Replies

1. 
   EdHarrow | Jun 03, 2004 06:09am | #1

   Check this out:  http://www.woodworking.com/articles/index.cfm?fa=show&id=662

   I must admit to being quite shocked at the potential that builds up on my vac hose.  I took a picture of the sawdust bits, all standing at attention.  I once got a wee bit close to the chassis of my table saw - it pulled an arc probably 1/4".  YIKES!

2. 
   nikkiwood | Jun 03, 2004 10:17am | #2

   Are you talking about a shop vac or a dust collector?

   If the latter, there are specific things you need to do to make certain the system is properly grounded.

   If you experiencing static build up with a shop vac, no need to worry about it -- its irritating rather than dangerous. When atmospheric conditions are producing a lot of static build up, I just keep my free hand on a metal surface as I'm vacuuming. That dissipates the static charge.

3. 
   WayneL5 | Jun 03, 2004 05:57pm | #3

   You can purchase anti-static vacuum cleaner hoses.  They are common in industrial settings, but are not inexpensive.  But it will probably last a long, long time in home use.  McMaster.com is one supplier that carries them.

1. 
   EdHarrow | Jun 03, 2004 07:10pm | #4

   I think I'd better go that root.  I was just running the vac attached to a sander and there was a flash and one hell of a loud crack...

   View Image

1. 
   mitch | Jun 03, 2004 11:38pm | #5

   and what's the condition of your undershorts?  ;-)

   m

1. 
   EdHarrow | Jun 04, 2004 10:01pm | #8

   LOL, mitch, they're OK, but we had to peel poor Finbar (our dog) off of the ceiling. ;-)  He's generally pretty good about loud noises; not gun trained, but he puts up with me when I touch off a few rounds from one of my minature cannons, but this was over the top. 

   I guess there are a fair number of shop vacs that aren't grounded via a 3-prong plug (mine amoungst them), but unless there is a conductor to draw the added potential off of the hose, nozzle, etc,  it ain't gonna get to ground, whether thru a grounded plug, or a ground strap.  Keeping one's hand on something well grounded works ok, but if you've forgotten, and then reach out to a grounded surface, you'll get something like the picture I posted above.  ;-)

1. 
   mitch | Jun 05, 2004 12:50am | #9

   a few years ago i ripped a ton of cedar for 150' of low decorative fencing- talk about static cling! the saw, the saw stand, the vac, the 2-stage filter bucket- everything- was covered in reddish brown fuzz.  first i'd vac some off, then blow off the vac with an air hose, then vice versa about six times to get it all off- what a pain.  thankfully at the time i had no shop and was doing it out in my backyard.

   m

2. 
   Rodrigue | Jun 04, 2004 04:46am | #7

   Thanks. I was trying to find something like that, antistatic hose but it's the first time I get a brand name. I will check for that this week for my shop vac.

    

   Rod

4. 
   larrmartin | Jun 04, 2004 01:05am | #6

   What would be wring with taking a long piece of copper wire, attaching it to a screw on the shop vac and tying the other end to a large steel nut and letting it hang on the floor. As you move the vac, the grounded wire trails behind.

1. 
   rachjon | Jun 05, 2004 04:59pm | #10

   If you do that you must wrap the fine cpooer wire around the hose all the way to the end. Static wiil accumulate on the essentilly non-conductor hose and take a while to reach the ground area wher they will rapidly flow to ground.

1. 
   larrmartin | Jun 05, 2004 11:02pm | #11

   Good tip - I didn't think it through far enough. I'll try that.