STATIC GRASS APPLICATOR

The $10 Alternative

STATIC GRASS APPLICATOR

The $10 Alternative

How I Made A Cheap Tool Worth Even Less

STATIC GRASS APPLICATOR

The $10 Alternative
How I Made A Cheap Tool Worth Even Less
Except To A Model Railroader

THE OBJECTIVE

Modify a Harbor Freight

Electronic Flyswatter
Circuit to increase the
output level and Provide
An Extension Of One
Circuit Leg.

THE OBJECTIVE

Modify a Harbor Freight

Electronic Flyswatter
Circuit to increase the
output level and Provide
An Extension Of One
Circuit Leg.
Remove the Flyswatter
Grid & Replace It With a
Tea Strainer That
Functions as a Container
And One Leg Of The Static
Circuit

TOOLS &
MATERIALS
Things You Should Bring
Two D size batteries
Small Phillips Screw Driver
Small Pair of Wire Cutters
X-acto or Zona Saw
Your Favorite ACC
Optional If You Have It
Cordless Drill
13/64 Drill Bit
Soldering Station
Liquid Flux
Fine Gauge Solder
Personally Provided by Me
Technically Advanced Probes

THE PROCESS - TEST DISASSEMBLE & FIX SWITCH

1. Install the batteries & test the flyswatter
Watch the polarity or it wont work
Push the button momentarily and let it go
Short out the two screens with the
technically advanced probe
2. Remove the batteries & disassemble the
unit.
There are three different length screws.
Keep track of which goes where.
Note wire routing from the switch.
Watch out for the small top hat cover on
the push-button and dont lose it.
3. Secure the push-button switch
Reassemble the push-button back in the
handle and use a drop of ACC to
permanently secure the top hat in place.
Dont get ACC in the switch.

THE PROCESS CONTINUED MODIFY THE TEA STRAINER

1. Remove the flyswatter
Clip the leads from the circuit board
to the flyswatter grid.
Leave them long.
Remove the swatter assembly from
the handle.
2. Prepare the Tea Strainer
Use the Cutting Jig to shorten the
handle
3. Use the Drill Jig to drill the holes
Mount the drill jig on the cutting jig on
the part closest to the strainer
Make sure the arrow points back
towards the cut edge & drill the
13/64 holes
Remove the ears from the strainer
using the X-acto saw

THE PROCESS CONTINUED MODIFY THE CIRCUIT

Modify the Circuit Board
1. Remove the screw holding the board and
remove it from the handle.
2.

Clip the lead of the resistor in front of the red

capacitor.

You can also clip both leads and

remove it if you want

3.

Bridge the blue resistor with a short length of

wire.

Solder the wire to the resistor pads on

the back side of the board

You could clip the resistor out of the

circuit and bridge the remaining leads

4.

To Alligator
Clip

Solder the new leads

The alligator clip lead is soldered to the

pad where you bridged the blue resistor

You could also solder to the old

flyswatter leads
To Tea Strainer

THE PROCESS CONTINUED ASSEMBLE

1.

Wrap the Tea Strainer lead

Go into and around a wire of the strainer.

Put a blob of solder on the mesh joint .

2.

Mount the Tea Strainer

Mount the strainer bowl up or down

depending on your dominant hand.

Your thumb should be positioned over the

push-button.

3.

Carefully reassemble the handle

Install the circuit board & make certain

the LED is visible in the sight hole.

Watch out for the battery wire routing so

you dont pull wires loose from the pushbutton.

Use the screws in the proper locations.

THE PROCESS CONTINUED ASSEMBLY & TEST

1.

2.

Alternate Assembly Method

The leads to the push-button are

weakly soldered and can break
loose on battery insertion.

You can assemble all the parts

including the batteries in one side
of the handle & then apply the
cover. Or,

You can tape the wires in place to

reduce battery interference. Or,

You can embed the wires in

silicone caulking to reduce battery
interference.
Test the Circuit

Install the batteries & test.

Press the push-button & release.

Touch the alligator clip to the tea

strainer.

No spark No Biscuit

Broken battery lead from

inserting batteries

USE OF THE GRASS APPLICATOR

Notes
Not UL Approved ----Do not recommend spousal use in the tub.
Do not use to torment the cat.
Do not use in child disciplinary action.
Process
1. Spread glue over the area you wish to
flock with grass.
2. Using a map tack or nail in the glue, to
ground the tool with the alligator clip.
3. Put static grass material in the tea
strainer.
4. Push and hold the switch &
simultaneously shake the tool over the
glue area about above it.
5. Discharge the screen

Projector

Heres the layout we used for building

30 applicators at our Saturday
workshop. With one helper per table, it
worked out well,