[Elecraft] Anti Static Bench

[Don Wilhelm]

Rich,

I agree with Alan - there is no information about the "ESD qualities" of 
that top.

You may have better luck if you contact a local cabinetmaker and ask him 
to build a top using laminate (like a kitchen countertop) to whatever 
size you want.  Then get a proper ESD mat from a good supplier and place 
it on the workbench top.  That is what I use, but I built my own (I ran 
a custom woodworking shop to 10 years, so constructing such a workbench 
was not a chore for me).  The ESD mat does not necessarily have to cover 
the entire workbench, only the working area.

I suspect the total cost will be less than the workbench top you were 
looking at.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/22/2016 5:13 PM, Alan wrote:
> I don't see anything on that web site that defines exactly what is 
> meant by the term "ESD top".  I'd be leery unless you can find some 
> more information.
>
> Many devices advertised as "ESD mats" in fact do not work correctly - 
> their resistance is too high to bleed off the static discharge in a 
> reasonable time.  Several years ago I tested three different mats and 
> posted the results on this reflector:
>
> http://www.mail-archive.com/elecraft%40mailman.qth.net/msg94407.html
>
> I recommend you not depend on the anti-static properties of any mat or 
> other device unless they specify that it meets  ANSI/ESD S4.1 or 
> ANSI/ESD S20.20.  If the only specification is that they use the words 
> "anti-static" or "ESD" in the product description then be very sceptical.
>
> Alan N1AL
>
>
> On 01/22/2016 11:15 AM, Richard Thorne wrote:
>> I've been in my shop for 4 years now and I finally have a plan on how I
>> want to finish it out.
>>
>> One of the features will be a place to build kit's or work on my K3's
>> which requires an antistatic mat.
>>
>> I saw one of these in a catalog that came across my desk at work.
>> http://www.uline.com/BL_3853/Industrial-Packing-Tables?keywords=table
>> One of the table top options is made out of ESD material and has a
>> ground strap.  I would just by the table top, not the bench and
>> incorporate it into my remodel.
>>