Grinder static

S

skillgannon

Joined
Apr 27, 2009
Messages
991
I just made myself a glass platen and thought it was the reason I was getting static while grinding. When using the platen I can see great big blue sparks arcing of to the steel behind the glass. Last night I was using my small wheel arm and trying to do some finishing touches and kept getting blasted every few seconds. It makes it hard to be accurate while getting shocked. Any ideas how to stop it?
 
^^^^What he said. I started getting some static shocks a little while back and found where some had suggested the spray. I now have a can of it on the bench and it works great. I just give a quick shot of it to the inside of whatever belt I put on and haven’t had an issue since.

Jeremy
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
It is winter and the humidity is low. Spray the belt back with static-guard ( laundry section of grocery) to get rid of the problem.
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Agreed. I don't have issues in the summer but as soon as winter hits it shocks like crazy. The static remover noted above works. Another alternative is to use a wire brush that is mounted so it rides against the back of the belt. Put a small screw through the wire to attach a wire to and ground the wire. I haven't tried this but think I got it from diy knife maker central.
 
I have tried all sorts of grounding systems. The only one that worked was a direct ground for ME. It was a piece of copper sheet on a wire that I slipped in my pocket and it had a clip ton the other end to the grinder frame. It worked, but the static guard works as good or better.
 
skillgannon said:
I just made myself a glass platen and thought it was the reason I was getting static while grinding. When using the platen I can see great big blue sparks arcing of to the steel behind the glass. Last night I was using my small wheel arm and trying to do some finishing touches and kept getting blasted every few seconds. It makes it hard to be accurate while getting shocked. Any ideas how to stop it?
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Y ou can buy a rubber floor mat called a static dissapating mat. Works very well.
 
when you put the glass on, you accidentally made a capacitor and you were half of it. :p just like a spark plug gap, when the static charge is great enough to jump the gap created by the glass, you get the zap. another thing that works is to put a humidifier in the grinding room.
 
The glass is way worse but I was surprised to be getting shocked on my small wheels. Maybe I can work out something with dryer sheets:p
 
Hey just in time! Last night was the first time ive gotten, or noticed static. I was sanding the ends of my brass pins after cutting for length for the handle, and when I was done I set them on my bandsaw table next to me and got zapped a couple times... ill have to try the static guard.
 
OK, really stupid question here, but... Why do you use (ceramic) glass and not a hardened and ground (or polished) piece of tool steel for the platen? I understand the low friction that glass offers, and the low wear. Wouldn't a piece of steel, hardened in the 60's, accomplish the same thing but without the shocking experience?
 
onespdfrk said:
OK, really stupid question here, but... Why do you use (ceramic) glass and not a hardened and ground (or polished) piece of tool steel for the platen? I understand the low friction that glass offers, and the low wear. Wouldn't a piece of steel, hardened in the 60's, accomplish the same thing but without the shocking experience?
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Years ago I ordered a glass platen and before it arrived I read they cause shocks and I hate getting shocked. So I ordered one of Nathan's platens and have never been shocked. The glass platen has been in the junk drawer since it arrived.
 
onespdfrk said:
OK, really stupid question here, but... Why do you use (ceramic) glass and not a hardened and ground (or polished) piece of tool steel for the platen? I understand the low friction that glass offers, and the low wear. Wouldn't a piece of steel, hardened in the 60's, accomplish the same thing but without the shocking experience?
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Oh we use those in the past D2 O1 and A2. They work great, but the glass stays flatter for much longer then the harden steel
 
Cool. Thanks Britt_Askew Britt_Askew & AVigil AVigil

I'm just really surprised so many put up with the shocking experience. I don't like to get shocked (not like anybody does...) - maybe a slab of tungsten carbide is the way to go. Pretty sure I saw a crazy expensive rotary setup with a carbide platen, but can't remember where.
 
onespdfrk said:
Cool. Thanks Britt_Askew Britt_Askew & AVigil AVigil

I'm just really surprised so many put up with the shocking experience. I don't like to get shocked (not like anybody does...) - maybe a slab of tungsten carbide is the way to go. Pretty sure I saw a crazy expensive rotary setup with a carbide platen, but can't remember where.
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They don't put up with the shocking experience...they use static guard and don't get shocked.
 
I never get shocked, probably the So Cal weather
 
The glass makes it worse, but the static buildup will happen if it is cold and dry with any platen or even a wheel.

If you want to see how simple static can build up and how much voltage can amass, google "Water Drop Electrostatic Generator". In nature we call this lightning.

Here is a very simple one, but some can generate a million volts.
 
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