Yours has a case!!!

I'm extremely jealous.  I need a case.  I also have to go home and take a picture of my Grass Blaster too.  Made out of 1 1/4 inch PVC tube, plumbing test caps, and a Tzatziki Sauce container....  

I feel like making chicken souvlaki every time I use it!     

I am SO FAR behind!!

Rick!  You've embarrassed me!  I haven't made my Herba Dominus Rex Model 12 yet.  I already purchased the static generator.  I procured the plastic cups (plural - can't have only one, right?).  But I haven't put it all together yet.  But you've definitely raised the bar by having a case.  My goodness!  I am overwhelmed!  And having a color-coordinated power supply.  What genius!

I am embarrassed.  I am humbled.  I am nothing.  I am dirt.  I am but a germ.  Your greatness is only exceeded by- - - well, I don't know what it's exceeded by. Perhaps there is nothing.  (Note I am avoiding any comments about Safety Cabs here.  Gotta give me some credit, you know!)

Shane, I look forward to seeing your photos.  Please let me know whenever you use your applicator.  I will eat Chicken Souvlaki at the same time, in your honor.

The Banananator

It's yellow 'cause that's the paint I had.

Very easy to find in the wreckage that is my workspace.

The Banananator

It certainly does have a-peel!  Oh, how I kill myself as I'm sooooo funny (not!)

Rick

Shane, the case

Shanes,

The case is one that came with my cordless drill, and since I never put my drill in it the Grass-O-Matic naturally moved in.  I'm looking forward to seeing your Grass Blaster and reading your post I'm suddenly hungry!

Rick

Ok...the Grass-in-frankenator

Ok...here's the poop from the other thread. Meet the beast, the Grass-in-frankenator.

and some comments in reply to some comments on this delightful device....

So a little clarification is needed...

1. the decoder idea is so obvious, I am kicking myself for missing it. I went with a 12v version and aligator clips originally so I could just use track power; but that's when I had an old powerpack (I didn't ship it overseas, being 110v and all). I've borrowed an old powerpack from Norman. If it had a decoder....than i could just use my powercab and dial it in. hmm.....

2. the cleverly applied tape is not obvious in the picture; the electrical tape i shipped over, and the glue on it has suffered as only old electrical tape left in the sun can. It held the components on for a while, but the shaking necessary to make the device work wore that out - it now sports a very fine layer of clear packing tape over the failing electrical tape.

3. the red tube is a piece of Fast Tracks turnout sleeve. It is (taped) there to keep the wire to the screen from moving position along the body of the device - so that you don't or can't twist the cap so much it pulls the wire.

4. for the record, I like it because it works. I'd like it a lot more if it looked as nicely put together as others I've seen (pointing at you, M.C.). But work it does, and once you try static grass, well, you never go back.

Hope you're happy Rick, hanging out my dirty frankensteinish grass underwear!

Thanks, Scarpia!

Mr. Scarpia,

Thanks for sharing your Monster!  I'd say that is definitely is the most interesting thus far as it's got personality!  I like the "test" feature to see if it's working - shocking!

Rick

My Grass Blaster.

Taken this afternoon.  On the only spot on the entire layout that I have had the opportunity to use it on to date.

Here is my machine

Screen is a small strainer, handle is pipe, transformer is installed inside the handle, I used the 110VAC version.

Kevin, you made my day!

Kevin,

I love your sense of humor!  You may now address me as "Your Highness, King of the Grass-O-Matic".

From this day forward I shall carry the Grass-O-Matic as my Royal Sceptre as a symbol of my high position!  Now if I could just come up with some kind of crown..............

BTW, most of the power tools I purchase come with a hard plastic case which I never use.  The case for my static grass applicator is from my cordless drill.

Rick

Your Highness, King of the Grass-O-Matic

Your Highness- - -

Your sceptor lights the way before you!  (I think it's all the sparking - you might want to reconnect the ground clip......just sayin')   And your royalness needs no crown - Your hair standing on end from the static charge surely confirms to all your loyal subjects your high place in your kingdom.....  although, with your permission, may I say your crown is a bit smaller in recent days?  Perhaps it's the lighting.  Surely your crown is the most magnificent!  (Yes it is magnificent.  And don't call me Shirley!)

.

.

.

Re: Show Us Your Home Made Static Grass Applicators

M. C.  I love the Banananator!  Very professional looking.

I went a slightly different route.  Used the fly-swatter from Harbor Freight.  Rather than use the plastic cup, I was looking for a little more durability.  I used an aluminum restaurant-style salt shaker. 

     I added an aluminum tab to the side.  It's made of two layers of aluminum bent apart at the shaker end and riveted to the side of the shaker.  The tabs are drilled with two holes to match the posts inside the swatter handle.  I set the tab to a height that would allow the shaker to sit flat on the table when the swatter is put down, to prevent tipping. 

I'm considering drilling the holes in the lid larger or cutting out the perforated section and replacing it with screen.  I'm not sure what size holes or mesh would optimize the flow of the static grass.

   The finished product.  It works pretty well as is.

You just have to be careful NOT to touch the shaker to the ground pin while holding the button!

