Canned air vs. blower

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I was going to ask if anyone knew of a good cheap source of canned air( I just hate that I can walk into a dollar store and get 16 oz can of spray wax, window cleaner, bubbly bathrooom stuff etc. for a buck, but am charged $6-$9 for 10oz can of well AIR. Well I know may the propellant is more costly than wax and quite a bit less propellant. But still…. My box is waaaay due for a good cleaning so I was looking for the best price on canned air to replace the one I am sure to use up. I came across a 2 wire a/c blower for sale w/ excellent reviews, mfr link https://www.metrovacworld.com/DataVac_Electric_Duster Has any one tried this option ??

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If you have a portable air compressor lying around the garage that’ll do the trick quite nicely, …and then some.
If not, smile, and get the canned air and pay 6 to 9 dollars for it.

Another excellent alternative would be the dishwasher. Just make certain; 1. the temperature doesn’t exceed melting point of
plastics, 2. the water isn’t too hard, and finally, 3. you dry everything really well in the sun, on the dash of your vehicle
for a few days, at least.

The dishwasher bit is an effective red neck solution, which I’m told works surprisingly well for cigarette smoke.

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Another excellent alternative would be the dishwasher. Just make certain; 1. the temperature doesn’t exceed melting point of
plastics, 2. the water isn’t too hard, and finally, 3. you dry everything really well in the sun, on the dash of your vehicle
for a few days, at least.

The dishwasher bit is an effective red neck solution, which I’m told works surprisingly well for cigarette smoke.

I don’t know of any rednecks who would put electronics in the dishwasher.

I do, however, know a mechanic who pressure washes the ignition coils when he cleans your engine. He ruined mine when he did that.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 8.1 running in a VM

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I don’t know of any rednecks who would put electronics in the dishwasher.

I do, however, know a mechanic who pressure washes the ignition coils when he cleans your engine. He ruined mine when he did that.

Maybe not personally, but you know me. I’ve used a dishwasher; no detergent, just water. I’ve also used the shower. Gently shake off excess water, then let dry a minimum of 72 hours.

I rescued, among other things, a keyboard that had hot chocolate spilled on it. Successfully cleaned a CPU that had thermal paste on some pins. I wouldn’t recommend it on a hard disk drive, though.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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If you have a portable air compressor lying around the garage that’ll do the trick quite nicely, …and then some.
If not, smile, and get the canned air and pay 6 to 9 dollars for it.

Another excellent alternative would be the dishwasher. Just make certain; 1. the temperature doesn’t exceed melting point of
plastics, 2. the water isn’t too hard, and finally, 3. you dry everything really well in the sun, on the dash of your vehicle
for a few days, at least.

The dishwasher bit is an effective red neck solution, which I’m told works surprisingly well for cigarette smoke.

I am not kidding, I have used a hand held leaf blower. Take the PC Tower out to the patio, stay far enough away to control the air pressure on internal parts, aim carefully and see the dust billowing out. Follow up with an “Air Rocket” to finish small leftover dust.

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This seems like a need with a simple solution. Why isn’t someone selling a small air compressor/blower for cleaning computers? There are small vacuum cleaners available for cleaning computer key boards. A small compressor/blower would cost maybe $15-20, which would be a lot less than buying a can of air every month. Is there a conspiracy with the canned air makers to block anyone from making a small air compressor/blower?

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Ken,

??Isn’t that how this thread got started???

https://www.metrovacworld.com/DataVac_Electric_Duster

Zig

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I think I will pass on the dish washer, the detergent used would be way too caustic and I might want to use the computer the same week. And thank goodness I no longer have to worry about the smoke.

Ah seeing your sig reminds me I want to find just what cpu chipset I put it forementioned box.

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Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Canned; but, bigger can. This is what I just bought, but, I have enough tasks to justify the cost.

