[dorkbotpdx-blabber] 2 wrkbotpdx-blabber at dorkbot.org>, "Greg Grunest" <greg at grunest.com>ire soldering irons and static?

[Paul Stoffregen]

> I just read a thing somewhere yesterday about sensitive 
> ic's getting easily blown up by non-grounded irons

At lot of that material is scare tactics written by 3M and others who 
sell expensive anti-static products.  It works amazingly well on 
risk-adverse low and mid-level managers.  I'm not saying the points 
aren't valid, only that a lot of marketing dollars have been poured into 
those words to induce you to buy lots of anti-static products, just to 
be on the safe side.

Unless you're actually experiencing problems that you really are pretty 
sure are from static discharge, you're probably much better off, in 
terms of successful project, investing in better tools or supplies... 
like the teflon insulated wire that doesn't melt or shrink when you solder.


-Paul