[sdiy] workbench and static?

[Magnus Danielson]

From: "Roman" <modular at go2.pl>
Subject: Re: [sdiy] workbench and static?
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2004 15:20:53 +0200
Message-ID: <00aa01c4247e$d2b3e260$9e2010ac at kaczka>

> >
> > My question is if this polyethylene will be a problem for static? google
> > searches have showed me that many anti-static things are made with
> > polyethylene, but I wonder if there might be something special about
> > those products or it polyethylene just a good material for anti-static?
> 
> I'd avoid polyethylene. It looks like static generator for me

I agree, if we are talking just plain polyethylene, and not the ESD enhanced
variant.

Whatever you use to cover it, pure isolators isn't a good choice, since those
will be a static generator accident waiting to happend.

You don't want to use a conductor like aluminium foil or something either,
since that is a too good conductor (let's say you are testing something out,
the table will quickly short-circuit parts of your design with more or less
catastrophic result. Just consider what mains on that alumnium plate will do.

Just plain plywood isn't be worst suggestions, but an ESD tablett on top of
that is nice.

What I did was that I was given an 180x90 cm ESD table that the neighboring
firm to where I work tossed in the dumpster! It's perfectly alright except for
being overloaded with gear! ;O) I still need the shelf over it, but I think I
might be able to get one of those... and I do need it!

But, you might actually just find these things. It can be worth going to
executive auctions when a company is going out of buissness. You can find many
things there which can be quite cheap and would end up in the dumpster.

Cheers,
Magnus