Jeff Liebermann wrote in
:

On Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:27:04 GMT, Doug White
wrote:

The big problem is that orange sticks & tooth picks aren't ESD safe.

Wood is slightly conductive, which should be sufficient to remove any
static charge. What it won't do is remove any leakage current from
connected AC appliances. I once fixed a production line problem that
was caused by induced voltage coming from a transformer located in
near the base of a Luxo lamp. The field was sufficient to induce
about 100mv of AC at a distance of about 8" to a probe card.

unfinished wood is not going to GENERATE a static charge. it will have
around 10% moisture content,or more depending on your local climate.

Teflon -will- generate a charge.


I have a theory about blowing things up with static electricity (which
is probably wrong but is worth thinking about anyway). It's the
person, not the clothes and equipment that causes problems.

it's the movement of certain materials that generates the static charge.
People merely provide the movement.
and the human body capacitance stores a nice charge.

I've only
blown up a few things with static electricity (walking across a rug
with a floppy in my hand. It drew an arc when I inserted it into the
computah). I rarely do anything to protect against static, except
when I'm playing with GaAsFET chips and xsistors. However, I know
people who just walk into the room, and something blows up. One lady
was literally a static generator. In the dark, you could see the
sparks fly as she moved in her chair and touched things.

Probably the sort of clothing she typically wears.
synthetics and blends are bad news for ESD.


I tried
grounding, discharge mats, and even an ozone (ionized air) generator.
Nothing worked. She would constantly blow up equipment. While this
is an extreme example, I suspect there are various degrees between her
and me. Just a theory.

from the ESD classes I've had at TEK,if you can feel a static
discharge,it's at least 2KV.Many devices blow at less than 100v,some as low
as 30v.
In the Orlando Tek center,my colleagues had a harder time passing the ESD
foot strap tester,while I passed right after putting it on.Had to test
daily.
We had an ESD mat on the bench,a floor ESD mat,wrist and foot straps,and a
ESD-smock with metallic fibers.We also had the work areas marked with RED
tape,where no one else could enter without having their ESD gear on.
(like WKRP Les Nessman's imaginary office...)

BTW,there are ESD-testers for the bench and floor mats....

they make ESD-safe chairs...they have a grounding chain that drags on your
ESD floor mat.your typical office chair is not ESD safe at all.
and you can buy ESD-shoes,too.



Even if youy only use it on the body of the part, there are a lot of
shops that would freak at the mere thought. There is ESD safe teflon,
and that might work. It still needs to be pointed.

I've had some fun at such shops with an electrometer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrometer
I would bring the meter to the bosses desk, and immediately determine
that most everything he owns, that's made of plastic, is an ESD
hazard. He usually spends the rest of the day chasing high voltage
readings, which are not very consistent or repeatable. That gets him
out of my way so I could get some work done. I managed to convince
one manager to go home and change into something that doesn't have
polyester.

Just spray everything in sight with some kind of laundry anti-static
spray and be done with it.

not a lasting solution.
Risky,as you can't be sure of the level of protection.

Tap water in a household sprayer works
fine.

http://www.pacedirect.com

I figure they had to have made some improvements. I don't see how
they could still be in business if they were selling the same machine
we had. Your experience is pretty similar to ours. Constant clogging
was the bigg issue. That & the tips were pretty big even in those
days. Now, they'd be hopelessly huge.

the last Pace station I used (in 1998)had different desoldering(DS) tips
for SMD work,different than the older Pace station. And the thru-hole DS
tips were LONG compared to the earlier ones,prevented clogging in the
heater element.

They're good enough for most of what I do at home. I'm still mired in
1980's ancient technology, where you can actually see the parts and
most everything is through-hole technology. My current ongoing
nightma
http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/MSF5000/MSF5000.html
Might as well have a 1980's tool to work on 1980's technology.

Incidentally, my lab is 1970's technology and is rapidly approaching
the look of a test equipment museum.
http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/pics/home/slides/lab.html
The Pace desoldering station is now located in place of one of the
Wiltron sweepers, which I stupidly tried to use without replacing all
the dried out electrolytics.




--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com