[1nteger]

Here's a slightly unusual question...

I use often use old anti-static bags and sponge from mobo boards as a base when I'm tweaking and upgrading stuff, and I alwys use antistatic bags to store spare PCBs, drives, and so on. But, some of these have been around for quite a while in my toolbox - does anyone know if their anti-static qualities wear out or are they permanent?

And ...I just got a pair of antistatic gloves as a freebie with an order - anyone use these? Anyone use an antistatic strap for that matter?
Calling all experts on anti-static out there

[Justin1]

It was always drummed into our heads during our hardware classes that we should use always use an antistatic strap. But I've never used one and I have yet to fry something because of it. It's good practice though.

[Me__2001]

i've always touched the radiator every couple of minutes when ever doing anything inside a PC

[floppybootstomp]

Good question that, whether anti-static bags lose their properties or not, I really don't know.

I have a box full of 'em though, always use them for storage.

As for danger from static, I've been handling all kinds of IC's for around twenty years and have yet to fry one through static.

Unless you are experiencing a high build up of static in your body (like when you walk on nylon carpets) it shouldn't be necessary to take precautions. Just brush your hand against a good earth, something like a radiator pipe, and you'll discharge all static from yourself.

Having said that, all those precautions, such as wearing a wrist strap, don't hurt, do they?

[1nteger]

Thanks for the response all - I've never worried about static and never had a problem whether i used my anti-static strap or not - I'm always earthing myself on the case anyway...my real question is about storing stuff and using old antistatic bags etc...I wondered if antistatic properies are similar to magnetic ones -i.e. they diminish over time...

[ChrisIMRIE]

I use an anti-static band most of the time when im fiddling with the internals of my PC, i got one cheap from eBuyer for a few quid.

[muckshifter]

It’s quite simple really ... the 'old' bags were made with permanent antistatic properties, now the newer ones are not ... and the main reason they are not is because of the Environment.


You can distinguish between the old and newer bags ... the newer bags have the 'recycle' logo on them ... Antistatic bags can dry out with time and become huge static generators.

What "time-scale" we are talking here I don't know ... safe to say, don't keep the same bag indefinitely, recycle, and use a new one.

[psd99]

i dont even undersrand what ur asking
ive always been confused on this matter

im fully aware some damage may be caused but ive not used any anti- static stuff as of yet!

[1nteger]

Originally Posted by psd99

i dont even undersrand what ur asking
ive always been confused on this matter

im fully aware some damage may be caused but ive not used any anti- static stuff as of yet!

Read Muckshifter's reply just before yours m8 - he's given me the answer I was looking for.

Thanks Mucks - I've started buying Fair Trade foods so i might as well start recycling my old antistatic bags as well

[NR117]

Most modern pc parts are in more danger of breaking by dropping or being sat on than they are from static though it doesn't hurt to wear an anti static band if you have one. In my years working on pcs I have probably broken all rules but none of my parts has died. I use generic RAM, cheap PSUs (the one's that come with the case) and if I forget I don't use the anti static strap and all my pcs are working fine.