P3D Re: Static cling

[michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Michael Kersenbrock)]

> While cutting and mounting several backlogged rolls of film yesterday on
> my light table, I had a bad case of static cling.  That is to say, the
> film chips kept clinging to the light table, to each other, to mounts,
> etc.  A thorough re-cleaning of the light table helped some, but it was
> still there.  I suppose that my dry climate here in AZ might contribute to
> the problem but is there a safe way to stop this?

The "classical" solution is to use a staticmaster brush to both
clean the film and get rid of static.  It uses an alpha-particle emitter
(can penetrate a few inches of air).  They have been sold forever, or
nearly so.  I've seen them advertised in 50's photo magazines.  They
do expire after a few years though and need a new cartridge (mine need
a new one, they expired a year or so ago... need to check out Porter's 
or the like for a new cartridge).  There are "narrow" and "wide" versions.

There are gun-looking piezoelectric ion emitters made for removing static
on old LP records before cleaning with a brush. I think I've one of those 
near my record player (yes, I still have a Sony microprocessor based turntable
set up in a closet for those few occasions I feel like listening to scratches).  
Something like that might work, but haven't tried it for that.

A humidifier sitting nearby might work too.

Mike K.

P.S. - I don't think I'd like to get the stuff in laundry-dryer-softeners
       all over my photo stuff and film.  Trades static for icky stuff.



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