Hi Charles, I'm in a similar boat where I've worked with static sensitive parts without any problems without having so much as put on a wrist strap. It's just never been an issue, even with our RH sitting around 12% here in New Mexico. I've been shoulder deep in Cray and SGI supercomputers without worrying about it. Then the day came where I needed to do surgery on my network analyzer. I figured the $20 for the coating was cheap insurance. I don't have $37k sitting around to replace it should I fry it. That was the first time I ever put on a wrist strap too!
-Bob On Mon, Jan 25, 2010 at 11:27 AM, Charles P. Steinmetz < charles_steinm...@lavabit.com> wrote: > Bruce wrote: > > Although over the years the non-conductive top has been an asset in >> avoiding short circuits, etc., I am concerned about static discharges >> when >> handling modern semiconductors. Would it make sense to spray the >> Masonite >> with a weak copper sulphate or similar solution so as to make the >> masonite >> slightly conductive, but not so conductive that 155 VAC connections could >> not >> safely rest upon it? Is there a better-suited material that could be >> used >> to replace the Masonite? >> > > I notice that many folks who have contributed on this thread use > anti-static benchtops, but I have never found it necessary (and I try to > keep the RH in my house under 45% -- it is generally 20% or less in the > winter). I've been fooling with static-sensitive parts for 35 years and > haven't lost one to static yet. With that perspective, my preferred > benchtop is white Formica with a very, very slightly pebbled surface. Very > durable, including to molten solder, and small parts show up well. I use > rubberized "gunsmith" mats for preventing scratches to delicate workpieces > (these happen to be anti-static, but that is not why I have them). > > Other bench thoughts: > > Bench depth is very important. I sometimes work on equipment that is more > than 24" deep, so I want at least 30" of clear space in front of any > obstructions (power strips, Variac, test equipment, whatever). In the past, > I used a "flying bridge" over the rear 18" of a 48"-deep bench to elevate > the test equipment, which worked very well. Now I use 24" deep adjustable > wire-rack shelving units behind a 30" benchtop (As others have pointed out, > you can do the same with equipment racks -- I'm not a fan of rack-mounting > test equipment unless the racks are anchored and everything is on slides, > which I was not prepared to do). I don't have enough shop real estate to > have a permanent access aisle behind the test equipment, so the bench and > racks have large (5") locking polyurethane wheels and can be pulled out > relatively easily for reconfiguration. This provides plenty of stability > for electronic projects, but you wouldn't want to mount a big vise on the > bench and try to bend 1" rebar. For that, I have a separate metalworking > shop. > > Bench height is also important. I prefer a tall bench, suited to working > standing or sitting on an ergonomic stool, so my bench top is 44" above the > floor -- a bit below my standing elbow height. > > Finally, one can never have too many power outlets, or too much light, in a > workshop. Lighting should be arranged so that it doesn't cause specular > reflections from the workpiece or the faces of test equipment. > > Best regards, > > Charles > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.