Are these adaptable?

So a question came to mind (there's not much territory to cover, so it's easy for questions to pop up.....)  If an individual has a Super Deluxe Turbo Grass'n Blast'nator tool, can they put down a brown static material with it?  Like for a wheat field?  Or are those just for green?

Or should a separate one be either made or purchased, like the Model 6 Zillion Wheat Machine?

I just didn't know if the same tool would apply more than one type of ground cover....... 

Adaptable

Kevin,

I don't know why a static applicator couldn't be used for more than one type / color of material as long as the material will stand up with a static charge.  It would be a good idea to test the material on a scrap piece before attempting it on your layout.

Rick

A cheesy grassinator...

I had a drainpipe repair project a few years back that left me.with a bunch of schedule 40 PVC pipe sitting around... Add a couple of end pieces and a Parmesan cheese container (and an ion generator) and you have a grassenator. The red button is the push-to-electrocute button - you have to keep your finger on it to keep it running. It's ugly but it works.

Oh, btw, I've used both

Oh, btw, I've used both 2mm Woodland Scenics and 6.5mm Scenic Express grass in the thing.

Nice, but...

I'm suddenly hungry for Italian!  Is it battery powered, or use a plug in transformer (wall wart)?  I like it!

Rick

Menu?

So I gather that both the Chicken Souvlaki and Spaghetti are on the menu?

You know, I could make a gang of punk-rockers with one of these things - spike their hair up.......  Of course, I need to find the stuff in purple, etc.

Russ's Grassinator

Here's my homemade unit, works very well! It has an external 9volt transformer for power, and the toggle switch is easy to flip with a finger while in use. What I think makes mine better than the store bought units is two things. One, it will stand upside down while you load it! And two, it has a see through cup. Which I see most of you have. Do not under estimate the advantage of being able to stand the unit upside down! It really helps when trying to pour from a plastic bag or while using a spoon. It's made of PVC plumbing pipe, a RubberMaid cup with screw on lid, and I used Styrene plastic to fabricate the top. The screen was scavenged from a strainer and pressed flat. Cost me about $25 to get the transformer for price plus shipping, and the rest of the materials were handy around the house. 

Tell me guys, is it just me or is putting down static grass the funnest thing about modeling ever? It's a real kick to hold the unit over the glue and watch the little static grass pieces fly out of the screen and stand on end! I can't explain why, but it always brings a smile to my face. Kind of like watching a magic trick or something. 

Of the static grasses I've used, I like the Noch brand. They have lots of premixed grasses that look more realistic right from the package, IMHO.

Russell Kingery

Punk rockers

Kevin,

I did see a video on YouTube showing a guy applying the hair and beard on a G.I. Joe doll with a static grass machine! Action Figure excuse me! But it could be the answer to the Hair Club for Men? or Beard Club? Make some money on the side to suppliment your  layout!

Russell

Russ's Grassinator #2

Here is my Grassinator standing on the other end, a better view of the cup too.

Russell

It Wasn't Easy...

I forgot to mention, but I had one heck of a time trying to figure out how to get this picture on this post! If anyone out there is thinking of posting but can't figure it out, along the top of the comment box, where you type the body of your letter, you will find an Image icon. If you click on that, it will bring up a box looking for a URL. If you click Browse Server, it will bring up a window showing images that you have already uploaded to the website, but as I had not loaded any, along the top it says Upload, so that allowed me to search my hard drive for the photos I wanted, and once it was listed and highlighted, along the top on the far right it says Send to CKEditor, and that filled in the blank so I could click OK and actually get my picture into the post. 

Sorry if there is help elsewhere that tells how to do this, but I couldn't find it, and I have to admit, the most difficult method of posting a photo I've ever encountered. Hopefully this might help someone else out there so we can see more of these grass planting machines!  

Russell

The GRASSBLASSTER Lineup

Most have likely seen the article by now but for those who have not, these are mine.

My take on the ever popular, though slightly under-powered, electronic fly swatter applicator, the GRASSBLASSTER-ZAP.  Shown with the coarse mesh installed on the flock cup.

This one is my favorite.  No batteries to change and plenty of grass blasting power, the GRASSBLASSTER-HV.  The HV, shown with the fine mesh cover in place, utilizes the quick-disconnect terminal I show in the article to allow me to easily switch mesh sizes and to connect accessories quickly and painlessly.

Finally, one you all have not seen.  It's an accessory to the GRASSBLASSTER-HV, the GRASSBLASSTER-MINI.

The MINI easily connects to the HV model and is used strictly as a spot applicator for tight spaces and other difficult spots.  I reach for the mini anytime I am having trouble getting a good field of grass or static, lol!

Lots of really neat builds.  I wish I had seen them all before doing the article, so many great ideas!

One of the great ones missing from this thread is Marc's rechargeable applicator in a flashlight body.  Definitely one of the best innovations I have seen to date.

So Russell (alphaGT) ...

There IS a very good FAQ type post for inserting images - it has been around a long time. Drop down the Help menu and you can navigate to it easily. - Here is a link directly to the post:

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/help/how-to-post-an-image