based applicator, wondered if they were an improvement worth the effort of building? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertiedog Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Not worth the bother for most users, however if large areas or very long grass is involved then an ion unit is better. But as I found in investigating the various units, it's not the power, but the design of the head, and the users skill that makes the difference. The best head I can find is to have the electrode inside the cup, with a pattern of holes in a disc of plastic designed to suit the grass used. No metal grid is needed for the grass to go through, it is charged inside the reserve cup. The voltage does make a difference but only for large area work. If the cup has the plastic front, or a commercial one like Peco, then a funnel in reverse is a good idea as the front, as it concentrates the grass for detailing longer grass. The flyswatter circuits work well as standard, no need to boost them, although you can if you want. If into O gauge, then use the ion unit as it handles longer fibres. The big surprise is that the static bottles also work well! and are better at fine detailing around buildings. The advantage of a cup with holes is no chance of shocks, unlike the tea strainer types, which are limited due to the one size of mesh, which a cup type has no problem with, as you make your own screen in minutes. The best advice is to never rush the static grass, go slowly, working it up, not in a rush, where you might as well just use the flock as it was used, by throwing the stuff straight on. By the way, at 2mm length it barely makes a difference whether static is used or just strewing it by hand. Stephen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Davis Posted August 24, 2017 Author Share Posted August 24, 2017 Thanks Stephen, I have had (in my eyes) fairly good results with 2mm grass using an home build flyswatter device but I want to start using longer grasses and also a fairly larger area so I think, from reading your response, that I will build a negative ion based tool. I take your point about the different shaped nozzles and, to be honest, I enjoy building this sort of thing. regards Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
daftbovine Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Believe it or not passing a statically charged party balloon over the recently applied grass (using the swatter) gives it an extra lift. Unfortunately the balloon doesn't seem to by itself or we'd all save a bit of money. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Campaman Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 I haver a home made fly swatter one which works OK, but I generaly just use the Puffer Bottle and run a balloon over afterwards (after rubbing said balloon on the wifes cardy) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ianLMS Posted September 15, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 15, 2017 (edited) I built a static grass applicator using a Neg ION and find it great to use. I had tried the tea-strainer type before and wasn't that impressed so followed Luke Towans clip on You-Tube (link below), got myself a section of 50mm tube, an old peanut container, old sieve and ordered the Neg ION Gen from Australia. So simple to put together, I have two - one works off a 9v battery and the other plugs into a 12v adapter. For the 9v verion, I used an old tube of sealant for the body, a beaker and again, mesh from the same sieve. No issues with applying 2mm, 3mm, 4mm or 6mm grass to a variety of surfaces. Total cost was around £25 as I had to buy 2 Neg ION Gens. plus the pipe etc. The Peco one is supposed to be good, at around £50 is not badly priced either compared to the Noch ones etc. Part one is here: Also, read this thread on RMWeb: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/64167-static-grass-tips-and-techniques/ Ian Edited September 15, 2017 by ianLMS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Davis Posted September 16, 2017 Author Share Posted September 16, 2017 Thanks Ian, was it the Oatley Electronics Negative Ion Generator? regards. Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ianLMS Posted September 18, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 18, 2017 Morning Tony - yes it was the Oakley one sent over from Australia. I had purchased a Neg Ion Gen from Ebay (China) but the wiring was different and I couldn't fathom it out so I just decided to ge the ones that Luke recommended. I have attached a picture of the body. The grey pipe and fittings were ordered off Ebay. I cut the middle of the peanut tub lid out and fitted the mesh from a sieve, securing it with a hot glue gun. Soldered a wire with connector to it, and that connected to the wire coming from the Neg Ion Gen. The second picture shows the result from my cheap home made static grass applicator using 4mm grass from War World Scenics. Cheers. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Davis Posted September 18, 2017 Author Share Posted September 18, 2017 Thanks Ian, looks good. I have also ordered the cheap chinese version, the wiring looks the same as the one that Luke Towan used. If it doesn't work I will buy the Australian one as all the other parts are the same. I have also found a polish version on ebay that has an higher Kw output but I don't know if that would make a significant difference. Can I ask what diameter pipe you used? Luke Towan used 50mm but I wondered if I could get away with a smaller diameter, I suppose it will depend on how big the neg ion unit is. Regards Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ianLMS Posted September 19, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 19, 2017 Thanks Ian, looks good. I have also ordered the cheap chinese version, the wiring looks the same as the one that Luke Towan used. If it doesn't work I will buy the Australian one as all the other parts are the same. I have also found a polish version on ebay that has an higher Kw output but I don't know if that would make a significant difference. Can I ask what diameter pipe you used? Luke Towan used 50mm but I wondered if I could get away with a smaller diameter, I suppose it will depend on how big the neg ion unit is. Regards Tony Morning Tony - I used 50mm diameter pipe so I could mount the Neg Ion Gen to a piece of wood to secure it in place. Stops it from flopping around when you are shaking the applicator. The gen on its own should slip into a 45mm dia pipe without too much trouble as well. The Chinese ones might be smaller than the one from Australia so you might find it will fit in a section of white plumbing waste pipe ok. