Jump to content
Model Cars Magazine Forum

Static electricity


Recommended Posts

I have wiped it down with a used dryer softener sheet.  That helps some. Or you can also buy anti-static brushes I think, although I haven’t tried them. It is annoying when your panel line accent jumps off the brush and onto the surface.🤨

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is likely due to very dry air in your workshop (like I have here in the winter).

Some hair dryers have ion generators built-in. It is for dissipating static electricity (so your hair doesn't stand like you have been zapped by million volts). Make sure to check the package mentioned ion generator or "antistatic".  It probably wont cost you more than $20, and you can use it on your hair too.

Fond one of those at your local Walmart and see if blowing it (at its coolest setting) will dissipate the static.  Or maybe wait until the ambient air gets less dry.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, gman said:

While I wouldn't go out and buy one (at this price) just for model building, I used to have one of these type of things for vinyl records that also happened to work very well to de-static models:

https://www.sonicboommusic.com/products/zerostat-3-anti-static-gun

I bought one for my records, then "discovered" that it worked on plastic models, to rid them of static. It has always seemed to work, pretty well!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had that problem when painting during normal to very dry (low humidity) weather.

Here is what worked for me:

1. Wash with a dishwashing soap and rinse with tap water. If you have hard water like I do, dip the part(s) in fresh distilled water to rinse off the hard water.

2. Let the part(s) air dry. I was using compressed air to speed up drying and get moisture out of tight areas on a body. That combination of low humidity and air blasts gave the body a static charge that attracted dust in what appeared to be a dust-free painting area. The purpose of rinsing with distilled water prevents minerals in the hard water from being deposited on the body when it dries.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Nothing scientific here, just observations.  I live in AZ which is normally low humidity, it's a dry heat.  I think some plastic is more prone to static charge, don't know why.  The clothes you wear, 100% cotton = no plastic fibers, polyester sweat pants create a static charge better than cotton underwear (Bleachbit for sale).  Shoes vs. bare feet.  Linoleum vs. carpet.  Wood chair vs. steel & plastic.  Nothing like applying superglue and watch a strand lay down on a shiny paint finish, so I have my other hand finger close to the site being worked on, which has seemed to reduce that phenomena.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...