How to mail sensitive electronics (e.g. RAM)?

May 29, 2010 4:53 PM

How to mail sensitive electronics (e.g. RAM)?

Whenever I buy sensitive electronics equipment, like RAM, it always comes packaged in electrostatic discharge protecting materials. I don’t have any of that stuff on hand, however, and I would like to safely mail some RAM. What is the best/safest way to do this?

posted by mazniak to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

Go to a nearby computer store / repair place and ask for one of their discarded antistatic bags?
posted by hattifattener at 5:00 PM on May 29, 2010

Chain office supply stores usually have them as well.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 5:02 PM on May 29, 2010

Best answer: If you can't get your hands on an antistatic bag, tinfoil or the like is a reasonable substitute, other than the possibility of the foil flaking off and sticking to the card.
posted by Rendus at 5:03 PM on May 29, 2010

Best answer: The antistatic bag is necessary too, but don't forget your regular impacts. Make a sandwich of cardboard, bubble wrap, the RAM, bubble wrap, and cardboard. The cardboard spreads impact over a larger area, and the bubble wrap spreads impact over a longer time.
posted by d. z. wang at 7:02 PM on May 29, 2010 [1 favorite]