A couple months ago, I was tired of buying those little compressed air canisters (usually costing about $8 bucks a pop) for cleaning my PC components of dust.

I hated how they’d get really cold, causing them to stop blowing air as strong.

I finally bought this air compressor and blower attachment for about $120 ...

http://www.amazon.com/Porter-CMB15-Oil-F...110&sr=8-15

http://www.amazon.com/Air-Blow-Gun-Inter...6733&sr=1-9

At 150 PSI max, this particular model will actually blow labels off of your circuit boards if you’re not careful. It’s powerful, and it doesn’t go into super cool mode like those dang CO2 canisters.

If used outside, it’s a great tool for blowing all the crap out of your computer components and power supply.

I’d recommend a bigger air tank than 1.5 gallons though since this model takes a little while to recharge between bursts. Not long though ... I usually just take a beer out onto the patio while I’m doing this to my two PCs

If you have a need to drive some pneumatic tools, this would be the perfect excuse to buy a bigger unit but I think it would be wise to stick with an oil-free compressor for blowing off computer components.

CO2 canisters?

The duster cans are usually either tetra- or di- fluoroethane.

1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, FWIW, is probably what your car uses as AC refrigerant - R134a.

The amusing side fact of that is for many years we here in WI couldn't buy R134a for recharging our car's AC due to environmental concerns...yet they let us blow off duster gas by the case.

(We can now...finally...buy it for recharging cars)

Sorry mister science

It just seemed like CO2 to me. I guess I should’ve said Difluoroethane lol.

I use a compressor with airgun too.

Some care is needed since as already mentioned it's quite possible to cause damage.

I'm always surprised how much dust comes flying out.

A bicycle pump will work fine too. Floor-type. Or one of those general purpose foot pumps would work too.

Been working with computers for 15 years and i've always used a vacuum cleaner =P Haven't fried anything yet. =D

Lucky you! That's dangerous IMHO if the computer is grounded. I've seen sparks fly from the vacuum nozzle to the video card for instance, and yes I had to get a new card. Ouch. Dumb move on my part.


This is what I use - works on the sprinkler lines, too -


I disconnect the puters and take them outside to blow out. It's amazing how much dust flies out after 6 months.


WC

I use a vacuum and micro tools too, have for many years. Compressed air for tight places, but that's not good to use for everything as it can force dust into places it couldn't get on its own making things worse.

Hope you guys are running water traps on those compressors. They will develop moisture in the line. You don't want to be spraying that all over the inside of your computer.

Nice compressor WC.

Greyryder, I understand your concern about moisture developing but I’m talking about using affordable air compressors that can be easily kept inside out of the weather and can be completely drained at the end of a session. Switch it on, let it charge, give it a couple warning shots and it’s good to go.

Where dust is concerned, I think it’s way better to blow than to suck

Vacuum cleaners ain’t gunna cut it when it comes to getting dust out of your enclosed video cards, power supplies and CPU fans. I find they do a nice job on circuit boards with a brush attachment, but you have to remove the boards to do a good job. I’m too lazy.

A bicycle pump will definitly not cut it either LOL!

I have usually used compressed air, but I never did like that the dust just clouds in the air to settle somewhere else. So I have the vacuum hose in hand, sucking up the clouds of dust I raise with the canned air.

Now as for the warnings above about vacuums and static discharge... I've not seen it (or even considered it before) myself, but it certainly a risk I think.

Do it outside, on a dry day.