A static-reduction trick from my hospital CCU's days where we treated
electrically susceptible patients with electrodes connected to cardiac
organs:
If you have a carpeted shack, shampoo the carpet with detergent but add a
healthy dose of liquid fabric softener to the shampoo water. Dramatically
reduces static buildup in low humidity winter weather.
-larry (K8UT)
-----Original Message-----
From: efortner
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2016 2:07 PM
To: 'Fred Townsend' ; 'Elecraft Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Anti Static Bench
And don't forget those rubber shop mats on the floor.
Earl, K4KAY
-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Fred
Townsend
Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2016 5:32 AM
To: 'Elecraft Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Anti Static Bench
Richard I have worked with some of the most static sensitive parts in the
world, tunnel diodes. When working for NASA we had to do a failure modes
analysis on any parts that failed. I would say the quality of the ESD
material ranked at the bottom of factors to take into account. Particularly
since any top would be used in conjunction with an antistatic mat. The mats
do wear out in the sense that the rubber dries out and they tend to crumble.
Other than that I find they all do the job. There is wide latitude.
In terms of tops you do not want such as metal or any slick plastic or vinyl
surfaces where things slide. I think the ones we used were either wood or
composition. I think your ESD top would be fine.
Some of the little things are very important. Don't use storage bins with
little polystyrene trays for anything. (I like muffin tins.) Likewise keep
Styrofoam out of the room. I have measured 5KV on a Styrofoam cup that had
coffee in it. Our pot cores came packed in Styrofoam. We had the stockroom
unload them and repack in metal trays. Keep the humidity in the range of 40
to 60%RH. Wear only cotton clothing and make sure your soldering iron is
grounded. If you wax the floors use an antistatic wax. Use only pink or
silver antistatic bags such as Elecraft uses. Leave the ZIP lock bags in
your kitchen. BTW if you are one that thinks that ESD devices must be in a
certain narrow range of resistance, measure the resistance of an antistatic
bag. You'll find the range is way out of sight. The trick here is not to
generate ESD rather than dissipating ESD after you make it.
73
Fred, AE6QL
-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mark
Goldberg
Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2016 5:50 PM
To: Bob McGraw K4TAX
Cc: Elecraft Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Anti Static Bench
I agree with the previous responses. ESD material does wear out, especially
in my dry climate. It has to be replaced once in a while.
In commercial operations is is tested on a schedule and discarded if it does
not pass. It has to be conductive enough to keep parts from damage and
resistive enough to not allow a shock.
I would like to offer another option.
Home Depot will sell you workbench legs, I bought these but they have
several sizes. They were shipped free
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Edsal-33-in-Adjustable-Height-Workbench-Legs-ABL3
0/204417821;jsessionid=E3520EC0F5BF7CC72323A1EF2F5C2DE0
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Edsal-5-in-x-72-in-Work-Bench-Stringer-ST72/20441
7825
I then laminated 1/8 masonite on a solid core door, routed the edges and put
oak edge banding on just for grins to make the bench tops. I also but blocks
under the legs to make it taller for a stand up bench.
Take a look at my qrz.com page for pictures.
It saved a bunch of money over a standard lab type workbench and I had fun
making it. A standard countertop or similar would go on the legs easily,
they just screw onto the bottom. The legs are very sturdy. I just put ESD
mat on the work surface area. The edge banding was not the best idea, it
tends to chip easily. I connected my ground system to the metal legs, maybe
it helps as a counterpoise, maybe it makes no difference.
73,
Mark
W7MLG
On Sat, Jan 23, 2016 at 6:28 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX <rmcg...@blomand.net>
wrote:
Places such as LOWE'S and HOME DEPOT carry stock counter tops. Usually
in 4 ft, 6 ft, 8 ft and 10 ft lengths of several different colors.
Standard
depth including the back splash is about 25". I have used one for
years.
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