Abstract: A plastics material covered metal electrode maintains an electrostatic field dissipating the particles of fine dry powdered dielectric material such as flour or starch to create a cloud or dry mist of the powder in the path of freshly inked sheets as they are discharged from a printing press to prevent smudging of the ink and sticking together of the successive sheets as they are stacked. The electrostatic field is formed across the path of the powder as it is discharged from a supply trough by energizing the electrode with a high voltage current. The plastic covered electrode replaces heretofore required neon gas filled glass tubes which are fragile and burn out. The preferred plastic covering for the electrode is a thermoplastic polyetherimide resin marketed under the name of "Ultem" by General Electric Company of Pittsfield, Mass.