Is this safe for dust removal?

[MrSamHideki]

Hi

Been a while since ive logged in but after purchasing a new build from Scan, which i love. Im having issues with dust, it does have dust filters but small particles get in and after about 4-6 months small layer build's up. Ive used air compressors but they are not effective. They just disperse the dust in the air and they just settle else where. My question is this safe for use? Bear in mind i wont be using this close to my Rig, will be stood away from it just in case and i really don't like breathing or knowing dead skin is touching me.

Thanks in adv

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/800W-Varia...0AAOSw9N1VrOH8

[kalniel]

and i really don't like breathing

Dust is probably the least of your issues..

Can't check link at work so don't know what you're referring to. I would have thought you could use compressed air to sweep dust out of the case rather than just dispersing it elsewhere - I guess you could use a vaccum cleaner held some distance away while you disperse the dust using compressed air. I do that, but use an old toothbrush rather than compressed air.

[Smudger]

It looks like a garden vac, seems a bit overkill for what you need...

[DanceswithUnix]

Have you looked at an air ioniser? Sprays electrons into the air, dust gets charged up and sticks to the nearest bit of wall/floor/ceiling. You end up cleaning the wall quite a lot near the thing, but it strips a lot of dust out of the air.

For getting existing dust out, I just use compressed air but take the thing outside first or dust goes everywhere.

[kalniel]

Have you looked at an air ioniser? Sprays electrons into the air, dust gets charged up and sticks to the nearest bit of wall/floor/ceiling. You end up cleaning the wall quite a lot near the thing, but it strips a lot of dust out of the air.

For getting existing dust out, I just use compressed air but take the thing outside first or dust goes everywhere.

Wouldn't that also help it stick to the inside of a computer?

[Ttaskmaster]

I use a 140psi air compressor, outside where you can blow all the dust clearly away. Works great on filters and meshes and fans (hold them still) and the case in general.
This is supplemented by a ½" paintbrush for removing all the surface layer dust.

You do need to do this outside or in an open space like your garage, opening your PC up as much as possible - Panels off, meshes off, front panel off, as much as is practical. Crack out a screwdriver, if needs be.

I'd not ever use that blower, as it doesn't look like it'll focus the air enough.
I'd also dust out once a month, rather than just twice a year - To me, that's like not doing the washing up for weeks and then wondering why your plates have gone mouldy!

[peterb]

I just use a nozzle on a vacuum cleaner.

[stevie lee]

I use a 140psi air compressor, outside where you can blow all the dust clearly away. Works great on filters and meshes and fans (hold them still) and the case in general.
This is supplemented by a ½" paintbrush for removing all the surface layer dust.

You do need to do this outside or in an open space like your garage, opening your PC up as much as possible - Panels off, meshes off, front panel off, as much as is practical. Crack out a screwdriver, if needs be.

I'd not ever use that blower, as it doesn't look like it'll focus the air enough.
I'd also dust out once a month, rather than just twice a year - To me, that's like not doing the washing up for weeks and then wondering why your plates have gone mouldy!

I used to do that ^ but the place where I worked, the council closed it
just to add, because its highly compressed air, it also compresses the water vapour, so if its humid or a bit muggy out, the nozzle acts like a water pistol.
I used to spray the air through a cloth and/or off to the side a bit to get rid of the vapour first.

unless you want compressed water being forced into your PSU


now I just take the computer apart and use a paintbrush.

[DanceswithUnix]

Wouldn't that also help it stick to the inside of a computer?

No, because it wouldn't get into the computer it would head for the nearest surface. Makes a right mess of the nearest wall if you put it close to one, but electrostatic forces are pretty impressive.

[AETAaAS]

Hi

Been a while since ive logged in but after purchasing a new build from Scan, which i love. Im having issues with dust, it does have dust filters but small particles get in and after about 4-6 months small layer build's up. Ive used air compressors but they are not effective. They just disperse the dust in the air and they just settle else where. My question is this safe for use? Bear in mind i wont be using this close to my Rig, will be stood away from it just in case and i really don't like breathing or knowing dead skin is touching me.

Thanks in adv

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/800W-Varia...0AAOSw9N1VrOH8

Yes, I used to use a blower like that for my PC before I properly started using filtered intakes. You can get up close with a blower like that (even up to a few centimeters) and it will be fine, you are extremely unlikely do damage anything as it doesn't blow hard enough. You do need to blow in the opposite direction to the usual flow across a heatsink, so for a GPU for example, blow through the exhaust at the back or from the sides, otherwise you might not be able to dislodge thick dust clogs. Similar for the CPU cooler, and you would be better off blowing into a PSU from the back.

You are unlikely to damage your fans unless you get really close with it because most of the time, it won't even spin the fan anyway. The only time I got anything to spin with speed is putting it right up against a fan or when I had a GTX260 with the standard blower cooler and really went close to the exhaust with it. A blower like that is also brilliant for the dust which tends to settle in the corner or on various surfaces, so using a clean paint brush with the blower can help clean the top of your PSU, GPU and some of the nooks and crannies on your motherboard.

As others have said, it will kick up a dust storm, so take your PC outside to do this. It looks brilliant anyway when you give it that first blast and the sun catches the dust.

[MrSamHideki]

Thanks for the reply and for the information, i don't know much about this kind of stuff so im pretty wary when it comes to unconventional ways to clean. Just worried if it causes static damage or other types of damage but i know to cause static damage you need a carpet flooring but lucky for me i have wooden laminate flooring. Obviosly i will unplug everything and wait a couple of mins to discharge anything and get to cleaning outside but just double check, no damage can be caused unless the blower is capable of pushing a massive amount of air.

Yes, I used to use a blower like that for my PC before I properly started using filtered intakes. You can get up close with a blower like that (even up to a few centimeters) and it will be fine, you are extremely unlikely do damage anything as it doesn't blow hard enough. You do need to blow in the opposite direction to the usual flow across a heatsink, so for a GPU for example, blow through the exhaust at the back or from the sides, otherwise you might not be able to dislodge thick dust clogs. Similar for the CPU cooler, and you would be better off blowing into a PSU from the back.

You are unlikely to damage your fans unless you get really close with it because most of the time, it won't even spin the fan anyway. The only time I got anything to spin with speed is putting it right up against a fan or when I had a GTX260 with the standard blower cooler and really went close to the exhaust with it. A blower like that is also brilliant for the dust which tends to settle in the corner or on various surfaces, so using a clean paint brush with the blower can help clean the top of your PSU, GPU and some of the nooks and crannies on your motherboard.

As others have said, it will kick up a dust storm, so take your PC outside to do this. It looks brilliant anyway when you give it that first blast and the sun catches the dust.

[Lowe]

The whole compressed air/vapour thing was a bit of a concern for me when I was looking in to this, so in the end I went with one of these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DataVac-220-...uster+computer

I have to dust a whole heap of stuff at work - theatre lights, large mixing consoles, computers etc so the price wasn't really an issue. It's incredibly powerful for such a small device and makes light work of a computer chassis. Don't forget when dusting to jam a pencil through any fans so they don't spin around and create a back current.

[Ttaskmaster]

I used to do that ^ but the place where I worked, the council closed it

I bought my own, for £50!!

[badass]

Two words. "Air Duster"

Better than spending £85 on a device purely for the computer.

[Ttaskmaster]

Better than spending £85 on a device purely for the computer.

But £50 on one that can be used for dusting, painting, cleaning, inflating car tyres, undoing stubborn bolts... Good bargains can be had if you don't mind second-hand!!

[deejayburnout]

I too have one of those data vacs and they are brill. they are very powerful.

Noisy too.