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No, I won't be asking about static grass.
I live in the desert. Has anyone else had trouble laying down ground cover with regards to static electricity? I apply some, and when I try to manipulate it around with a paint brush it sticks to the brush and anything else nearby (structures, trees, the layout skirting).
And here's the real question: If this has happened to you, how do you combat it?
(The house humidity is at 35%.)
Got a humidifier, hence the 35% RH. If not it would be about 5%.
Gotta crank it up then.
The static is from dry air. 35% humidity is dryer than most deserts on this planet.
Got a humidifier, hence the 35% RH. If not it would be about 5%.
Jazz: Static is the buildup of electrons; electrons always have a negative charge. When something that less negative is near or touches, stuff moves from the negative to less negative. Have carpet in the room? Some carpets have a percentage of wool in them which makes them great static generators. Nylon carpets also can generate *some* static but not as bad as ones with wool. Couple of things to try. Touch the brush and material on something that is/has Earth Ground; you included; gives them electrons a place to go. If you have carpet, test it - walk on it barefoot and see if it is any better. Water mister - a very light misting of the material, brush and your hand also might help. Dryer sheets contain softeners in them that will attempt to neutralize negative electrons, so brush and material in bag with one. Don't know if you can still buy or not - positive ion generator.
I am sure you all have done it - rub feet on carpet, then touch somebody. My Aunt had wool carpet and when we visited, everybody dressed up - included leather soled shoes. You could generate a 1/4 to 1/2" arc with the appropriate bang/snap.
L8r
Here in the desert, 35% is about as high as you can get.
The train room does not have carpet.
I have tried dissipating the charge. I do like the idea of trying to rub the bag of ground cover and the brush with a dryer sheet (containing Dipalmethyl hydroxyethylammoinum methosulfate). I won't rub the dryer sheet on the layout though, because the softening agent(s) may interfere with the ground cover adhesion.
Thank you for the replies.
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