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Silflor...balls Scenery and structures
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Frequent poster 707 posts Ironhand_13 Frequent poster 707 posts
Ironhand_13

Got the Binford Grass-whatever ion-3000 fired up (a custom-built ion-grass raiser thingy, based upon design and materials from MRH and this forum, thank you VERY much!) and using Silflor in various lengths...only problem is the 'balls' of material in the bag have to be pulled apart to effectively use the static-grass aparatice.

Sure I'm not the only one experiencing this, what do you do to get rid of the balls and just get the grass? 

My current method is to sit on the floor with my legs out and hold the Binford ...3000 in-between my thighs, have the top off, have the bag of Silflor in its box standing upright nearby, then pull out a ball or clump, and then use both hands to pull things apart so that there is no ball.  Hopefully, the bag/box doesn't fall over, and hopefully I don't lose my 'grip' on the Binford, and hopefully I can get the cap on before there is grass all over the floor.

Help!

(p.s. my wife has to always chuckle when she walks by and sees this armature of perfection...)
-Steve in Iowa City
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next stop Regular poster 232 posts
next stop

Shaken not Stirred

I have used lots of Silflor. I am aware of the tendency for the material to ball up, but it hasn't been a problem for me. I shake the applicator as I apply the grass. Shaking works pretty well to mitigate the "ball problem" and it also helps the grass to stand up.. 

I usually mix different colors and lengths of grass in the applicator as I load it  Things can get messy. I load my applicator over a copy paper box lid to catch any material that might spill as it is worth $$$$.

Guy 

See stuff at:  Thewilloughbyline.com
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wp8thsub MRH Author 3,348 posts
wp8thsub

I'd Tap That

I also find the balls of fiber mostly disintegrate as I shake or (mostly) tap the applicator.  I sometimes end up with smaller ones at the bottom that don't come apart all the way, but I wait until these are all I have left before pulling anything apart by hand.

Rob Spangler MRH Blog
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Tom Patterson Frequent poster 628 posts
Tom Patterson

Silfor Balls

I take small pinches of the static grass and rub it between my fingers over the bottom of a kit box. This breaks up the material and seems to make it easier to use. I also mix different colors of static grass this way. When the project is finished, I store the left over material in a sandwich bag. I note on the bag what products and in what proportions I used for the mix. Like Rob, I have found that tapping the side of the applicator, versus shaking it, tends to make the grass come out of the applicator more evenly.

Tom Patterson
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Joe Valentine Active Member 88 posts
Joe Valentine

About your position method!!!

Dear Ironhand...it's all in the position in which you have chosen to work...on the floor?....legs spread out?...holding the Binford 3000 between your thighs!...really!! No wonder your wife is laughing....perhaps she is planning on helping you out  by holding the Binder 3000 on/off switch for you....be very careful my friend...be very careful!
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Ironhand_13 Frequent poster 707 posts
Ironhand_13

OK I deserved that.

As an update, I now have a really nice wild grass field about 3 x 1 feet, using about 4 different colors and 2 different lengths, some on the flat surface and some over course foam.  Looks pretty good so far, especially after adding some small supertrees.  I've got to not be in such a hurry to plant my grass, and breaking up the puffs beforehand is definitely the way to go.
-Steve in Iowa City
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