Dust blower worth the investment?

[PLAfiller]

Hello all, I am hovering around the idea of getting a dust blower. Yes, yes I know about DataVac...everybody knows about DataVac, but I am thinking more in the lines of this. Or may be something like that? I've tried canned air -> not happy with the result (not powerful enough, expensive and it covers in white frost for a few seconds). I have a small car compressor, but not powerful enough. I searched the forum and people shared bits and pieces of experience, but not really a dedicated thread for dust blowers. So, is it worth the investment? Anyone had one for 3-4 years? Apart from the PC itself, any other uses? Desk cleaning? Engine cleaning?

 

[Deleted member 185158]

Lol engine degreaser. Yes. No. I mean no.

Take mine to the garage and use about 60 psi on the regulator from the air compressor.

Might be a little high in pressure for some folks, but it gets parts nice and clean.

Your link first one looks like a hair dryer. Perhaps you could borrow the wifes and use it on cold setting?

 

[thesmokingman]

I have had a datavac for years. An alternative is Xpower which is stronger than what you listed as alts.

As for is it worth it, that's up to you. I like the ability to blow the dust out of everything. It saves me time by being able to blow the dust out of my radiators and fans. I love the fact that I've not bought any can air since. It's paid for itself years ago. And btw you shouldn't use a compressor as it can blow moisture laden air as well as oils.

 

[silentbogo]

Both things you've listed in OP are basically cheap air mattress pumps, and really "suck at blowing" )))
Just buy a compressor. There are some decent sub-$100 variants which work much better, plus you can use it as an airbrush/sprayer, pump your car tires, or attach pneumatic power tools.
Something like this.

 

[Deleted member 185158]

I have had a datavac for years. An alternative is Xpower which is stronger than what you listed as alts.

As for is it worth it, that's up to you. I like the ability to blow the dust out of everything. It saves me time by being able to blow the dust out of my radiators and fans. I love the fact that I've not bought any can air since. It's paid for itself years ago. And btw you shouldn't use a compressor as it can blow moisture laden air as well as oils.

Ug that's good to mention the compressed air.... luckily, I have a dryer. A lot of home compressors do not. Good call!

 

[eidairaman1]

Air/datavac and contact cleaner, soft bristle toothbrush too

 

[8BitZ80]

The best solution is a dedicated air compressor. Needs to be electrically-driven, high quality and the biggest capacity you can afford. They're expensive to purchase but the idea is that you get great value over time if you're doing a number of different jobs with it (inflating tyres, running air tools, painting, sandblasting, cleaning etc).

Scaling back from that there are cheaper options, but they tend to be one-trick ponies like the DataVac or portable car tyre compressors.

That being said, I've also taken the lazy approach sometimes when rebuilding a computer, which is to strip the case bare and blast it with dishsoap and water (NOTE: rainwater tank water ONLY....don't use town water). There's no better way to get a case back to 100% clean condition.

 

[sneekypeet]

If I were to get a compressor for such things, I would also invest in a drying filter. There is a lot of moisture associated with compressors.

 

[bonehead123]

If I were to get a compressor for such things, I would also invest in a drying filter. There is a lot of moisture associated with compressors.

^^THIS^^

ie...moisture + electronics = sparky flares then no workie for long.......

 

[tabascosauz]

ED500 all the way. Just put on some hearing protection. Now comes with every nozzle you could ever want in the package.

I have a VIAIR 400P-AF that hooks up to the battery, one of the best compressors that you can have without resorting to a heavy duty onboard air installation that mounts under the truck bed. Offroaders like it a lot. Given the amount of air it pushes, I would really just stick to the ED500: the 400P can fill up an aired-down 285/70R17E Duratrac in a minute or two.

Much less a shop compressor for air tools. Yikes. And how would OP justify even a sturdy little pancake compressor? He's not looking to run an air impact off the thing.

I have a new 110V ED500, but also a 3.5-year old 220V ED500 that's with a friend. Still works fine as the day I bought it.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

if portable leafblowers are cheaper - go with one of them. its basically the same as datavac but slightly bigger and probably more powerful. Remember to take your PC outside though or you'll find yourself in Egypt.

You might also wanna tape down the fans too as apparently letting them spin over the RPM the motor is rated for damages it - dont ask me how, dont ask me why. Loads of people have told me to do this so im telling you to do the same too.

 

[Vario]

Datavac, you really can't go wrong with it, it gets loud but it moves air, it cleans your case in seconds, and it doesn't take up much space on the shelf.

 

[erixx]

Hello all, I am hovering around the idea of getting a dust blower. Yes, yes I know about DataVac...everybody knows about DataVac, but I am thinking more in the lines of this. Or may be something like that? I've tried canned air -> not happy with the result (not powerful enough, expensive and it covers in white frost for a few seconds). I have a small car compressor, but not powerful enough. I searched the forum and people shared bits and pieces of experience, but not really a dedicated thread for dust blowers. So, is it worth the investment? Anyone had one for 3-4 years? Apart from the PC itself, any other uses? Desk cleaning? Engine cleaning?

I have one like your "this" link. It is soo usefull all over the house! and the cost is minimal. Just go for it.

 

[biffzinker]

You might also wanna tape down the fans too as apparently letting them spin over the RPM the motor is rated for damages it - dont ask me how, dont ask me why. Loads of people have told me to do this so im telling you to do the same too.

Excessive wearing on the sleeve/bearings would be one reason, second the fan motor can act as a generator.

 

[Grog6]

I learned when doing field service in the 80's that spinning up a fan to hear the neat Weeeeee sound meant you'd be replacing it the next time you came out.

