How important are ESD tools?

[zapta]

Got this cutter from Amazon http://amzn.com/B002S0O7SQ , it cuts just great but when it arrived I realized it is not ESD compliance (did not think about it when placing the order).  I just ordered an ESD mat and am trying to setup a simple home 'lab' (occasional hobbyist stuff, nothing fancy).

How important it is to use ESD tools? Should I return it and get another one? Not a big deal?

[dr.diesel]

IMO all you need is the mat.  I've been doing sensitive work for 15 years on a mat without ESD rated tools, never an issue.

[ddavidebor]

well that depend of what you use.

a lot of people will say "never used it and never had any issue". don't listen them. if a device is broken, nobody will never give the merits of the fault to electro static discarge.

if you live in a humid environment, you probably don't need anything.

if where you live is dry, you should take some  precautions. (maybe a humidifier)

the cheapest and more userful is the esd bracelet. you can buy a crappy one for 5$ or a good one for 15$

some tools really should be esd compilant. brushes for example.

[fluxcapacitor]

These hakko cutters are essentially the same,they are also made in italy and are $6.95

http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-CHP-170-Maximum-Cutting-Capacity/dp/B00FZPDG1K/ref=pd_sim_sbs_indust_2/185-1438670-9592000

As long as you wear an anti static strap or use a mat,or both you wil be ok.

[dr.diesel]

a lot of people will say "never used it and never had any issue". don't listen them.

Don't forget your hat:

[ddavidebor]

a lot of students say that, and their mosfet die misterously  O0

[fluxcapacitor]

a lot of students say that, and their mosfet die misterously  O0

why would you use cutters on a mosfet !

[Monkeh]

a lot of students say that, and their mosfet die misterously  O0

why would you use cutters on a mosfet !

To trim the leads.

[G7PSK]

If you have an esd mat and wrist strap it will not matter if your tools are esd safe or not as long as you are in contact with the metal parts of the tool, there will only be a problem if the tool is insulated, if it says insulated to a 1000 volts or something like that there could be a charge on the tool if you are holding it by the plastic handles only touch the metal and you should be safe, that is unless you are trying to cut a live wire with a 1000 volts on it.

[SLJ]

If you aren't doing manufacturing or production that requires ESD procedures and equipment all you have to remember is no static.  Use a grounded anti-static mat under the work but all you really need besides that is a soldering iron/station with a grounded tip and a ground point you can touch and touch the tools to before each use to drain any static build up.  A wrist strap is cheap so I'd use one also but the idea is to just keep everything at the same potential, usually earth/ground.

[nanofrog]

From a minimalist POV, I'm with G7PSK. Just dissipate any static charge in the tool prior to using it (mat or wrist strap touching the metal).

That said, the ESD versions of tools usually only add a couple of bucks to the price, so it's a worthwhile precaution to take IMHO on top of a strap and mat (easy to forget to discharge any potential before using it).

[zapta]

If you have an esd mat and wrist strap it will not matter if your tools are esd safe or not as long as you are in contact with the metal parts of the tool, there will only be a problem if the tool is insulated, if it says insulated to a 1000 volts or something like that there could be a charge on the tool if you are holding it by the plastic handles only touch the metal and you should be safe, that is unless you are trying to cut a live wire with a 1000 volts on it.

 

Thanks everybody for the info.

Yes, I plan to have a grounded mat and strap (should arrive tomorrow) but I don't think I can touch the cutter's metal each time I use it, I am sure I will forget. Humidity around here is ~50-70%, I guess, so not too bad.

Since I am not invested in an old cutter and need to make a purchase decision I think will go ahead and start looking for an ESD one. Anybody can recommend a good ESD cutter? My preference is for a good quality one.

I am also looking for a small plier, so having it ESD safe will also be nice.

Thanks,
Z.

[nanofrog]

Since I am not invested in an old cutter and need to make a purchase decision I think will go ahead and start looking for an ESD one. Anybody can recommend a good ESD cutter? My preference is for a good quality one.

I am also looking for a small plier, so having it ESD safe will also be nice.

Take a look at Schmitz. Absolutely top quality, and very reasonably priced, so an excellent value. Online store has a limited selection (most popular) of what they produce, but they ship all over, and take PayPal (shipping is flat rate, and VAT will remain/disappear depending on address). I ordered 4x pliers, and it came to less than $30USD per pair (they're rebranded as NWS, CK Tools, and others FWIW; buying directly from the manufacturer was still less expensive).

For a review (precisiontools, who is a member here), take a look here.

[fluxcapacitor]

a lot of students say that, and their mosfet die misterously  O0

why would you use cutters on a mosfet !

To trim the leads.

  I should know better than to post things when i`m tired.Time to hang up the soldering iron and have a holiday 

[amyk]

you can touch yourself and touch the tools to before each use

I think that sentence needs a bit of rewording...

[SLJ]

you can touch yourself and touch the tools to before each use

I think that sentence needs a bit of rewording...

There you go...

[elex_enthusiast]

How important it is to use ESD tools?
[/quote]
ESD tools are important specially when you work on a dried air place like air conditioned rooms where you are more likely to developed ESD. the best way to git rid from ESD is by using an anti-static wrist strap connected to ground to discharge ESD from your body to prevent damaging sensitive components...

[fenclu]

What about ESD brushes for cleaning flux residue? I can imagine a standard toothbrush producing friggin' kilovolts.

[ddavidebor]

You imagine well, they did

[madshaman]

How important it is to use ESD tools?

ESD tools are important specially when you work on a dried air place like air conditioned rooms where you are more likely to developed ESD. the best way to git rid from ESD is by using an anti-static wrist strap connected to ground to discharge ESD from your body to prevent damaging sensitive components...
[/quote]

Shouldn't there be a decent impedance like 1 MOhm between your strap and ground?  Plenty conductance for the voltages at static electricity levels but there's still a high impedance path to ground through your body.

[nanofrog]

Shouldn't there be a decent impedance like 1 MOhm between your strap and ground?

Wrist strap kits should come with a 1M resistor built in the cord. Can't recall ever seeing one that didn't include it.

Easy enough to check with a meter if you're unsure IMHO.

[madshaman]

Shouldn't there be a decent impedance like 1 MOhm between your strap and ground?

Wrist straps should come with a 1M resistor built in them (between the conductive part of the strap itself, and the ground snap connector). Can't recall ever seeing one that didn't include it.

Easy enough to check with a meter if you're unsure IMHO.

I figured I'd mention because someone might diy a wrist strap and might not realise the implications of being that well grounded.