January 20, 2006

• Put the computer together nake, and make sure some part of you is always touching the case. I'm completely serious. This is how I put computers together at home. At work, though, they make me use the armband...
• Put the computer together naked, rather.
• Skrik; Modern components aren't as static intolerant as they used to be, so absent thick carpeting and a tendency to shuffle, paying attention to earthing yourself before touching anything should suffice. The easiest way to do this is to plug in the power supply to the mains (but don't turn it on!) so that it's earthed. If the power supply is already in the case, then the whole thing should be earthed and you can discharge yourself by touching the case. As per loto. But plug it in.
• I've never used anti-static armbands and have never had any problems with harming components. I've been assembling my own computers since the late '80s and we never used anti-static armbands in my electronics labs back when I was in college. Before you handle anything that is static sensitive just ground yourself by firmly touching something metal that is grounded. Touching a bare screw on the back of a metal computer case that is connected to a properly grounded outlet would work fine, for example. On preview, what polychrome said.
• Wear natural fibre clothing, as man-made textiles such as nylon can build up significant static charges. Naked works too! Earth yourself before touching delicate components to get rid of any residual charge; you can do this as easily as touching a radiator or water pipe. Another easy way to earth yourself is to plug in the computer's power supply at the wall and switch it off, although this assumes that you have a power supply with a switch on the back and that mains sockets are earthed wherever you live. Earth yourself after walking around, too. If you live in a very dry location (like a desert), take extra care. Generally, though, don't worry. If you sit in one place and earth yourself before starting, you'll be fine.
• As polychrome said, it's not a big deal. I spent a few months working in a factory populating circuit boards for medical instrumentation several years ago; no one paid the slightest heed to static precautions, and it didn't seem to matter. Come to think of it, I don't think I saw an anti-static armband in use even once during my four-year electronic engineering degree!
• I've gotten pretty careless about it - these days I'll even crack a box open in the carpeted living room without thinking much about it. Of course if I did hose somethign I'd be pissed - but so far . . . *touches metal*
• I've never used one and I've built and rebuilt what seems like more than my fair share of computers.
• If you do do it naked though, watch out for owls. Cause owl semen will totally fubar your new b0X3n. rly.
• If you're really scared about your clothes storing up a charge, you can rub yourself down with a new drier sheet. It also works on hair and skin, though I don't know how well drier sheet chemicals and computer components work.