Newspapers...

[Terminator2000]

I'm looking to package some computer parts.

I was wondering if newspapers are conduits of electricity?

I saw once, how magnetic energy does attract paper somewhere.

But then again, newspaper also comes from trees so its wood.

I want to use the newspaper as cushioning for the computer parts in the box

Think shredded paper.

One person told me that ...
IF ITS NOT METAL IT WILL NOT CONDUCT ELECTRICITY!

if this was true. Then sweaters wouldn't conduct electricity either.

same goes for carpets.

Another person suggested to get a anti static bag, and some dollar store sponges.

Do dollar store sponges carry a risk of conducting electricity, even if just random sparks or static fields?

The computer part I am packaging is EXTREMELY valuable and carries files that are irreplaceable and files that are priceless. (Think family pictures)

There is no backup files for it - if i manage to fry this computer hard drive that I'm trying to have transplanted into another newer comp.

P.S. I asked on another much "younger-oriented" forum and those guys were too immature to give solid and certain answers regarding this issue. (eg. Don't know for certain what they're talking about or not taking the issue seriously enough)

 

[cypherpunk]

If it's really that valuable, use an anti-static bag. Foamy packing material is the industry standard. Shreded paper might work, but if it becomes compact it won't absorb much. If it's REALLY that valuable, you need to back it up.

 

[Terminator2000]

I cant back it up because the motherboard got fried and now im trying to have it transplanted to another newer computer. I already have anti-static bags in supply now. (got them from a computer shop)

Are Foamy packing material or dollar store sponges perfectly safe?

Foamy packing material is the same thing as dollar store spongy things that are used to fill a cardboard box to contain delicate contents (like glass)?

 

[Anynym]

An Anti-static bag is a definite must. To oversimplify what it does, think of it as a "shell" that static charges would rather collect on than pass through.

Shredded paper on its own can hold a static charge, but wouldn't normally cause any problem. The issue would arise if some of the shredded paper worked its way into the fold of the antistatic bag, particularly if it's shifting a lot in transit.

And dollar-store sponges or foamy things would probably work okay, too, but their provenance is unknown and unless you're testing them for their static properties you're dealing with an unknown.

Personally, if I'm using unknown materials I'd rather use cardboard egg cartons, cut to size to avoid too much shifting around.

But at the end, nothing provides an absolute guarantee. Are you willing to live with 99% certainty? 99.99%? I don't know what the actual probabilities of damage might be, but I'd estimate it to be fairly low with common sense precautions.

If it's a hard drive you're shipping, static probably isn't as big an enemy as the (low) likelihood of physical damage to exposed components of the hard drive, by friction or hard shock (e.g. dropping the package): the platters aren't as likely to be damaged by static as would be a controller board.

 

[Rigel7]

As said, antistatic bag is a must. ..and... Don't laugh.. but pop-corn works great for shock absorption. It's cheap; you can make it yourself; if you have extra, you can eat it; or if you are short you can make more; etc.

And, they are bio-degradable.

Great sig pic, btw.