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FUN, Don’t air compressors use some air-tool oil? Unless the outflow is filtered, that would not be good for use on electronics.
As long as you’re on the Wal-Mart site, I’ve always bought my cans of air there. A 10oz. can was always $4.96, but now they sell them in 2-paks; don’t remember the exact price, but it’s still the best buy on canned air.

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FUN, Don’t air compressors use some air-tool oil? Unless the outflow is filtered, that would not be good for use on electronics.

Most of the really loud consumer-grade compressors are oil-less and say so on their labels. But you should have a filter, or at least a water separator on the output even for use with normal air tools. Compressing air squeezes out the water and it can come out through the hose. This is even more important for consumers who don’t use their tools every day. They can get moisture in them which then sits around inside the tool until the next time you use it.

I currently have two compressors and have worn out others before these, so using compressed air is no biggie for me. But to buy a compressor just to save buying a can or two of compressed air a year doesn’t sound like wise economics to me.

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i use a vacuum cleaner to clean computers. Some people claim vacuum cleaners generate staic electricity which could be bad for your PC but I leave everything plugged in (except the mains power) to provide discharge paths and have never had a problem.

cheers, Paul

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That is an interesting package, if I lived in a house with a nice basement or garage I might jump on it. But as it is I am running out of space with things scattered all about, I am in fact taking the next 3 days off to try to get a bit more organized and clean up my act. The blower is a managible size. I will be using my last can of air this weekend but I am thinking of ordering the blower tommorow. ( I was wondering if I could just wait for a windy day and blow all the dust round my home in the air and let the wind blow it away. (Hey Clint hows that for a red neck solution ?? ) I just resolved a point of confusion on my part: It is FF on my Mint install that does not seem to be spell checking, it is working on my XP box) As for the cost , well maybe I’ll need a part time job after I retire.
Thanks for the feedback, I will let you know the outcome.

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Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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( I was wondering if I could just wait for a windy day and blow all the dust round my home in the air and let the wind blow it away. (Hey Clint hows that for a red neck solution ?? )

One of the other reasons I bought the compressor; hundreds of books in a bunch of bookcases…the tops of the books get all loaded up with dust and it’s a huge pain to clean them all…put a fan by a window blowing out and start blowing is the idea.

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Mmm and I do have a big a&& floor fan and lots of nooks and crannies it is ulikely to get a good dusting ny other way. I maybe should invest in a dust mask too :rolleyes:

I will order when I get home.

Best to all David

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I don’t know of any rednecks who would put electronics in the dishwasher.

It’s not uncommon to place keyboards in the dishwasher, in fact, the common household dishwasher has many
off label uses, many of which I’m sure you don’t want to know about.
Of course, everyone and their dog will warn you away from it, but it’s completely doable;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKUFMYe75Bw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp8VApocfKQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahhSDEgkqQ8

BTW, I’ve put dirty fans in the dishwasher before, and they turned out just fine. The trick is to really ensure they’re dried.

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It’s not uncommon to place keyboards in the dishwasher, in fact, the common household dishwasher has many
off label uses, many of which I’m sure you don’t want to know about.
Of course, everyone and their dog will warn you away from it, but it’s completely doable;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKUFMYe75Bw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp8VApocfKQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahhSDEgkqQ8

BTW, I’ve put dirty fans in the dishwasher before, and they turned out just fine. The trick is to really ensure they’re dried.

Dude….I watched all 3 video’s….I’m flabbergasted, I can’t believe my eyes. I tell you what….I’m game to try it….just to say I’ve done it.

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Watched them too, ok w/ a bit of ff. Seeing is believing :o: I still gotta question the long term effects of the caustic detergent and what about vented caps? As the third guy said “if you have nothing to lose..”

I do remember reading about a guy who kept a spare keyboard in his swimming pool. I have just washed keyboards. And then taken them apart to find water where I am convinced it would have been a month later, except in the hot Arizona sun.

I am still coveting that compressor, same day at w***m*** . Oh my another toy, and I am still playing with my cheap, chinese walkytalky……….

And I am watching videos instead of cleaning.

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Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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I wouldn’t have believed it if only one person said it, but there seems to be some agreement about the “redneck” dishwasher method.

I will use it as a last resort, but I will use it if necessary.

Duck Dynasty comes to mind at about this time.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 8.1 running in a VM

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I wouldn’t have believed it if only one person said it, but there seems to be some agreement about the “redneck” dishwasher method.

I will use it as a last resort, but I will use it if necessary.

Duck Dynasty comes to mind at about this time.

Fred Langa has used and recommended the method. His example was a floppy drive – and it worked.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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If you don’t have a hot and dry climate, then forget all about cleaning your computer parts in the dishwasher.
Southwest US in the summer, great. They dry well with a towel on the dash of an old vehicle.
But in a humid place like the UK, any time of the year, no way.

If you are going to try something like this, I wouldn’t exactly recommend on state of the art devices.
Old obsolete computers are fair game.

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If you don’t have a hot and dry climate, then forget all about cleaning your computer parts in the dishwasher.

I guess that rules out Duck Dynasty, the ultimate rednecks!

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 8.1 running in a VM

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Since I had heard about using the dishwasher to clean keyboards, etc. I washed a remote for the dvd player under the sink, and it don’t work any more. But I had heard about cleaning keyboard in the dishwasher, no problemo.

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Florida is quite humid, but then again, we have air conditioning, so the times I’ve used dishwasher/shower, I’ve simply hung the part(s) in a room with fishing line for three days. But there’s also the “rice dryer”. Cover the part in uncooked rice in a sealable container; the rice will absorb any moisture.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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But there’s also the “rice dryer”. Cover the part in uncooked rice in a sealable container; the rice will absorb any moisture.

Won’t some of the rice kernels get under the keys?

Jerry

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Won’t some of the rice kernels get under the keys?

Jerry

That would depend on the keyboard, but even if that were to happen, the rice could be removed. Most “keys” are snap-fit plastic caps over the actual mechanism, and can be snapped off and then back on.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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How about beans?

BTW is there a way to change the default font in this reply box?

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Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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How about beans?

BTW is there a way to change the default font in this reply box?

I haven’t tried beans. As for the font, there is a dropdown at the top of the reply box labeled “Font”. There are a number of options available.[/SIZE][/FONT]

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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I am basically a lazy bum and wanted to know if there is a way to change the default. maybe greasemonkey??

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Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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You can pick up a used refrigerator motor, clean it up and use it for a blower. Just make sure to flush the motor out. Works well and forever.

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Yes, some do, mostly the bigger garage or industrial sized ones, but I suppose some smaller ones might as well, especially older ones. That’s a good thing to verify before purchase I reckon if to be used for electronics and sundry other uses around the home. Mostly the smaller ones are heck-a-loud when running the compressor so that can be the main drawback.

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I’d be a bit loathsome to go out of my way to purchase an air compressor just for dusting the computer,
but having one around (in the garage) for other uses as well (power tools/tire air filler) would be the most ideal for tear-down cleaning of the computer.
There are even small adaptors one could get to focus the air.

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Oh, the other thing about cleaning your computer with compressed air: do it outside.

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Most of the electronics you use in daily life have basically already gone through a dishwasher after their soldering process. It’s not such a big deal with solid state circuitry. As long as you make sure it is dry before you power it up. You can even dry it in an oven with just the light turned on. But don’t use the microwave!

I used to work for a company, back in the mid-’80s which produced some of the most reliable business computers made at the time. (Big multi-rack sized ones.) We had multiple processor boards which plugged into a backplane. One Friday we received a whole batch of those boards which had not been cleaned. The flow-solder contractor said we could send them back and he’d have them to us by Tuesday, but we needed to ship later that week after an extensive testing and burn-in process. I asked how he cleaned them and he said they used what was basically the same as a large dishwasher. So I had our rework lady remove all caps and switch blocks and I took them in to the break room and ran them through the dishwasher. Afterwards she replaced those removed components (with new ones, of course.) It worked perfectly, we shipped on time, and they never came back.