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Davis Posted September 19, 2017 Author Share Posted September 19, 2017 Thanks Ian, I will wait for the item to arrive and see what size it is. Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shipbadger Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 Completed my Luke Towan type static grass machine last night. The ion generator was a non-branded item bought from ebay but apart from that the rest was the same as Luke describes. I made up three screens for the front as I need to cover fibres from 2-10 mm. One used a sieve but the other two used stainless mesh from China via ebay. Had to be cut using a slitting disc in a mini drill (and eye protection). The bits that fly off are very hot. To make them interchangeable each screen has a spade terminal pop riveted to it and the wire from the ion generator terminates in a female connector (also known as Lucar connectors). Had a trial run and am well pleased, especially with the long fibres. I now have plastic bottles, a fly swat machine and now the new one. I shan't be getting rid of any as they all will have their uses. One thing that struck me with the new machine was that normally I pass the end of a vacuum cleaner nozzle over the fibres at a height to pull any upward that need encouragement. Didn't need to do that with the trial I did last night. Tony Comber 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Davis Posted October 15, 2017 Author Share Posted October 15, 2017 My cheap chinese neg ion device arrived yesterday, so building will commence when I assemble the remaining ingredients. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ianLMS Posted October 16, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 16, 2017 (edited) Completed my Luke Towan type static grass machine last night. The ion generator was a non-branded item bought from ebay but apart from that the rest was the same as Luke describes. I made up three screens for the front as I need to cover fibres from 2-10 mm. One used a sieve but the other two used stainless mesh from China via ebay. Had to be cut using a slitting disc in a mini drill (and eye protection). The bits that fly off are very hot. To make them interchangeable each screen has a spade terminal pop riveted to it and the wire from the ion generator terminates in a female connector (also known as Lucar connectors). Had a trial run and am well pleased, especially with the long fibres. I now have plastic bottles, a fly swat machine and now the new one. I shan't be getting rid of any as they all will have their uses. One thing that struck me with the new machine was that normally I pass the end of a vacuum cleaner nozzle over the fibres at a height to pull any upward that need encouragement. Didn't need to do that with the trial I did last night. Tony Comber Nice one Tony - Glad the Ebay ION gen worked! I have two of these built - one powered via a 12v mains adapter and the other from a 9V battery built into the body. Much smaller mesh and easier to handle. I made that one out of an old tube of No More Nails and a plastic beaker!! Would like to see pics of the results! My cheap chinese neg ion device arrived yesterday, so building will commence when I assemble the remaining ingredients. Good luck with the build - again, pics of the finished article would be great. Ian Edited October 16, 2017 by ianLMS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickt Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 I have recently cobbled together my own static grass applicator, having been disappointed with the fly-swatter version. I followed Luke Towans' guidance and bought the negative ion generator from RailwaysScenics.com - sensible price with quick delivery - usual disclaimer. I am now considering how easy it would be to have an interchangeable hopper (beaker thingy) on the end to hold the fibres. My version is a bit big for getting into restricted spaces. I've also been experimenting with applying static grass on to a commercial grass mat, providing a base colour which can be adjusted with a quick wipe of acrylics or weathering powders. If I can build one, anyone can! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ianLMS Posted October 23, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 23, 2017 I have recently cobbled together my own static grass applicator, having been disappointed with the fly-swatter version. I followed Luke Towans' guidance and bought the negative ion generator from RailwaysScenics.com - sensible price with quick delivery - usual disclaimer. I am now considering how easy it would be to have an interchangeable hopper (beaker thingy) on the end to hold the fibres. My version is a bit big for getting into restricted spaces. I've also been experimenting with applying static grass on to a commercial grass mat, providing a base colour which can be adjusted with a quick wipe of acrylics or weathering powders. If I can build one, anyone can! I can quickly change the "hoppers" on the end of mine as the lid with the inset mesh unscrews, the power cable un-clips and the large retaining nut holding the hopper on the body simply un-does and pop the new hopper on. Good luck and for me, they are well worth the effort, especially when the more expensive ones are around £100. I know the Peco one is cheaper but the home-made version is much less than that. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Davis Posted November 18, 2017 Author Share Posted November 18, 2017 As requested; my Negative Ion grass application. Built as per Luke Towan, but not as posh. I used an old piece of 35mm pipe because I had one lying about and I used the Chips Ahoy! cup for because I was strictly forbidden - on pain of death - to touch any of containers in the kitchen cupboard. I used a power connector from an old Hornby controller and one of those cheap multi-voltage and variable polarity wall wart to power it. I am quite pleased with the result and will now invest some money buying 2 or 3 of the containers with unclippable lids and make it a bit neater. Regards, Tony 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ianLMS Posted November 20, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 20, 2017 Nice one Tony - looks just the job and i'm sure you enjoyed to contents of the tub before recycling it into a static grass applicator! As long as it works, its worth the effort. When I made mine, the Peco version was yet available the cheapest one was around £100, so this is one really good way to save a few pennies. Good to see how you get on with using it on the layout. Ian 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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