Cleaning the inside of your computer...

[trparky]

Let's get a show of hands here. Who hates cleaning out their PCs? Who hates having to use those stupid cans of compressed air that eventually freezes the shit out of your hands? Yeah... we all do!

So I was looking at some alternatives to using cans of compressed air and I found something on Amazon. It works like a vacuum but in reverse, it pushes air instead of... sucking.

I was thinking about buying this since my case always seems to get dirty as hell with dust (don't ask, I have a very dusty environment) but I got to thinking about some possible negatives and I thought to ask here. I know when cleaning computer parts you have to worry about static build-up and even possible moisture build-up as well. I have to wonder if using such a product on your PC is even close to being safe to use.

What's your thoughts?

 

[therealmeep]

For that price pick up a cheap harbor freight air compressor instead of that mini leaf blower. Much more pressure, its like having a really high pressure air can without ever having to refill it.

 

[Aenra]

My first thought was that this is an advertizing plant.
My second thought was about another forum, where the same plant had made two accounts, and they were discussing the same product with one another.

In the off chance this is legit however, any 400+ Watt blower will do. They are also (surprise!) about half the price of what the OP linked.

 

[trparky]

No advertising here man, I'm just wanting to know if it's even safe to use. I personally hate using those cans of compressed air.

I can't help but to think that if you were to use such a device on your computer it would be a good idea to hold your fans in place before directing the air into it so as to possibly prevent your fan's bearings from being shot.

Any suggestions on another cleaning tool? Why I ask is that JayzTwoCents on YouTube talked this product on his YouTube channel.

 

[Aenra]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003DT2LTI/?tag=tec06d-20

Good enough, half the price.
As to the fans, yes; ideally, they need be secured before you start blowing. Optimally, you detach the fins entirely and when you're done, assemble it all back again.

edit: Do NOT buy a strong blower. There are limits, especially if you will be blowing radiators.

 

[jboydgolfer]

Let's get a show of hands here. Who hates cleaning out their PCs? Who hates having to use those stupid cans of compressed air that eventually freezes the shit out of your hands? Yeah... we all do!
What's your thoughts?

I'll tell You what ive recommended to Many others. you can keep buying those expensive cans of chemical air, or You can spend $30-$60 depending on model, seller, etc, and buy a Shop Vac, most will allow you to not only suck up debris, but also allow You to plug the hose into the Exhaust, which in turn, gives you a powerful source of air(like a compressor, but not as overpowering), and You cna use it for other things too. Ive been doing this for 20 + years, and it works great,just remember like with ANY source of high powered air, hold your fans from spinning @ speeds higher than they were designed to , and also, be careful of blowing capacitors off(why i dont use a compressor, ive seen it happen 1st hand)

if You dont want fans spinning , just take a tissue, or paper towel, and stuff it in the blades, it wont spin, and then remove when your done.

 

[Solaris17]

harbor freight air compressor

this is what i did. get like a 3gal pancake and call it done.

 

[Aenra]

And as to JayZ and his channel.. you seen his car? Someone had to pay for it

Don't get something extremely powerful, you will damage your components. Don't fall for the antistatic, special air mixture cons, they do nothing good ole plain work won't do.
And lastly, nothing will help if you're lazy. Do it regularly, do it methodically and you won't ever need anything special.

And while not strictly related to cleaning and blowers, your number one ally against dust is a good airflow. Case + fan locations + intake/outtake.

 

[dorsetknob]

1st of all please do not double post "MODS FROWN and SLAP WRISTS "
Next

Any suggestions on another cleaning tool? Why I ask is that JayzTwoCents on YouTube talked this product on his YouTube channel.

maybe Because they paid him in some form or other

12V Car Emergency Tire inflator/Pump can be used effectively along with fine bristle paint brushes

 

[trparky]

buy a Shop Vac, most will allow you to not only suck up debris, but also allow You to plug the hose into the Exhaust, which in turn, gives you a powerful source of air (like a compressor, but not as overpowering), and You cna use it for other things too. Ive been doing this for 20 + years

I always thought you shouldn't use a shopvac because of possible static buildup.

 

[jboydgolfer]

I always thought you shouldn't use a shopvac because of possible static buildup.

I can't see where the static would come from. With a traditional vac it has a beater bar with Brissels that it spins over the carpet to remove hair and other debris, but with the shop vac the motor is housed in the lid or top and all you have is a hose in your hand no moving parts.it uses a drum fan similar to want to car uses for the venting system in the dashboard. It basically looks like a small bucket with vented sides and it spins at high-speed to push air but there's no static I've ever experienced.

You don't have to go with this method obviously. But I've been doing this for a long time and if Personal experience is worth anything then I'd go with what my suggestion is for maybe one of the others in the end it's up to you

 

[Tallencor]

Iso and q tips. I actually like cleaning my hardware.

