JFETs can be destroyed by the touch?

[Unkn0wn Art1st]

Is it true that JFETs can be destroyed by the touch, or is it only applies to MOSFETs? Maybe I should not be cautious, avoiding discharges of static electricity when working with JFETs?

[R.G.]

Static electricity discharges are not good for any semiconductor. That's why all the parts you get from the bigger distributors are in antistatic bags.

But they are only sudden death to MOS devices. This includes MOSFETs, and pretty much any logic chip you buy, as these are almost universally CMOS technology now.  Bipolars tend to only degrade slightly with being punctured by static as long as the delivered energy in the discharge is small enough to not overheat the tiny area of the semiconductor that is reverse broken.

It's a good idea not to static any of them. But deadlier for some than others.

[Unkn0wn Art1st]

So binding of hands and copper with wire connected to ground, as I usual do, is not so bad?

Wow, you have >10000 posts

[R.G.]

So binding of hands and copper with wire connected to ground, as I usual do, is not so bad?

No, not so bad at all. As a matter of safety, you should put a 1M resistor in series with that wire connected to ground. That's low enough that static can't build up, but high enough that if you happen to contact an AC live wire, you won't (necessarily!) be electrocuted because you're tied to ground with a solid wire. That's what the pros do when working at a "static safe" workstation.

Wow, you have >10000 posts

Wow. I feel old... 

[fpaul]

if you happen to contact an AC live wire, you won't (necessarily!) be electrocuted

Thanks for that, I'll continue my bad habit of not grounding myself while I work.  No problems yet with any device failures.

Might do it if I ever use a Mosfet though.

[Paul Marossy]

if you happen to contact an AC live wire, you won't (necessarily!) be electrocuted

Thanks for that, I'll continue my bad habit of not grounding myself while I work.  No problems yet with any device failures.

Might do it if I ever use a Mosfet though.

I've been building stuff for about nine years now, and I don't do any of those anti-static precautions. I have never had a part go bad due to static electricity. Last year I built about 285 pedals, no problems with any of them as far as the active components go.

But I work in a room with a wood floor and I generally wear cotton clothing all the time. It's hard for any static to build up in that environment.

[alparent]

Wow, you have >10000 posts
Wow. I feel old...  

Wow! You have 10056 posts and R.G. only as 10007.  Does that mean your older?  

What about Mark Hammer 15369 posts.......How old can HE be?

[Paul Marossy]

RG is older than me. And his knowledge of all things electronic makes me like a newborn baby in comparison. I guess I just talk a lot and/or always have an opinion to throw in the mix.