[Elecraft] easy source of static dissipating work mat?

[Missouri Guy]

> A ESD bag and a mat are 2 different animals.....

Right on that.

I haven't done this, but here's some info:
I *think* there was a "Hints and Kinks" article in QST
quite awhile ago where a guy made a "mat" using
some Masonite (tempered hardboard, etc) and a
quantity of India Ink.  He said (as I recall) that the 
India Ink has a lot of carbon in it.  When applied to
the hardboard, it drains off any static (provided it's
grounded of course).

Just to throw more meat into the ring.....
While building the K3, the instructions never tell 
you to power up any "bare" circuit boards that are just laying on
any mat or bench.  For temporary use what would be 
wrong with, say taking some aluminum foil, and gluing 
it to "whatever" and grounding the aluminum
via a megohm resistor?   

For a wrist strap, in the past I've used a metal watch band 
with an insulated wire attached and grounded via another 
1 meg resistor.

Wrist straps (a kit of parts and the strap) might still be available
at "BG Micro" on the web.  It's OK for temporary use.

If a person does a lot of PCB work, one should invest in
something more substantial.  Mouser has a very nice metal wrist strap
and coil cord set for ~$20.   For a mat, there was a company at Dayton
selling used ones that looked really nice, going for $25 or so.
I think they're on the web...Google.  Also, there's the auction
sites.

73,
Charlie, N0TT
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