I just finished a TV stand made of Sapele (you can see it at the bottom of the page here https://beasleysevindesigns.com/gallery/ if you want to.) While sanding I kept getting shocked – and not just a little shock. I use a Makita ROS. At first I thought the sander was shocking me because it felt a lot stronger than just static. Eventually figured out it is static and if I kept my leg against the metal workbench leg, I didn’t get shocked. Does anybody have an idea for fixing this that doesn’t involve m standing on one foot for hours?
Here are some critical details:
It’s a new phenomena – never happened until this project.
I usually wear tennis shoes.
I stand on anti-fatigue mats.
My shop is usually 65 degrees F and 30% humidity.
My sander is connected to a shop vac via grounded Dust Deputy.
I am open to any ideas.
Replies
I would suspect the problem is coming from the dust collection and your dry air. To test this try using the sander without being connected to the shop vac, if it stops the static build up you need to ground your hose and shop-vac better.
I'd just keep my leg against the metal workbench leg.
Above answers are correct, as usual.
You can buy anti-static wristbands for electronics.
These are cheap and designed to allow a reasonable range of movement.
They have the advantage of a megohm resistor inline so you are not increasing your risk of fatal shock if you do happen to touch a live wire.
I will add that the same things that can offer some degree of protection against electrical shock, rubber soled shoes, anti-fatigue mat by increasing the resistance between your body and the ground thereby causing the electric current to seek a path of less resistance, can work against you regarding static electricity. When you are grounded, such as touching the metal leg, the static electricity drains off gradually unnoticed, but when you are insulated from the ground it continues to build until it has enough charge to overcome the resistance and then it zaps you, like a lightning bolt. Try wearing leather soled shoes and not standing on the anti-fatique mat when sanding you may find the problem mitigated.
A small wire attached to the leg with a clip on the skin? A clothes pin doesn’t hurt better than a zap.
I have been zapped touching my shop vac while running I assume static charge builds in hose.
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