ESD Safe/Anti-Static Tools & Products - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: jedimindtime
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 27, 2018, 01:40:18 am
content: Hi!So I have a few questions when it comes to 'ESD-Safe'/'Anti-Static' tools/products/solutions etc. and even though I've been reading on the differences between dissipative and conductive esd/static safe materials, I'm still unsure about how it translates to actual real-world usage.For example, I was looking at ESD safe cleaning brushes (toothbrush and paintbrush style) and they come in dissipative handle + conductive head/bristles or conductive handle + dissipative head/bristles, what is the difference in the 2 setups? What would be considered "better"?And some just say either conductive or dissipative, it's confusing tbh..same thing with matting and flooring etc..I would think in most circumstances 'conductive' would be the better choice (yet counter-intuitive if user not properly grounded)If so, what's the point of dissipative products?Thanks to Dave's video (EEVblog #247) I now understand the difference between the pink 'dissipative' anti-static component bags and the silver 'conductive' ones, in that the dissipative bags don't 'produce' a static charge like normal plastic bags do, but also won't 'shield' from external sources of it either.The conductive bags, on the other hand, act as a 'Faraday cage' and will actually shield from external sources of static charges (given this fact though I don't understand the point of the dissipative storage products)..So even though I "understand" the differences in this case, I just don't understand how these differences translate to things like tools and matting/flooring/clothing etc.I hope I've made senseMaybe I'm just overthinking it?..I'd very much appreciate any help in clearing this up!Thanks in advance!!

author: tpowell1830
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2018, 02:12:48 am
content: Most companies go overboard in packaging with the "anti-static" bags and packaging so that they will err on the safe side. However, for hobby use, the standard pink bags are fine. As far as tools, a wrist strap will mostly reduce the static in your body and as soon as you pick up a tool, does the same with the tool. I personally would not get concerned if the toothbrush that I use to clean solder paste or flux off of a board is anti-static because the charges will not build while cleaning those items, but that is just me.Hope this helps...EDIT: Welcome to the forum!

author: jedimindtime
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 30, 2018, 04:06:59 pm
content: Thanks for your reply, much appreciated.Quote from: tpowell1830 on June 27, 2018, 02:12:48 amHmm, I would of thought a normal plastic toothbrush (as well as the actual cleaning motion) would/could generate substantial amounts of ESD?If so, even if the user was properly grounded, wouldn't the plastic insulate the users hand and therefor not be able to discharge the static to ground via the user? Or the static could find a less resistive path towards the pcb/component due to the conductive metals or even through the cleaning solution as well?Regardless, and even just out of curiosity, how do these types of ESD tools and solutions actually work? As in the differences in a 'Conductive' tool and a 'Dissipative' one. What would be the different circumstances or scenarios that somebody would need one or the other?Thanks