Electrostatic grass tool

hobo

Posts: 19
Joined: 2007-04-19

Well I saw this video on You Tube a few days ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYSAK1ezou4

I was sold this is something I must have until I saw the Price $198.00 Noch version. This won't make it past the wife so undaunted I set out to find a cheaper version $30.00 but you need a negative ion-generator out of stock at electronic goldmine. Still searching this is what I came up with $10.00 electric fly swatter . Here's the link looks like an easy conversion picked mine up today I'll let you know how it goes.

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

Submitted by hobo on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 20:47.

railohio

Posts: 1057
Joined: 2004-01-02

Cool stuff. I visited Joe

Cool stuff. I visited Joe last winter when he was filming that. He's got an impressive layout and certainly knows a thing or two about scenery!

--
mmmmm pie!

Thu, 09/11/2008 - 21:00

ranulf

Posts: 511
Joined: 2005-05-29

I don't know for certain,

I don't know for certain, as I have no direct experience with the technique, but I have heard any static electricity source such as a balloon rubbed on fabric, or a sock right out of the dryer (without softener) can be used to stand static grass up after sprinkling it on adhesive spread over the scene. Is this not so?

If you do build one, I hope you show us pictures of your results!

Good luck, and thanks for the really interesting link!

"Do Not Hump!?!?! Does that mean what I think it means!?"

I only posted for the points.

Thu, 09/11/2008 - 21:27

hobo

Posts: 19
Joined: 2007-04-19

You're right this is only

You're right this is only one method of applying static grass. I guess it all depends on what texture you are trying to achieve . Here's another link to check out.

http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=77673

scroll down to see the difference between the Noch applicator verses the puffer bottle

Thu, 09/11/2008 - 21:45

ranulf

Posts: 511
Joined: 2005-05-29

Oh WOW what a cool

Oh WOW what a cool link! Thanks for posting it!

"Do Not Hump!?!?! Does that mean what I think it means!?"

I only posted for the points.

Thu, 09/11/2008 - 23:22

Michael

Posts: 514
Joined: 2007-09-04

(Without having yet read

(Without having yet read the trainboard link) I've also seen very decent results using a shop vac. Spread some tacky adhesive on the scenery area, apply a liberal amount of static grass, then gingerly coax the grass 'up' using a shop vac. I'll try to find the link, but from what I recall the result was impressive.

Michael
www.modelrailroader.ca

Thu, 09/11/2008 - 23:31

peterh

Posts: 61
Joined: 2005-05-28

Hope it works out ok for

Hope it works out ok for you I built a similar thing last week. But I haven't had time to buy any grass for it yet what with us having a baby this sunday.

It was a quite straightforward rebuild apart from lying on the floor looking for the small nuts that kept the fly swat together.

/Peter

Fri, 09/12/2008 - 02:26

hobo

Posts: 19
Joined: 2007-04-19

Been there done that. One

Been there done that. One time I spent an hour looking for a small part on the basement floor only to realize that a few days earlier I had stuck it to a piece of tape rolled sticky side out and placed in a " SAFE" place on the work bench not to lose it . I guess the first signs of Alzheimer's.

Congratulation's on your new arrival the world needs more N-scale-rs.

Fri, 09/12/2008 - 08:06

peterh

Posts: 61
Joined: 2005-05-28

Thanks hobo. I have also

Thanks hobo. I have also used that idea of putting things in a "safe" place but tend to forget where that place is or indeed that there is such a place. It is perhaps telling that the first two-word sentence from our older child was "letar du" which in English would translate to something like "are you looking".

Anyway these days I try to be more organised or put things in a &!*&# stupid place that annoys me.

To get back to the original post; my grass tool turned out like this:

Perhaps not a beauty but I hope it will work.

/Peter

Fri, 09/12/2008 - 13:42

acbdfaqoz548

Posts: 207
Joined: 2004-09-22

I've been getting some

I've been getting some pretty cool results just puffing it out of the container I bought it in. I'll try and upload some pictures. I do like the way it looks with the real static applicator though. I do think that the grass would be a little out of scale however.

