ESD Carpet Spray - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jpb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2018, 07:16:46 pm
content: I am in the process of fitting out my study for electronics having moved house. Unfortunately the study has a carpet in place which is probably only a couple of years old so I am reluctant to replace it.But I am concerned about ESD. Of course this is just my home lab and I will use a bench mat, but I'm wondering how effective anti-static spray is:https://www.somersetsolders.com/anti-static-spray-for-clothes-carpets-and-fabrics/p225and what effect it has on the carpet.I think it would be over-the-top to fit anti-static tiles but I am thinking of perhaps getting a wooden floor but this would cost several hundred pounds (I guess) so £10 or so on a spray is a much cheaper solution.Has anyone else tried the spray and how effective is it? (I found an old post from 2015 but that wasn't very explicit - hence I'm starting a new topic.)

author: richnormand
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 29, 2018, 08:59:37 pm
content: Don't know how long the spay last and indeed my carpets are pretty good at generating static in my house during the winter months.Here is what I ended up doing.Used a 3/16-1/4" flooring special plywood sheet (www.sureply.com). Unlike plywood it is quite stiff and rigid. I then stapled ( and locked the ends of the staples from the back with a hammer so they can't come out) the antistatic mat (same as my bench, just different colour) on top. The mat/plywood sandwich is just resting on the carpet.At one corner (top left corner) I put a grip button connector and wired it to my bench metal grounded frame.Been like that for ten years without any issues. I was worried about wear from the chair but it has not been a problem.The other advantage is I can just remove it and there are no traces on the carpet.Also note that the chair is also antistatic ESD rated and the bench has proper ESD wristbands (on bench edge left of chair).Depending on the type of chair you have your spray might be useful there.Whole setup was tested with the proper ESD equipment from work and passes all tests.It is worth doing properly once since it will last you decades afterward.

author: jpb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2018, 09:08:15 pm
content: Thank you for showing your setup, it has given me something to think about.

author: richnormand
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 29, 2018, 09:17:31 pm
content: I am pretty sure you have similar underlayment plywood where you live. It was quite cheap and Home Depot cut it in store at the exact size needed for free.I still use smaller pieces of the stuff as sacrificial work surfaces when I solder, drill or sand stuff since I had to buy a 4' by 8' sheet

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2018, 12:20:34 am
content: I have the same setup, standard thin plywood board on carpet and nothing else, only because it's been ok as isI was going to line the edges of the board with metal tape and connect an earth/ground point, but haven't botheredI spin the board over every couple of years if/when it bows a bitBefore I fit or turn over the board I vacuum clean thoroughly to lift the carpet fibres backthen spray the carpet area with a coat of crawling insect spray and let it dry,which keeps the crawlies from thinking about setting up shop in the shopYou'd swear the carpet was new.. years later

author: ogden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2018, 12:36:42 am
content: Quote from: jpb on March 29, 2018, 07:16:46 pmI know thatESD waxfor vinyl floors works (on vinyl floors obviously). Also there's ESD floor paint. What I know about sprays - they barely work on fabrics, never heard of anyone using such for floors. Just try such on your carpet, testing various footwear before/after.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 30, 2018, 01:43:59 am
content: A few drops of liquid dish washing detergent in a spray bottle with water works just as well on carpets than the expensive "Anti static" products. If you look at the MSDS for the Kill Stat product, it's 95-99% water with a few cleaning agents mixed in. It's basically the same stuff as any standard Quaternary surface cleaning liquid.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2018, 06:23:43 pm
content: Rent a carpet wet extractor, and clean the carpet with it. Use some fabric softener liquid instead of the carpet shampoo, and it will clean the carpet and also leave an antistatic film on the fabric, plus you can choose the odour as it dries. Dilute as if you were using the detergent for the machine and it will do. The fabric softener is designed to reduce clothing static, so works on the carpet as well, just like the more expensive antistatic spray that is the same chemical blend in a very expensive spray form.

author: mmagin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2018, 09:35:27 pm
content: I've been fairly content with the ACL Staticide products. The only confusing thing is that the "Heavy Duty" product is essentially for porous surfaces and the "Regular" is for non-porous.Though I still have a cheap vinyl ESD mat on the floor because I'm often too lazy to put in a wrist strap or I'm moving things between my desk and my workbench. I mostly just use these to clean nearby surfaces (and once a year I take it in to my non-electronics job to spray everything down and prevent zapping my ears through my headphones when I stand up -- I think it forms an electrophorus with my butt and the chair.)