[Elecraft] antistatic mat for K3 assembly

[G4ILO]

Franki ON5ZO wrote:
> 
> With my K3 anticipated less than 4 weeks (as much fingers crossed as 
> anatomically possible) I am preparing the assembly line.
> 
> I don't have an antistatic mat but do have a bracelet available with a 
> crocodile clamp lead. Would it be wise to use a big aluminum plate to 
> replace the antistatic mat and clamp the crocodile on that sheet?
> I found a antistatic thingy at an online salespoint for 80 Euro (+50$) ex 
> S/H, so I'm a bit reluctant because I have no further use for such a
> thing.
> 
> 
I got one at Maplin (maplin.co.uk) for about GBP 20, though that may not be
too much help to you in Blegium.

I wouldn't use a metal plate since a) you could scratch or damage the paint
in some of the assembly operations and b) the static mat is supposed to
dissipate the static gently not through a low resistance path as aluminium
would.

I never used an anti-static mat before, and probably it is possible to
assemble a K3 taking the same care I have for most of my life when handling
static sensitive components, but given the cost of the K3 components I
decided it wasn't worth risking it.

-----
Julian, G4ILO  K3 s/n: 222 K2 s/n: 392
G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com
Zerobeat Ham Forums: www.zerobeat.net/smf
-- 
View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/antistatic-mat-for-K3-assembly-tp17182271p17182902.html
Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.