Best way to remove static while reloading

[Rustytigwire]

Wipe down with Static Guard aerosol spray on a cotton cloth. This was a tip in one of Herman Salazar's articles. It works. I use Lee powder dispensers and the static electricity can build up in the plastic hopper plus all the other plastic items in the chain--drop tube, funnel, balance body, etc.
Spray on the cloth and allow to dry somewhat. Then wipe down all the above items and you will not have drift problems(or much fewer). You will know when you need to reapply.
Tom Alves

This Salazar article is all good. Satic guard cotton cloth lives in my powder hopper. When ready to load wipe desk scale all stuff hands etc. Powder hopper inside and out. Wipe powder bottle, funnel, hands.
Powder into dispenser, commence production. You will be notified what is missed by where your powder misbehaves.
Is your chair plastic? Synthetic clothing? Movement and rubbing. Plastic sole shoes on carpet? Don't be a van de graff generator. Dry winter you can near power your house just by petting the cat.
Success and small groups,
Merry Christmas!
Tom

 

[TAJ45]

Anti static gun

Milty 5036694022153 Zerostat 3 Anti-Static Gun, Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0033SHDSS/?tag=accuratescom-20

Back when I heard better in '80, an audiophile roomie had one of these.
At that $$ point, I'll stick w dryer sheets. Might even have wifey sew me up a loin cloth with those.

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

I suggest finding the source. If you are just talking about new plastic, wash it with warm water and dish soap.

Sometimes it is the dumbest things that cause static. I have a pair of moccasins that have a lining that for whatever reason create a charge. Sometimes I can turn on a touch lamp just by getting within 6" of it. Needless to say, I don't wear them at the bench.

Would you consider selling those moccasins ?

 

[dbduff]

I actually got mine at a local electronics store however this one is pretty much the same as I have. I just cut it down to fit.
StarTech.com Anti-Static Mat - 25" x 27.5" Electrical Grounding Desk Pad - For Home or Work - Beige (M3013) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009XT3H/?tag=accuratescom-20

Here’s a video that shows a few things but it also show my static mat and how I use it when I had one auto-trickler but I have the same set up with my two auto-trickler setups.

Having watched this and understood some, are you suggesting that unplugging the scale is the only way to truly turn it off, and that the on off switch only puts the scale in a sleeper mode that somehow can lead to problems with its memory as a consequence of storage capacity? If so, how long do you reccomend to allow it to become fully operational after replugging and turning the scale on?
D

 

[F Class John]

Based on a conversation I had with Cambridge that is correct. I don’t remember the exact verbiage they used however the indication was that by simply using the on/off button you were not fully turning the unit off which thereby allowed any plus or minus when zeroing to accrue inside the memory which long-term could cause a variance issue potentially. Or I believe at the very least it makes the scale work harder than it has to. I’m not an engineer so please forgive the simple explanation. I don’t remember what they said for duration however I just unplug it every time I’m done loading and when I plug it in and turn on I leave it on for about 15 minutes before using.

 

[golong]

Would you consider selling those moccasins ?

Nope. While disclosed, the magic trick is not for sale

 

[Papa Charlie]

I sue the SCS 724 Workstation Monitor and anti static mat. The mat is grounded through the grounding system in my home. The monitor is extremely sensitive to any static charge build up and the mat ensures that all charges that might build up in the scale, equipment or me is dissipated.
You don't need the monitor but it adds a reassurance that the mat is grounded properly and that everything is working while I concentrate on the task at hand in confidence that the readings are as accurate as they can be.

Monitor: https://staticcontrol.descoindustri...ors/724-Workstation-Monitor/724/#.XgOs6s7Ns2w

Anti Static Mat and Accessories: https://staticcontrol.descoindustries.com/Search/Ground-SPACE-Mat/

 

[rsmithsr50]

as usual, fix the PROBLEM, not the indicator.
get rid of the source of static

I did a basic search but did not come up with any solutions that were workable

I can not be the only one with a static problem. I have heard of dryer sheets what else will work to remove static.

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

I sue the SCS 724 Workstation Monitor and anti static mat. The mat is grounded through the grounding system in my home. The monitor is extremely sensitive to any static charge build up and the mat ensures that all charges that might build up in the scale, equipment or me is dissipated.
You don't need the monitor but it adds a reassurance that the mat is grounded properly and that everything is working while I concentrate on the task at hand in confidence that the readings are as accurate as they can be.

Monitor: https://staticcontrol.descoindustri...ors/724-Workstation-Monitor/724/#.XgOs6s7Ns2w

Anti Static Mat and Accessories: https://staticcontrol.descoindustries.com/Search/Ground-SPACE-Mat/

Also remember , do not use a laser pointer to check powder level's inside the cases ! Bad !

