[Elecraft] easy source of static dissipating work mat?

[Don Wilhelm]

Folks,

I do have to agree with Ron. Given what you have invested in a K3 kit, 
it seems quite foolish to me to risk that investment by 'going cheap' on 
an antistatic mat and wrist strap. You can find the proper antistatic 
measures for less than $30, and that is less than 3% of your K3 investment.

Certainly, you can use aluminum foil (short hazard), the packing bags 
(not a good solution) and conductive metal wrist bands (personnel 
hazard), but the consequences of failure for those methods can be more 
costly than the price of your K3.

So take your pick, you can go 'cheap' at great risk to your personal 
safety and to your K3 investment, or you can do it right and purchase 
the correct anti-static materials. The correct stuff will last you a 
long time.

Yes, I have previously used antistatic measures such as a damp newspaper 
in my younger days, but I always wondered about just how much dampness 
was correct. So, some time ago, I purchased an antistatic mat designed 
for computer keyboard use, and have found it adequate for my work.

For those who do not have Google search engines, I found economical 
solutions at 
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1472803&CatId=1802 
and 
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1216697&CatId=1802. 
Google and other search engines may show you more sources.

73,
Don W3FPR

Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
>
> *From:* elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] *On Behalf Of *Missouri Guy
> *Sent:* Friday, December 12, 2008 4:48 PM
> *To:* Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> *Subject:* Re: [Elecraft] easy source of static dissipating work mat?
>
> 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?
>
> 73,
>
> Charlie, N0TT
>
> Genuine O.T.s (I have to admit I’ve done this) used to make high-value 
> resistors by drawing a line with india ink on a piece of paper. An 
> inch or so of such ink, perhaps 1/8” wide, produced a resistor 
> typically between 10 and 50 megohms – a perfect “grid leak” resistor 
> for a vacuum tube regenerative detector.
>
> In my defense, I’ll say that I did **not** do this back in the heyday 
> of the regenerative detector as the state of the art. I happen to be 
> interested in vintage circuits and gear ;-)
>
> But why bother, with the extremely low cost of either mats or wrist 
> straps – especially compared to what you’ve got in a K3?
>
> Ron AC7AC
>
>