Canned air alternative?

I bought both the CO2 compressed air thingy (same canister used for paintball guns) and a battery operated hand-held vacuum and the CO2 is ok but not all that strong and doesn't last very long either. The hand held vacuum completely sucks because the suction is almost non-existant. Friend of mine uses a smallish compressor and that works well but only lasts a few minutes before it needs to charge again.
 
Udo said:
Friend of mine uses a smallish compressor and that works well but only lasts a few minutes before it needs to charge again.
Click to expand...
Shouldn't need more time than that to clean out a computer case. Anyhoo, I usually take my case to the gas station and spray out the dust with their compressor.
 
Volume said:
Shouldn't need more time than that to clean out a computer case.
Click to expand...

You do if you're the one stuck fixing everyone's computers all the time. :D

Those DataVac's look damned cool, I really wish "someone" would demo that thing on YouTube please. ;) ;) ;)

I'm happy with the compressor I bought myself, I blew out my old power supply that hadn't been cleaned in over 5 years. It was full of fine white dust. Well, I thought I'd have to open it to get everything out, but the compressor had power to spare and blowing through the fans grills was enough to quite literally blast everything out of it, and I didn't even really blast it that much. I was impressed, which isn't always that easy. :)

Next week I'll install a new heat sink with the back plate. Normally I wouldn't look forward to this but now that I have the compressor I can't wait to blast everything out for a good spring cleaning. :)

*edit, oh wow, someone did since last time I looked but it's kind of hurtin'. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVIhkxbrnE0
 
Lol, what an idiot that guy is for dusting out his PC case inside and then complaining that the carpet got dusty. I always take mine outside when I use my DataVac. This thread is pretty old and my DataVac still works like new, BTW! It stinks that they've gone up in price, though. I remember getting mine for a little over $40.
 
Vacuun cleaner + this:
$(KGrHqRHJE0E92LQ0jy7BPkyP(zb(g~~60_12.JPG
 
I myself use a shop vac and an assortment of paint brushes to knock the dust loose. Been using this method for several years now and I can't think of a better alternative to CO2.
 
Canned air sucks big time, especially if you want to get the dust out of a system. Plus it is so stupid expensive.

Here is how it goes...
Blow air until can gets cold and pressure goes way down. (about 30-45 seconds)
a. you can wait at least 15 minutes until the can warms back up or you can
b. keep a stash of at least 3-4 cans to reduce the amount of time you have to wait.

Once the cans start getting used up, it gets even worse... not enough pressure, plus they get cold even faster.

Bite the bullet and get an on-sale air compressor with tank from Harbor Freight... pretty much any other brand is going to be way more expensive. (Except for Cambell Hausfeld which I won't touch with a 10-foot pole).

At current canned air prices, you can get a decent compressor for about what you would spend on ~20 cans of air.

I have been using an air compressor for years without any problems.

My compressor pumps the tank up to ~100psi, and the compressor kicks back on once it gets below ~80psi.

You can get a line dryer for pretty cheap if you are worried about water vapor.

I just open up the valve at the botom of the tank when I am done using it to let all the air and moisture out.
 
Shop vac with a blower is a good cheap option. I've used an air compressor to blow out PCs for a years and it works great. Like people have said as far moisture you can get filters and chances are most people will be done blowing out the PC by that time.

I don't use canned air anymore. I think its a waste of money in the long run. An electric blower or compressor is way better value in the long run.
 
qbanb8582 said:
Shop vac with a blower is a good cheap option. I've used an air compressor to blow out PCs for a years and it works great. Like people have said as far moisture you can get filters and chances are most people will be done blowing out the PC by that time.

I don't use canned air anymore. I think its a waste of money in the long run. An electric blower or compressor is way better value in the long run.
Click to expand...

QFT. I used to use an air compressor, but I don't even bother any more. I much prefer to blow out my computers outside instead of the garage, and the little $25 shop vac from I bought from Lowes is allot more convenient to take outside for the job.

Put the hose on the blower side and put the smallest attachment on and you've got a stream of air just as good or better then canned air.
 
Nice bump from 2010!
As #2 said, a paint brush and a vacum cleaner is all you need. I clean my Antec 1200 every 6 months or so and I've been using this method for years. All components come as new like the day they arrived in the box. Try it people you will be surprised!
 
I've been using a small brush attachment on my shop vac for quite some time now. Never had a problem. It was $2 at the local hardware store :)
 
One more vote for the DataVac, one of the best investments in tools I've ever made. The Datavac has cut the time it takes to clean my computers in half. Then there is the savings of not having to buy canned air every month. There are three computers in my household, the cost to clean with canned air can be substantial in a years time, way more than the $50 it costed me to buy the DataVac.
 
I bought a 1/2gal-1gal pancake compressor at walmart years ago(was like $40)

Bought a regulator\filter\drier attachment at harbor frieght, used it for years when doing pc work.

