Antistatic mat - what to look for?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Allen Weiner
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Allen Weiner

I've done a very limited amount of searching of the Usenet archives to find
recommendations for antistatic mats.

One post stated that some cheaper antistatic mats quickly lose conductivity
and become ineffective.

What are the differences in materials or construction between high-quality
and low-quality antistatic mats?

I will only rarely need to use an antistatic mat, at most a few times per
year. So I would prefer to limit my expenditure. But I want an antistatic
mat that I can be confident in.

I know that there are many PC home-builders who have built multiple systems
without using an antistatic mat. For me, the investment in a quality
antistatic mat is worthwhile.
 
Allen Weiner said:
I've done a very limited amount of searching of the Usenet archives to
find
recommendations for antistatic mats.

One post stated that some cheaper antistatic mats quickly lose
conductivity
and become ineffective.

What are the differences in materials or construction between high-quality
and low-quality antistatic mats?

I will only rarely need to use an antistatic mat, at most a few times per
year. So I would prefer to limit my expenditure. But I want an antistatic
mat that I can be confident in.

I know that there are many PC home-builders who have built multiple
systems
without using an antistatic mat. For me, the investment in a quality
antistatic mat is worthwhile.
Click to expand...

If you are only going to use it a few times a year, an antistatic wrist
strap would be a better idea:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1216697&CatId=1802

(no connection with tigerdirect)

To use it, take whatever PC you are working on, make sure the power supply
is properly installed in the case. Then plug the power supply in briefly.
Unplug the power supply. Now there should be no static electricity in the
case. Clip the end of the cable to any metal part of the interior of the
case.

BUT, the shortcut is to just keep one hand ON the case while you are
working. If you need two hands, just position one arm so that the arm is
touching a metal part of the case. -Dave
 
Mike T. said:
If you are only going to use it a few times a year, an antistatic wrist
strap would be a better idea:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1216697&CatId=1802

(no connection with tigerdirect)

To use it, take whatever PC you are working on, make sure the power supply
is properly installed in the case. Then plug the power supply in briefly.
Unplug the power supply. Now there should be no static electricity in the
case. Clip the end of the cable to any metal part of the interior of the
case.

BUT, the shortcut is to just keep one hand ON the case while you are
working. If you need two hands, just position one arm so that the arm is
touching a metal part of the case. -Dave
Click to expand...

I own an antistatic wrist strap (from CompUSA). But from my reading, I've
decided that I should have a mat also. I think it might have been a thread
in an ArsTechnica forum discussing ESD that led me to this conclusion.

I know almost everyone will say that for my frequency of use, an ESD kit
(strap plus mat) is not cost effective. But I believe it's the right thing
to do.

So, if anyone else chooses to reply, what are the differences in materials
or construction between a high-quality and a low-quality antistatic mat?
 
Allen Weiner said:
I own an antistatic wrist strap (from CompUSA). But from my reading, I've
decided that I should have a mat also. I think it might have been a thread
in an ArsTechnica forum discussing ESD that led me to this conclusion.

I know almost everyone will say that for my frequency of use, an ESD kit
(strap plus mat) is not cost effective. But I believe it's the right thing
to do.

So, if anyone else chooses to reply, what are the differences in materials
or construction between a high-quality and a low-quality antistatic mat?
Click to expand...

The best way to dissipate static, is not to have really conductive
materials (like a sheet of tinfoil), as an ESD discharge then occurs
in microseconds, and the current flow is measured in amps. The
antistatic components should be slightly conductive, so the
static is discharged a bit more slowly, and everything laid
on the mat, is brought to an equal potential in a couple
seconds. (Of course, your wrist strap should be clipped into
the mat system as well. The wrist strap has its own series
resistance, to limit current flow as well.)

My local electronics store carries products from this company.
The problem with the more professional products, is you get
gouged on price. But it is kinda hard to predict what "bargain"
product, will last over the long haul.

http://www.desco.com/

Paul
 
Pink anti-static foam sheet for shipping works well and is much
cheaper, and pink anti-static bubble wrap is adequate as well.. Work
barefoot, in short sleeves, and with all power cords unplugged from AC
outlets. Short sleeves greatly increase the odds that you'll be
discharged through your forearms. Lay everything to be installed on
the anti-static surface before removing it from its packaging
 
I'm just curious if anyone on here has ever really had a problem with
static destroying components. I'm not a professional builder and don't
do it extremely often; but over the last 20 years or so I've probably
had to crack open my computer and install 3 dozen or more
cards/memory/drives and the like, and built a half dozen machines.
I've never used any sort of anti-static band/matt or whatever and have
never had any problems. The most precautions I've ever taken was to
first ground myself on an outlet face plate; but probably only bothered
to do that once or twice.

I was just curious if any of you really had a problem with static. I'm
sure it happens, but it has to be fairly rare.
 
I'm just curious if anyone on here has ever really had a problem with
static destroying components. I'm not a professional builder and don't
do it extremely often; but over the last 20 years or so I've probably
had to crack open my computer and install 3 dozen or more
cards/memory/drives and the like, and built a half dozen machines.
I've never used any sort of anti-static band/matt or whatever and have
never had any problems. The most precautions I've ever taken was to
first ground myself on an outlet face plate; but probably only bothered
to do that once or twice.

I was just curious if any of you really had a problem with static. I'm
sure it happens, but it has to be fairly rare.
Click to expand...

I think that handling a card is much less likely to cause a problem
than handling individual chips, and a dry climate is much more likely
to cause a problem than a humid climate. I've never killed anything
that I know of due to stattic, and I've often just grounded myself
before grabbing ram or cpu.
 
Allen said:
I've done a very limited amount of searching of the Usenet archives
to find recommendations for antistatic mats.

One post stated that some cheaper antistatic mats quickly lose
conductivity and become ineffective.

What are the differences in materials or construction between
high-quality and low-quality antistatic mats?

I will only rarely need to use an antistatic mat, at most a few times
per year. So I would prefer to limit my expenditure. But I want an
antistatic mat that I can be confident in.

I know that there are many PC home-builders who have built multiple
systems without using an antistatic mat. For me, the investment in a
quality antistatic mat is worthwhile.
Click to expand...

3M is one of the best known vendors for anti-static mats and related
gear used in the business environment. I have found the no-name brand
from jameco ( www.jameco.com ) to be just fine for occasional use.

--
 
I often use the pink plastic packing material as a small mat to place
the part prior to installation. I wear cotton clothing and mist it
lightly with water 5 minutes before I open the case or a box, and
connect a anti-wrist strap to the case. I prefer the straps that have
a coil cord. If you have carpeting, mist the carpet and go barefoot.
 
I often use the pink plastic packing material as a small mat to place
the part prior to installation. I wear cotton clothing and mist it
lightly with water 5 minutes before I open the case or a box, and
connect a anti-wrist strap to the case. I prefer the straps that have
a coil cord. If you have carpeting, mist the carpet and go barefoot.
Click to expand...

for the record, pink plastic sucks. dries up too.

Just use some folded al foil and stick a 1 meg resister in
line to your grounding point. leave your elbows on the foil
and you won't need a wrist strap.

use the 3m stuff if the above doesn't suit you.
 
Wipe any tabletop with a dryer sheet and you have an instant anti
static surface to work. Lightly mist your clothes with water before
you sit down, wear an anti static strap, and you're all set.
 
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