 

[tred1956]

Not an electrician so please disregard my ignorance of proper terms, but I use a power strip suggested by my Son (who is an electrician) that is supposed to "clean up power" to my chargemaster. Don't know if it really works or not but I power on & off my entire loading bench with it. Including the 4 foot LED shop lights above it. My shop is inside the house and I have eliminated ALL non LED bulbs. Power bench up about 30 minutes before I start to load. Am amazed at how few charges I have to recycle. Usually less than 2%. Not sure if this helps with the static but I use dryer sheets as needed and don''t have much of a problem here in the great state of South Carolina.
Merry Christmas
Doug

 

[shoobe01]

1) Humidity control. Hospitals, museums, specialized factories, do this. Get a hygrometer, stick it where you can see it at the bench. Get a humidifier, and a dehumidifier, big enough for the room. 45% is a typical happy level. Humidity will solve most static charge issues, and is just another thing to be dead consistent about.

2) Static controlled surfaces. Forget add on tabletop mats, the very shelving, containers, etc. for much manufacturing is ESD (electro-static discharge) controlled. ESD floor mats may also be good since I bet you don't want to apply ESD paint

If building a reloading bench from scratch, I'd visit my industrial suppliers, get ESD stuff for that. Often, they do need ground wires/ribbons, but that's pointless if the surface itself doesn't propagate properly. With things like an ESD tabletop, your press (if you mount it with bare metal visible, etc) will also get grounded, and any ESD cartridge trays (I hope they are!) you set down there get grounded happily.

Charge (spark!) avoidance is all about making sure there are no voltage differentials. ESD gear does that.

 

[cem]

Stainless bench top grounded and grounding straps and dryer sheets is enough for me. Hurts to drill the bench top but I can fill holes with upside down bolts or sections of threaded rod flush with the bench top. Stainless bench tops were bought cheap by watching Sears Surplus on the internet when that was still a useful thing to do. For my purposes ground loop is not an issue but I used to notice it all the time with a rolling line on a wall of CRT style television displays so I am aware of the possibility.

 

[dbduff]

Based on a conversation I had with Cambridge that is correct. I don’t remember the exact verbiage they used however the indication was that by simply using the on/off button you were not fully turning the unit off which thereby allowed any plus or minus when zeroing to accrue inside the memory which long-term could cause a variance issue potentially. Or I believe at the very least it makes the scale work harder than it has to. I’m not an engineer so please forgive the simple explanation. I don’t remember what they said for duration however I just unplug it every time I’m done loading and when I plug it in and turn on I leave it on for about 15 minutes before using.[/QU

Thanks for the insight. I've got mine plugged into a surge protector but have been using the on/off button, thinking that was actually turning the scale off. Fellow on this site awhile ago mentioned he never unplugged his scale during a discussion regarding "warm up" times. That seemed a simple solution, but your advice has more "tooth" as roofers say. I will follow your advice as the cumulative effect of never turning off and plus and minus accruing in the memory creating variance issues is more than I wish to contend with. I'm using my scale on probably 3 or 4 times a week schedule, so the cumulative issue has potential for me. I'll try planning ahead enough to plug it 15 minutes before I actually need it. My biggest issue to date has been realizing it doesn't wish to stabilize if the temp is below 42 or 43 degrees Fahrenheit. Thanks again for prompt information.
David Duff

 

[dskogman]

Anti static gun

Milty 5036694022153 Zerostat 3 Anti-Static Gun, Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0033SHDSS/?tag=accuratescom-20

I normally don’t have static problems but when I do this gun is the only thing that works. You can watch the scale go down when you slowly pull the trigger and go back to zero when you slowly release it.

 

[warpspeed]

To keep surface from building up a charge, I'd suggest using Staticide Anti-Static Wipes instead of the dryer sheet. They work.

https://tinyurl.com/sgtsa7w

 

[Rsadams]

I suggest finding the source. If you are just talking about new plastic, wash it with warm water and dish soap.

Sometimes it is the dumbest things that cause static. I have a pair of moccasins that have a lining that for whatever reason create a charge. Sometimes I can turn on a touch lamp just by getting within 6" of it. Needless to say, I don't wear them at the bench.

Yes sir at my place here in central Texas wearing rubber sole shoes are horrible for static.... I either wear leather sole shoes or no shoes and it has really helped stop static.... During the winter wearing tennis shoes and touching anything will result in a nice pop and shock....

 

[Rotag01]

Yes sir at my place here in central Texas wearing rubber sole shoes are horrible for static.... I either wear leather sole shoes or no shoes and it has really helped stop static.... During the winter wearing tennis shoes and touching anything will result in a nice pop and shock....

I have narrowed it down to the crocks

 

[golong]

So how many guys are going barefoot after this thread?

 

[rogn]

Ive got the scale on a 1/4" steel plate and use old dryer sheets on any plastic components. I have a vial of graphite powder that I place with a q-tip in funnels and drop tubes.
Humidifyer in next room tries to keep up.

 

[Rotag01]

Since getting rid of crocks and dryer sheets and adding a marble base under scale no more problems