What glue to use for static grass?

[coosvalley]

I am curious to hear what you guys are using for glue when you apply static grasses?..I am at this point in layout construction, and would like to hear what works vs. what doesn't.

[ednadolski]

WS Scenic Cement.... just because it's convenient and I got it at a discount.  Otherwise, same as whatever you would use for ground foam.

Ed

[wazzou]

Depending what you're putting it over, I often use either Mod Podge Matte or Elmers white glue at full strength, just brushed on in small areas.

[tom mann]

Tacky glue

[grove den]

The same glues mentioned in the posts above: white glue, tacky glue, mod podge and also spray glue!(nozle with fine mistspray(?) )
Important could also be the way how to add the "spots "of glue!
I use some various kind of sponges. From very fine surface till very coarse sponges...I dip the sponge in the glue and just tap over the surface that should NOT be to flat....
I also use a pipette( on a bottle) to add small drops of glue.for the first layers of grassfibres I use the small ones: the 1 and the 2 mm fibres. These fibres are added with a litlle bit deluted glue.
dioramafiltermattegrobmuster by Jos Geurts, on Flickr

19 juli 2017 erste Schicht1 & 2 mm faser by Jos Geurts, on Flickr

and some more 2 and 4 mm fibres added with the pipette and rough/airy/big holes sponge...
small fibres 1& 2 mm 19juli 2017 by Jos Geurts, on Flickr

and this could be- one -of the endresults- scale N dio:
20x20dioNschaal1Klform - kopie by Jos Geurts, on Flickr

scale H0:
indiansummerdio2017jan17bdetail by Jos Geurts, on Flickr

Jos

[peteski]

Oh come on Jos - you are just showing off! 

I'm just kidding of course - you have an uncanny ability to capture the realistic look of all sorts of vegetation. Trees, grass, ground cover - everything!  It is amazing stuff!

Are you naturally gifted with this ability, or you had to practice  a lot to be able to imitate nature so well? If you had to practice, do you have any photos of your early (not as good) modeling? I would like to see what your early attempts of modeling looked like.

[grove den]

Are you naturally gifted etc

.....
Well a little bit of both.... As long as I can remeber I am fascinated by nature and especialy trees and mountains.
I went to a schoool of art, 5 years , and after that I "graduated" as a gardener 4 years.
These 2  sorts of education plus my interest in nature influenced( and  still do)   how I approach my landscaping....i guess
The only picture I have on my pc is this one: in 2003,  so olmost 15 years ago:
Scannen0009 by Jos Geurts, on Flickr
As you can see: very rudimental....
and one made in 2006 a local farm  on our N scale modulelayout:
PICT0453 by Jos Geurts, on Flickr
Most of the trees were made with "clumpfoliage" from Woodland!

Jos
and this one is were it all started: building trees by order....2004 in Dortmund Germany.
NspoorHouthem by Jos Geurts, on Flickr

Jos

[coosvalley]

Well, it seems no two answers are alike!..I am going to try some matte medium and some tacky glue, and probably the scenic cement too. I will report back!

[peteski]

.....
Well a little bit of both.... As long as I can remeber I am fascinated by nature and especialy trees and mountains.
I went to a schoool of art, 5 years , and after that I "graduated" as a gardener 4 years.
These 2  sorts of education plus my interest in nature influenced( and  still do)   how I approach my landscaping....i guess
The only picture I have on my pc is this one: in 2003,  so olmost 15 years ago:

As you can see: very rudimental....
and one made in 2006 a local farm  on our N scale modulelayout:

Most of the trees were made with "clumpfoliage" from Woodland!

Jos
and this one is were it all started: building trees by order....2004 in Dortmund Germany.

Jos

Thanks for the trip to your early modeling period.  While your modeling skills have improved, even the early work looks pretty good (the way you did handled the ground surfaces foe example).  It is also good to see your early wire tree model. Not only you seem to have the talent, you have arts and nature background. I'm sure that makes a big difference in how you approach modeling nature.

[nscalbitz]

This is one of those "use whatever you have on hand" and just get going.
I've used static grass (Noch or Heki packets) for over 30 years without ever using an applicator.
Just standard industrial PVA mostly for military scenarios and dioramas; latterly when WS became available because it was purchased by another modeller for his layout.

The effects are made (as ably shown above) by building up layers of effects- not constant and neat unless man-made structures; nature follows topography and elevations, and color effects adjust accordingly. Pick your medium range and then spread color and effect/ size around to make it believable.
Regards dave

[DKS]

This is one of those "use whatever you have on hand"...

Exactly. It's like asking "what's the best way to cut styrene." There are dozens of possibilities. If it's sticky and dries relatively flat, I've used it, from spray cement to thinned white glue, from matte medium to dark-tinted carpenter's glue. They each have their advantages depending on the desired result, but they'll all do in a pinch.

[Brian M]

I have a related question on this general topic of static grass application.  I've been looking at static grass applicators, and I'm wondering if anyone can comment on what the differences are between one applicator that costs $189 versus another that costs $34.  I mean, is the $189 one life changing in some way that makes it worth that price?  All I can tell is that it has different nozzles and screens that you can change out, and  the voltage to generate the charge is quite high.  But do you really need 20,000 volts to get the grass to stand up?

Thanks,
Brian.

[Chris333]

There is this one as well:
http://www.raildig.com/store/grassinator

I bought a used grass applicator on e-bay. It came with a ton of grass (most of it looked neon though) and a bunch of different nozzles.

[Santa Fe Guy]

It is my belief that the tackier the glue the better. It helps the static grass stay standing upright and not lay over as the glue dries as I have seen if the glue is weak.
Rod.

[coosvalley]

It is my belief that the tackier the glue the better. It helps the static grass stay standing upright and not lay over as the glue dries as I have seen if the glue is weak.
Rod.

Thanks!(also a big thanks to all responders)This is what I was after. I know any glue will make it stick, of course. But I also know I want it to remain upright!.

Experiments will be forthcoming!..Mod Podge will be first, as I already have some, but if the results are lacking, I will be on the hunt for some sort of tacky glue..