Today, I put together a few components and made a static grass applicator. An $8 negative ion generator from the bay rated at 17,000 - 20,000 volts, a plastic sherbet container, some 1/8th inch hardware cloth, a 12VDC wall wart from the thrift store ($1) and some 16 gauge lamp cord. Nothing at all like the elegant home made static grass applicators that you see on YouTube. This one is simple to make and low profile for applying under a shelf or in tight spaces. It is very light. I have a Woodland Scenics Static King but I could never get the results I wanted. This one works at least as well, I'd say better.
The positive lead is soldered to a circle cut from a thin brass sheet (and notched with "V" points like the Woodland Scenics one) and hot glued into the bottom of the container. The negative lead is lamp cord with a tinned end which you place firmly into the glue on your scenery as you shake the applicator. The cords are about 4' long, so you can work a safe distance away from the generator. (I clamped the board with the generator to a table leg to have it close by but not in the way.) Bullet connectors to attach the cords.
I used a switched power bar for easy off and on. So far, I have not electrocuted myself! But it's only day one. This applicator is not constructed to Code, so be careful if you try something similar.
In this pond that I am working on, I used 7mm dark green static grass followed by 4mm light green. Did the second application right away, before the glue started to dry. I think it helps a lot to immediately use a vacuum with an old nylon sock over the inlet after each application. This cleans up all stray grass (there is lots) and helps the grass in the glue to stand up. You can shake out the grass collected in the sock for later use.