 

[jboydgolfer]

Iso and q tips. I actually like cleaning my hardware.

Qtips!!?
damn, that must take a while.

For cleanign i use air, then for the fans, i allow them to spin up with the High speed air, while i hold a smal paint brush against the Fan blades, which removes any and all dust from them, real fast pro tip

 

[trog100]

i blast mine and other stuff that gets dusty with a garage air compressor 60 psi or so.. put a finger on the fans to stop them spinning and blast away.. i havnt broken anything yet..

crud that build up on fan blades literally needs scraping off.. no blasting gets that off..

trog

 

[Vario]

I use a Metro DataVac ED500 and it is one of the best purchases I have made. I don't run filters anymore, so my case gets more airflow and every couple weeks I just blast the whole thing out and it looks brand new.

 

[jboydgolfer]

I guess the way I look at it as well as any other purchases in my life that I make is, if I can buy something that can be used for more than one purpose I do. Or if I can accomplish my task with something I have already purchased I also do.

For example, I wouldn't buy a little tiny computer vacuum mainly because they pretty much don't have any other purpose( other than maybe cleaning out your easy bake oven). So I have an item that's great at doing what it's intended to,but does nothing else. If we bought everything in our lives that way , we'd have billions of things piled up around our home.

. I normally buy a new vacuum every 10 years or so and they last ,and work great. It's certainly not the only way but it's just the way that I have found is the easiest. Ultimately, One day I had to clean my computer and I saw my shop vac and figured what the hell I might as well use this it just so happens that was a good choice.

At the end of the day it all depends on what's easiest for you. Also what do you have lying around the house now.

 

[biffzinker]

I use a Metro DataVac ED500 and it is one of the best purchases I have made. I don't run filters anymore, so my case gets more airflow and every couple weeks I just blast the whole thing out and it looks brand new.

Went with the Metro Datavac MDV-1BA for myself. Works as a blower and vacuum although it gets more use as a dust blower.

Metro Vacuum MDV-1BA DataVac Pro 4.5-AMP Computer Vac/Blower

 

[dorsetknob]

Also what do you have lying around the house now.

Or Garage/workshop

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

I used to buy cans of compressed air from Poundland, then i saw one of these on the shelf

you can play it like a bagpipe which leaves both hands free, it works really well.

 

[newtekie1]

this is what i did. get like a 3gal pancake and call it done.

Yep, exactly. Their little 3gal oil-less compressors are usually for sale for $30-40 and do the job wonderfully. Plus they are useful for a bunch of other stuff too!

 

[Vario]

I guess the way I look at it as well as any other purchases in my life that I make is, if I can buy something that can be used for more than one purpose I do. Or if I can accomplish my task with something I have already purchased I also do.

For example, I wouldn't buy a little tiny computer vacuum mainly because they pretty much don't have any other purpose( other than maybe cleaning out your easy bake oven). So I have an item that's great at doing what it's intended to,but does nothing else. If we bought everything in our lives that way , we'd have billions of things piled up around our home.

. I normally buy a new vacuum every 10 years or so and they last ,and work great. It's certainly not the only way but it's just the way that I have found is the easiest. Ultimately, One day I had to clean my computer and I saw my shop vac and figured what the hell I might as well use this it just so happens that was a good choice.

At the end of the day it all depends on what's easiest for you. Also what do you have lying around the house now.

I use the little blower for a lot of used things I sell on ebay, its good for getting rid of dust for a good photograph. I've found I use it a lot actually. I have a shop vac as well, this ed500 is less work to use since its so small. I think shop vacs and vacs in general generate static from air moving through the plastic hose, don't think it matters however.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

That thing in no way is equal to"high pressure" as claimed. There are small case fans that put out more than 70 CFM. I say avoid.

I have a 3 gal hotdog tank air compressor I bought at Home Depot a long time ago. It's called the Quiet Air and is quieter than my vacuum. It puts out 100 PSI Max (more like consistent 95), and came with a coiled hose for about $73. I added a trigger nozzle and tire chuck, which brought it to about $85.

I also added a small $10 in line moister filter I got on eBay between the hose and nozzle. The compressor is oiless with a Teflon piston, so I was skeptical whether I'd notice any difference spraying a white sheet of paper, and honestly I didn't.

I just pull my under counter cutting board out and put it on top of the stove burners, then yank the filter screen out of my range hood and turn the fan on high. It makes a great place to blow it out without filling the place full of dust.

 

[Jetster]

Pro tip: When the can freezes just run hot tap water over the can for 20 sec.

I just pull my under counter cutting board out and put it on top of the stove burners, then yank the filter screen out of my range hood and turn the fan on high. It makes a great place to blow it out without filling the place full of dust.

I like that idea

 

[hat]

Shop vac. Most have a blower port that works great for this. Get a cheap one at Walmart for $20.

 

[FireFox]

I have this one: