Do any members know if loose static grass that has not adhered to any surface retains its static charge and if it then gets attracted to oil on locos and rolling stock? I have spent a long time vacuuming and brushing loose static grass off of Hadarford for this very reason, but I am concerned that many modellers may not be aware of this as a problem, if it does exist? ???
I don't know if it will retain it's static charge but if it's not glued down it will get in mechanisms, just like flock/sawdust/ballast did/do! Best bet is to hoover before any operating session.
Quote from: Iain Morrison on January 29, 2020, 12:55
I have a little portable 'hoover' that I use for this very purpose.
There's posh! ;) I use a bit of my wife's old tights (those that are not re-purposed as tree ties) over the nozzle of the household vacuum cleaner.
I've seen a bit of residual electrostatic charge on some fibres (Games Workshop ones come to mind), but that may simply be due to moving them round. I don't think fibres are deliberately charged during manufacture.
There is another way of picking up loose fibres that involves a packet of Elastoplasts. Rub the cat vigorously and hold over the layout. Then apply plasters to hands, arms, face etc.
You are on your own with that last suggestion...
Quote from: GraemeD on January 29, 2020, 13:55
There is another way of picking up loose fibres that involves a packet of Elastoplasts. Rub the cat vigorously and hold over the layout. Then apply plasters to hands, arms, face etc.
That sounds like Kentish bagpies.
Hold the cat under your left arm pointing backwards.
Place end of cats tail in your mouth and hold one of its back legs in both hands like the chanter.
Bit the end of the cats tail and it will sound just like the Scottish equivalent.
Then apply plasters to hands, arms, face etc.
Stephen
And with that one...
But seriously :o it is relatively easy to generate high voltages that will attract static grass fibres (taking off a fleece, scuffing across a carpet with rubber soled shoes, even pouring the fibres out the plastic bag or tub they were sold in), but also unless the humidity is unhealthily low and the the baseboard bone dry any residual charge is likely to leak away pretty quickly.
Interposing a large plastic bottle in the circuit between the nozzle and the Hoover (other vacuum cleaners are available), and putting some fine mesh like tights over the bottle outlet may help to recover fibres which would otherwise be lost (or need to be retrieved from the dust bag...).
David.
I discovered a child's bug vacuum kit that works nicely at cleaning up loose static grass. See attached photo. A nozzle attaches to the open end to suck up the grass. There are many varieties that can be found on Amazon.
Jeff S.
What are peoples' views to 'sealing' static grass with a matt varnish or hair spray or a final dusting with the layer 'glue' to hold it in place?
I've not done it, but Katy Millat (Great Britsh Model Railway Sewing Bakeoff etc.) has a YouTube video where she tones down static grass colour with a light spray from an air brush. So overspraying is a posibility.
I think if the glue has not skinned over the static grass should be pretty well stuck down. If you experience problems and have tried different PVA glues you could try some of the glue specifically for static grass such as the stuff from WWScenics. Incidentally, they also sell a 'Layering Spray Can Glue'. Whether it is just hair lacquer I don't know.
https://www.wwscenics.com/product-category/adhesives-glues-sprays/ (https://www.wwscenics.com/product-category/adhesives-glues-sprays/)
Thanks for the advice.
I am using WWScenics products (basing glue and layering glue). I'll see how they preform.
I've also asked the question to WWScenics, to see if they suggest a final 'sealing' spray of their layering glue. (Their layering spray for static grass is more like a diluted PVA glue, not a hair lacquer.)
I'm interested to get other peoples experience before I spend too much unnecessary effort. Or should I accept that I should hoover the track each time before running engines?
On my layouts there was some 'moulting' after the initial clean-up following the laying of the grass and letting the glue set. There has not been continuous shedding of fibres after that, at least very few though some will come loose if the surface recieves rough treatment. I think the solution is to not to lay too big an area at a time (as generally recommended) in order that the glue is still very wet and has not started to skin over. This should ensure the fibres penetrate the wet glue surface and stick well.