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MDF board

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John Lindo:
I had to reduce a piece of MDF board thickness the other day.
Using my mill and a standard endmill it worked ok,until I picked up my shop vac with a plastic hose to
clean up the DUST and at the same time touched the machine.
I got quite an electrostatic shock.
It's never happened before,with metal cutting so I did a bit more cutting and again same thing happened.
Is the MDF storing static?
John
Spain

Bluechip:
John
 
Does happen, I get it with machining plastic. Bits jump up and stick to the side of the nozzle rather than going up the tube. Never got a shock yet but it certainly could happen.
 
You've just made a rather crude but nonetheless effective 'Tribo-electric' generator with the dry dust and the insulated hose.
 
 
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_generator
 
Dave
 
 
 
 
 
 

DMIOM:
hi John,

just a couple of thoughts :

1/ Try and avoid inhaling the MDF dust -  the dust, and (if present) the formaldehyde binder aren't good for you (MDF health FAQ)

2/ Re dust / electrostatics - wood dust (= fine particles) is explosive, and commercial extraction systems have to be conductive so any static is dissipated to earth (useful info)

Dave

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