-Joe

--
Maine Central RR Company

Fri, 09/12/2008 - 15:32

sagelake

Posts: 25
Joined: 2006-05-09

Peter,It "looks" just fine,

Peter,

It "looks" just fine, Let us know when you get a chance to try it out...post some pictures too!

I've got a couple of those "fly swatters" laying around so just waiting to see your results!

--
Thanks, Chuck

Fri, 09/12/2008 - 16:08

Michael

Posts: 514
Joined: 2007-09-04

I assume that the electic

I assume that the electic flyswatter is simply generating a high voltage out - 1500 volts. I recall building a 'tickle box' in high school. I wonder if something similar would work...

Michael
www.modelrailroader.ca

Fri, 09/12/2008 - 16:42

hobo

Posts: 19
Joined: 2007-04-19

It works. I had some time

It works. I had some time this evening to pull every thing apart. All I did was disconnect the two wires leading to the fly swatter soldering one to the metal screening the other to a alligator clip and voila. I should get a smaller nail if you touch the nail with the screen it gives a slight Zap. Kept it simple no high powered version ( Yet ) its well worth the $10.00.

Fri, 09/12/2008 - 20:37

ScottL

Posts: 180
Joined: 2006-10-12

Great thread

Thanks for the post and links. I've been inpressed with the potential, but not the cost of the Noch tool. I bought the Noch puffer bottle and it works pretty well for a kind of laid down grass look. I could not get it to stand up.

You need a deft hand to make that work with a shop vac! I drink too much coffee and don't have the steady hands to make that work!

I was going to build one with the negative ion generator from Electronic Goldmine, but they charge ridiculous shipping out of the US and they are not in stock when I remember to look.

This is a real alternative and right on the budget. I'll give it a try.

Cheers,

Scott

Sun, 09/14/2008 - 15:45

sagelake

Posts: 25
Joined: 2006-05-09

Electronic fly swatter sources

Hi Guys,

Here are a couple places to get electronic fly swatters: NORTHERNTOOL.COM Item #3702 $4.99, HARBORFREIGHT.COM Item #40122-3vga $4.99.

Hope this helps!?!! (I would have put the links in, but firefox didn't allow)!

--
Thanks, Chuck

Sun, 09/14/2008 - 21:51

ranulf

Posts: 511
Joined: 2005-05-29

I have the same problem

I have the same problem with Firefox, I have the instructions on how to correct the cut and paste thing, but it's involved, and I can't find the folder the instructions refer to anyway. So I just use IE if I really want to cut and paste. I still get a window asking me if I really want to allow this site access to my clipboard. This is the only site I have had that issue with, I don't know why.

"Do Not Hump!?!?! Does that mean what I think it means!?"

I only posted for the points.

Sun, 09/14/2008 - 22:47

Michael

Posts: 514
Joined: 2007-09-04

Too rich for my blood

sagelake wrote:

Here are a couple places to get electronic fly swatters: NORTHERNTOOL.COM Item #3702 $4.99, HARBORFREIGHT.COM Item #40122-3vga $4.99.

Dear Lord - Northerntool.com wanted $133 to ship it! (Or $20 for ground)

Michael
www.modelrailroader.ca

Mon, 09/15/2008 - 10:10

sagelake

Posts: 25
Joined: 2006-05-09

ranulf,I saw the

ranulf,

I saw the instructions too (on copy/paste), and thought forget it!!

Michael, where do you live?? or was Northerntool sending it around the world twice? Thats unbelieveable shipping! (sorry)

--
Thanks, Chuck

Mon, 09/15/2008 - 15:34

Michael

Posts: 514
Joined: 2007-09-04

Far far away

sagelake wrote:

Michael, where do you live?? or was Northerntool sending it around the world twice? Thats unbelieveable shipping! (sorry)

I live all the way up in Southwestern Ontario Canada. You know, the area that is more southernly then parts of California....

I'm guessing they were sending it by cab?

Michael
www.modelrailroader.ca

Tue, 09/16/2008 - 00:25

hobo

Posts: 19
Joined: 2007-04-19

I got mine at Canadian Tire

I got mine at Canadian Tire I guess all the biggies should have it Didn't see it at Home Depot though .

Michael if you tell me where you live I could send it by cab from my place, should be allot cheaper I live a little further north and to the east of you.