"How do you apply static grass?" Topic

This may seem like a dumb question, but Back in the Day, in my previous life as an industrial manufacturer, we used to flock logos on car mats. This involved silk screen printing of the logo with glue, and applying the flock (precisely cut polymer fibers) in an electric field, with the mat on a plate, and the flocking applied with an electric gun.
This makes me think that applying static grass to gaming bases is more complicated than slopping on some craft paint and dumping the static grass on like I do with ground up foam flocking.

Is it that easy?

I paint a base colour and allow to dry.
Then put the same colour on again and whilst wet cover the base in static grass, cover it good.

Then quickly turn the base upside down and gently flick the underside of the base – this knocks off excess static grass and will help it hang down (stand up when righted.)

Stand back up.
After a few minutes once dry I then apply a PVA glue/water/ washing up liquid* mixture to the static grass and again cover in static grass and hold upside down, flick and then right.

Job done.

*also known as dishwashing soap and dish soap

Apply glue. Sprinkle with grass. Blow. Seal.

I find that if I blow it ends up flattened in the direction of my blowing…

Perfect for post-nuke figures…

Apply glue. Sprinkle on grass. Turn upside down and tap the base.
Using a puffer bottle to blow the grass on seems to help. Noch does one which is cheap enough to make it not worth experimenting to find a suitable free alternative as far as I'm concerned.

You can make a static gun (there are online instructions to make your own) or buy one for about a gazillion currency units. I think these would be for larger areas anyway.

I now use Silflore in lieu of doing the entire base. Much nicer effect.

link

I like Silflor tufts, they are nice.

Glue here and there not all over the place, carefully place the static grass, blow…

The silflor tufts are great. I use them over static grass all the time now.

For years I've applied thinned PVA glue and sprinkled on the grass, blown across the top to stand it up, let dry. Shake/blow off excess, apply varnish sealer. Done.

I undercoat brown or another dirt color so patches look like bare ground, not hairless green paint.

Recently I've tried using the puff bottle applicators from Noch; these are very helpful for squirting static grass accurately into small tight spots, and the grass seems to stand up a little better.

I use the sprinkle and tap method supplemented by the odd silflor / Fredericus Rex tuft. I like my 28mm grass and weeds to be in various lengths and colors just like my lawn after about a month of neglect.

Apply Mod Podge mixed with a little water (the water cuts the surface tension of the glue and allows the grass to better penetrate) to desired areas with a brush that resembles a scared cat.

Dip the stand in a shoe box of static grass.

While FACE UP, tap bottom of stand fairly rigorously. This sets the grass in the glue and stands it up.

Take a piece of that fake TB fur or similar,run a cheap plastic comb through it to build a static charge and then wave it over the the just glued grass. The grass will stand upright.

I'll demonstrate on Saturday……

Nevermind, Swampster's advice is golden………

First, you will need to create a static free environment to work in. Then don your static free environmental suit, and follow the directions, as above.

;-)

Elmer's glue-all … Wherever I made an error in trying to hide the step of the figure's base gets covered up.

I built myself a static grass applicator. Works great and cost only about 10 euros (although I had most components already). You get much denser grass with it.

Take a piece of that fake TB fur or similar,run a cheap plastic comb through it to build a static charge and then wave it over the the just glued grass. The grass will stand upright.

I find you can get a similar effect by grabbing a neighbours cat and briskly rubbing it on a synthetic carpet before holding over the static grass. Also good for discouraging cats from using your flowerbed as a crapper. Wear stout gloves, at least until you get their feet taped up.

I use Zap A Gap and blow from below. Makes them very tough and stand up nicely.

Will it stand back up after a unit of 28mm figs move over it???????
Thanks John

Buff,I hate to say this,but…that sounds like it could be CAT-astrophic.

I'm more of a dog person

I made my own negative ion generator static grass applicator.
Makes the grass stand straight up, and it was only about $25 USD to make.

There are several tutorials on how to make them, but I 'improved' it.

I use it for everything now. Fig bases, terrain, etc…

Once the base is completed I put white glue where I want the grass, place it in the wooden Kraft cheese box with the static grass. I pile on the grass then set aside to dry over night. Next day I brush off excess and then vacuum the stand. I don't worry about grass standing up. Grass that tall usually lays over anyway.

quidveritas, angelbarracks, and Pictors Studio

Those Silflor tufts look interesting. I might have to look into them…

Those Silflor tufts look great!
and perfect timing on the post;
I just spent a few hours trying to make 10 of them…
Gonna order up the rest

link

Plenty of other goodies at that shop as well,
These railroad guys have plenty of cool toys!

Chris