After that I moved to a Metro Datavac duster (like $50-60 on amazon)
Basically it's a handheld blower you plug in.
They also make good vacuums for equipment, Cost $150-250, An idiot at one office tried to use mine to clean up a large toner mess. Ruined my vacuum. Got it serviced then sold it.
 
Undercover_Man said:
Hay, I need to clean my case. I went to the store for canned air and was like :eek:.

So I was thinking of alternatives.

Maybe something like THIS would work. But what about static electricity?

Then I was thinking maybe a small air compressor like used for a car or bike. Maybe something like THIS. Would it create static though?

Then I remembered another form of compressed air. Maybe something like THIS or THIS. Has anyone used something like this? Would it have any bad effects on electronics? But then again as cheap as they are, they are tiny compared to canned air. I wonder any of these would equal 1 can of air. Would it be cost effective I wonder? Cheaper in the long run? Dunno.

Then I thought of another sensitive piece of electronics. Cameras. Photographers use THIS to clean their CCD's, right?

What do you guys think? Would any of these be a cheaper alternative to canned air? Anyone use something I didn't mention?

:confused:
Click to expand...

I actually worked for a mfg of canned air (an OEM for quite a few well known brands), the industry calls it Duster. Man, I'd hate to tell you all how cheap it is to actually make and what we sell it to distributors for. All of your markup comes from the vendors, Target, Wal-Mart, etc... I would suggest looking online for places like MCM Electronics and similar to buy duster at. It's cheaper for sure most of the time than what you can buy it at a big box store or a lot of the online retailers.

Also, you're going to pay more for a can of duster that is non-flammable vs. one that can be flammable at really high temperatures. Watch which ones you purchase. For computers that are turned off...you don't need non-flammable.

The two compressed gases that come in duster is 134a or 152a. The 152a is rated as flammable, but considered very safe under normal conditions.
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
Rogue71 said:
Datavac electric duster. much better than a compressor and pays for itself quite quickly. its as loud as a small vacuum cleaner but it works so well.

http://www.metrovacworld.com/Shoppi...=metrovac&category_name=&product_id=DataVacED
Click to expand...

+1

This is all you need. End of thread. Everyone I've referred this item to have raved about it and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Can be bought on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336502992&sr=8-1
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
I'm all about a compressor, normally. I do have a few cans of air I keep around for the quick jobs.
 
I use a portable compressor i got from low for like 80. Come in handy for other things too.
 
a lot of good information in this thread!

I think I might pull the trigger on the Datavac electric duster
 
I love my DataVac...so much easier and you don't have to deal with the bitterant they put in the compressed air cans. Plus, you get a hell of a lot more CFM. Bought mine for $45 on Amazon with Prime.

Go for it. Just keep in mind, it is incredibly loud. Like 90 dB
 
Another recommendation for the DataVac it is amazing what dust that will blow out. it payed for itself already considering the amount of air I would have to buy.
 
Meleniumshane90 said:
I love my DataVac...so much easier and you don't have to deal with the bitterant they put in the compressed air cans. Plus, you get a hell of a lot more CFM. Bought mine for $45 on Amazon with Prime.

Go for it. Just keep in mind, it is incredibly loud. Like 90 dB
Click to expand...
Yeah I use one too, to clean computers in bulk. I linked to one on Amazon a few pages ago but no one commented. They are superior to air cans because of the unlimited pressure and superior to compressors because there is 0 chance of moisture.
 
I've been using an air compressor, but after seeing the datavac, I might splurge on one of those. Seems like it'd be pretty useful.
 
I use a womans makeup brush. The ones that are for powder. It takes a bit longer but it cheaper than buying canned air all the time.
 
For the longest time, I used my airbrush to blow out my cases. Hooked up to a 20lb CO2 cylinder, dialed the regulator to 80psi- and blew to my heart's content. Totally dry. And the airbrush is small enough that you can get into places and crevices you couldn't with a DataVac- and blow harder than canned air.

Also have the DataVac and like a lot. But noise and heat are minor downsides.
 
Just use whatever you have around the house. I have a compressor, I will use it (rarely since it is in the garage) Most of the time I just use a vacume, I have a little kit that has some very small attachments for the shop vac and it does what I need.
 
Others have touched on these items but just use what you have in your house, you can buy little attachements for any hose vacuum be it a shop vac or a floor vac that have small 1 cm adapters and can clean out in between fan blades, you can reverse the hose to blow. If you have an air compressor the same is true you can buy nozzle kits.

I have both so I use which ever one is closer.

Also some people who ride bikes have little CO2 based inflation devices that can work too.
 
i use colman 120v pump, works great, if i need less air just keep it far and i need more force bring it closer, never had any problems ever with any computer/laptop parts.
5999a426_500.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top