Ts55r shocks from tool and guide rail

[Rick Christopherson]

Please don't take this as a sarcastic comment. I am making it as a literal comment, not sarcastic. OK?

The problem isn't the tool; It's the human. You are the ungrounded link spanning a static generator. If you want to eliminate the problem, you have to fix the human. (Yes, I know that is prime for sarcasm.  [big grin]) Throw a wrist strap on and tie yourself into the grounded vac hose.

The problem is that there will always be a huge static voltage difference somewhere between the source (sheet of MDF) and the drain (CT Vac). All you can do is relocate where this difference exists. Right now, this difference is located at the operator's (right hand) location. When you were using a non-anti-static hose, the difference was located in that hose. (You don't get shocked while using the saw, but would get a huge shock the instant you touched something else.)

However, keep in mind that even with the wrist strap, the difference isn't eliminated. It just moves from your right hand to your left hand, where it is less likely to find a quick place to jump (because the MDF sheet doesn't have a tightly concentrated charge in a small location).

Think of static as a waterfall (or water pump). The static charge (aka water) is being moved from one height to another. Above and below the waterfall (or water pump if you prefer) the stream is flowing on level ground. At the waterfall (or pump) the water makes a huge jump in height. You can't change the height of the waterfall. You can only push it upstream or downstream from one location to another.

Granted, using the same analogy, the non-anti-static hose will change the steep waterfall into a longer flowing rapids (the length of the hose) instead of a straight drop off.

 

[joiner1970]

Rick you're saying it's the human but why didn't I get shocks from my old ts55 ? I was getting shocks from my new ts55r that I posted about here. Festool changed the swivelling port on the saw and I also found the hose end on my new midi wasn't fitted fully. After this I haven't had a shock since.

Still think it's the human Rick ??

 

[Rick Christopherson]

It doesn't matter what tool you're using; you're still going to have that "waterfall" someplace and are simply relocating it within the static electricity circuit. In the case of the TS55EQ, it is possible that the older dust port was not conductive plastic. If that is true (just speculation) then the waterfall would be located at the tip of the vac hose, which is farther away from your hand.

And yes, the fact that it is the human that is taking the shock means that the human is still the bridge.

A few years ago a company contacted me about their workers getting nasty zaps while sanding at a sanding station. (I'm pretty sure it wasn't related to Festool in any way.) They had tried everything. They were using anti-static hoses. The sanding table was grounded. They even tried putting wrist straps on the workers. Nothing worked and nothing made sense.

Then they sent me a photograph of the setup and I noticed they had some sort of plastic adapter between the sander and the vac hose. That was "their waterfall", and as soon as they eliminated it, their problem went away.

 

[Deansocial]

It doesn't matter what tool you're using; you're still going to have that "waterfall" someplace and are simply relocating it within the static electricity circuit. In the case of the TS55EQ, it is possible that the older dust port was not conductive plastic. If that is true (just speculation) then the waterfall would be located at the tip of the vac hose, which is farther away from your hand.

And yes, the fact that it is the human that is taking the shock means that the human is still the bridge.

A few years ago a company contacted me about their workers getting nasty zaps while sanding at a sanding station. (I'm pretty sure it wasn't related to Festool in any way.) They had tried everything. They were using anti-static hoses. The sanding table was grounded. They even tried putting wrist straps on the workers. Nothing worked and nothing made sense.

Then they sent me a photograph of the setup and I noticed they had some sort of plastic adapter between the sander and the vac hose. That was "their waterfall", and as soon as they eliminated it, their problem went away.

Well like i said static jumps from the metal housing to the hose. Suggesting the dust outlet isnt conductive plastic but mine was changed. Maybe phone festool again to get another replacement.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

Well like i said static jumps from the metal housing to the hose. Suggesting the dust outlet isnt conductive plastic but mine was changed. Maybe phone festool again to get another replacement.

But that's not what your video shows. Your video clearly shows it jumping from your hand to the housing when you specifically placed your knuckle close to the housing.

 

[Deansocial]

No my video doesnt show that.but

Using it today keeping knuckles away from the metal i could see sparks jumping from the metal blade casing to the rubber on the hose.

The day after i posted the above.

 

[#Tee]

holding down the rail with my off hand gives me a shock as well. few months ago i cut carbon fiber sheets and holding the off cut before it fell off and i would get shocks from it too. also maybe its been the weather here as well, its been pretty windy this week.

 

[Davej]

Interesting thread . When I bought my ts55r ( nearly 2 years ago) the first couple of times I used it ( connected to a midi ) I got a static shock . Never had one since , not done anything different.
Dave

 

[Rick Christopherson]

No my video doesnt show that.but

Using it today keeping knuckles away from the metal i could see sparks jumping from the metal blade casing to the rubber on the hose.

The day after i posted the above.

Not to sound too flippant, but if it's not shocking you, where's the problem? The static is just finding whatever path is the shortest. When your knuckle was next to the housing, you were the shortest path.

If all of this is because you're concerned about the Dust Deputy scenario, it's not even in the same ballpark. Those sparks were tens/hundreds of thousands of volts and capable of jumping several inches in air. These sparks are comparable to petting the cat or walking around the carpet, and are barely making it 1/4-inch. The dielectric breakdown of air is 76,200 volts per inch (3MV/M). So Dust Deputy was easily hitting several hundred thousand volts.

 

[Deansocial]

They do shock me when held normally but harder to film as they shock my fingers but cant really film that, some come pretty keen.