"tiny polystyrene balls" Topic

G'day…..
Some of the figure suppliers pack the cardboard boxes with very tiny micro poly balls…… and they get EVERYWHERE.
Can any one suggest a way of removing them from the "lucky dip" box of figures in a tidy & controlled manner without the things flying all over (tried the vaccuum, soon clogged up!)
Ta

would static electricity work?

or would that repel instead of attract?

…. attraction is one of the problems … they attach to clothing, sides of the box, bristles on the brushes, even the plastic of a scoop!

Be careful.

Those fine little micro balls are an inhalation hazard.

…… too late,!

I would try using one of the rollers with sticky tape that people use to remove pet hair from clothing and furniture.

attraction is one of the problems

I was hoping they might be MORE attracted to a charged comb or balloon

I hate those things.

Electrostatic charge is the issue.

I suspect PS balls would be negatively charge, so a positive charge would attract them. The will run up a metal tool if placed in a container of them. That is do to stabilizing the charge. A positive ion source or anti-static device might help.
Here are some use guides, which do not look very helpful:
PDF link

PDF link

I have tried exactly none of these methods, so tell us if any of them work:

Put a stocking or sock over the vacume. Suck. Place end of vacume over another box and turn it off. Brush the collected balls off the stocking/sock into the collection box.

Rub the minis with a dryer sheet (that's supposed to get rid of static electricity).

Open your box of minis. Dig in and remove a mini. Pour water over your mini and hand. The water should wash the balls off and should leach out of the box. Hopefully this will keep the balls in the box which can be disposed of once it dries out.

thanks. I'll give it a try. Better they were not used at all !

Maybe wash the minis under running water?

I had to contend with this, as was said above water will "dispel" the effect so to speak. The force of the water gets them off the mini and there's nothing for the ball to cling to.

I misunderstood the OP, a shop vac if you have one or access too would work.

anti-static spray?

When I saw the title of this thread I was afraid it would be about some anatomical dysfunction.