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Yes sir, so the dishwasher deal isn’t too terribly far off base, with a few notable exception, you should at least know what you are doing…
Like taking some of your components off the board prior to washing them, knowing your washers temperature specs, cleaning solution specs,
water mineral content, and drying factors.

There are even some experiments (Intel) being done with entire boards being run while immersed in liquid for cooling effectiveness.
But I imagine these are specialty designs.

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I forgot to mention that those boards I washed in the dishwasher sold for $18K/each. 🙂

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i have run a keyboard thru the dishwasher, too.

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A vacuum cleaner will not generate any more static than an air compressor nozzle. It is safe to blow static onto rlrctronics because everything is well grounded and any charge will blwwd off in a few minutes, the problem with static is drawing a spark from electronics to your body which zaps junctions.
Just blow it out and let it sit for 5 minutes.

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take the cover off the pc and jam something (small screwdriver or something like that) in the blades of the all fans in the system, i.e. chip fans, power supply, grahpics fans (to keep them from over spooling) and the blow the pc out with an air compressor. i give the factory (very dusty) pcs a (blowjob) about every six months.

http://www.piriform.com/download i use a free version of ‘speccy’ to find out all the specs of a pc

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Well still did not buy it. Filleted my self a bit making corned beef and cabbage. It was a carrot that did it, a baby carrot.
Thanks for all the feed back.

steve that price does look crazy.

wiley I have heard that about ball bearing fans being damaged by compressed air rotating them too fast. I can’t get my head around why that should be but I have seen it often enough to believe it. I must say before I learned of the possibility I failed to noticeably destroy any multiple times :rolleyes:

It has also been said that a dull knife is more dangerous that a sharp knife… well I am wishing that knife was a lot duller ( or maybe sharp enough to not roll of the carrot on to my careless finger.

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Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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There’s a youtube demo of the Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ2OA8NT2HE

Looks pretty powerful, I’m coveting one as well, though in Australia it’s looking pretty expensive:
http://www.bacs.com.au/shop/ProductInfo_BACS.aspx?productid=69060

There’s a lengthy discussion of various blow & suck options here:
http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread/?t=1026788&page=2

I’d really prefer something like this:
36504-web.LAP-4100-HERO-web-BG
because I could pump up my bicycle tires with it too. Doesn’t look like this one’s currently being sold though.

Asus N53SM & N53SN 64-bit laptops (Win7 Pro & Win10 Pro 64-bit multiboots), venerable HP Pavilion t760 32-bit desktop (XP & Win7 Pro multiboot), Oracle VirtualBox VM's: XP & Win7 32-bit, XP Mode, aged Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy Tab A 2019s (8" & 10.1"), Blu-ray burners, digital cameras, ext. HDDs (latest 5TB!), AnyDVD, Easeus ToDo Backup Home, Waterfox, more. Me: Aussie card-carrying Windows geek.

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You may want to try blowing into a straw. Since I started doing this, I haven’t bought a single can of compressed air. The device looks good in the picture–if you need a more powerful stream of air, this would probably be a good solution.

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Get a Shop-Vac. They’re not too expensive (I found mine on Craigslist for $30) and they are very handy for all kinds of cleaning around the house, shop, etc. It can be a vac and blower. It blows at high enough pressure to clean PC’s effectively or use it as a a strong vacuum.

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I use the wife’s hair drier and of course set on cool works just fine and cheap too. But system you posted is a good choice to.

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Trigger pulled on blower, i will update in a couple of weeks….. :p

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Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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OOK Well Fedup er Fedex must have changed their schedule again, I nearly tripped over it on my way to work. The unit has a pleasingly hefty feel to it. And it sure blows! I was demonstrating it to a co-worker and blew a bunch of papers thumb tacked to the all over. I am pleased so far.

PS
Just a note I am sure FF spell check on an older FF works here at home but not 23 on Linux??? It is enabled in settings.

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Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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