I use a compressor for cleaning, and a shopvac to catch all the dirt, the combo works well.

A water separator, and a dryer canister are a requirement for a good compressor; if you try to paint without it, you'll just ruin a bunch of expensive paint.

The one I bought off ebay has three stages, and I buy a new dryer cartridge when I go to paint something.

Also, if a board gets so dirty it has to go in the dishwasher, blowing the water out from under the chips keeps things from corroding where you can't see it.
I use Alconox in the dishwasher to clean PCBs. (Don't use Cascade, or other dishwashing stuff, it's too corrosive. Don't use Dawn, either, lol)
It will look brand new after it's clean.

I should add, a small amount of Dawn in a dishwasher will fill a large room with foam.
Yes, I did that. At work. People cared.

 

[biffzinker]

I use Alconox in the dishwasher to clean PCBs.

This?

 

[Grog6]

Yes; I have a half full carton just like that.

Add about as much as you would cascade powder.

I've cleaned flux off trays of PCB's with that, and a dedicated dishwasher at work.
Don't clean flux off boards in a dishwasher you want to use for your dishes, but clean boards aren't any worse than other household dirt, and all boards are now lead free.

You can use it in a tub with a brush, but you have to use a lot more care not to tear caps off the board.

Alconox doesn't leave any residue that will conduct, but it's still best to rinse really well, rinsing under chips if you do it by hand.

Then blow all the water off with air, getting under all the chips.


The only thing I've ever seen it fail at removing was fine carbon residue from acetylene burners in a copper tubing factory.
We had to throw those computers/electronics away, and build a room for the replacements with filtered air.
That place in the winter had static so bad it would drop you to your knees, turning around and touching the keyboard.
I thought I'd caught 480 the first time I did that.
We made the workers wear foot grounding apparatus, like for PCB assembly areas, and reground all their production lines to keep static from destroying the computers.
IDK if that customer was worth it or not, lol.


One of these compressors are great for tasks around the house, if you're not going to run big air tools or paint.

Robot or human?

~$60.

 

[thesmokingman]

Air compressors... why? You can't stick that on a shelf. What are ya gonna do, drag the compressor into house have the woman yell at you? Or drag the comp out? I have a compressor I use for auto use and bike use and that stays in the shed. If I go to do a job, I can put the Datavac into my bag, easy peasy. If I wanna blow air, I just pull out the Datavac, plug it in and done.

 

[WhiteNoise]

Air compressors... why? You can't stick that on a shelf. What are ya gonna do, drag the compressor into house have the woman yell at you? Or drag the comp out? I have a compressor I use for auto use and bike use and that stays in the shed. If I go to do a job, I can put the Datavac into my bag, easy peasy. If I wanna blow air, I just pull out the Datavac, plug it in and done.

I use an air compressor. No drier needed. I unhook my pc, take it outside and blow it out. Works awesome. Mine is kept in my workshop behind the garage on a 100-foot line. I don't take the compressor out, I just run the line to the front of my garage and blow the PC out.

Even before I owned a compressor...like maybe 6+ years ago I would still remove the PC from the house and use air cans to blow it out. That way the dust wouldn't go all over the room.

I have several datavacs at work. Very cool but I never thought to buy one for myself when already owning a compressor.

 

[thesmokingman]

I use an air compressor. No drier needed. I unhook my pc, take it outside and blow it out. Works awesome. Mine is kept in my workshop behind the garage on a 100-foot line. I don't take the compressor out, I just run the line to the front of my garage and blow the PC out.

Yeap. I'm not a fan of pulling the comp out for that. Partly its because a fully loaded watercooling loop makes the comp seriously heavy. Once every couple of years I'll take the comp out on a furniture dolly for a thorough cleaning. Too old to be lugging a 60lbs+ rig around. With a portable Datavac, I can keep the dust out of the rig easily so it doesn't turn into a dust monster.

 

[WhiteNoise]

Well like you said, you have a Datavac so all is well. If I had one I'd use it too. I just never felt the need to buy one myself considering I have a big ass compressor.

 

[Hyderz]

Amazon.com : ICYANG Manual Rubber Bulb Air Pump Dust Blower Cleaner for Camera Lens, Computers, Keyboard, Shaver, Environment-Friendly TPR Material Set of 4 : Electronics

Amazon.com : ICYANG Manual Rubber Bulb Air Pump Dust Blower Cleaner for Camera Lens, Computers, Keyboard, Shaver, Environment-Friendly TPR Material Set of 4 : Electronics

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have this and its unlimited use until it breaks lol.

 

[robot zombie]

I have had a datavac for years. An alternative is Xpower which is stronger than what you listed as alts.

As for is it worth it, that's up to you. I like the ability to blow the dust out of everything. It saves me time by being able to blow the dust out of my radiators and fans. I love the fact that I've not bought any can air since. It's paid for itself years ago. And btw you shouldn't use a compressor as it can blow moisture laden air as well as oils.

I've got the Xpower... it's loud as hell but it pushes out way more air than you'd ever need to dust a computer. Plus a guy on amazon says it handles all of his blow jobs. 5 stars. I believe him.

The one thing about the Xpower blower things... I don't think any of them are certified ESD safe. I think Datavac has a few more expensive, but similar ones that are. Personally I don't worry too much because I don't find I'm getting nearly close enough for ESD. You don't need to get that close at all. Barely in the case. Just mind where you point it. I tend to point it where I want to hold it, turn it on to hit the area, turn it off, move over to the next region, just doing small movements trying to get the angles. Honestly, it's a liability to leave it on while you're moving it around... on full speed, anyway. Those things get minds of their own and mischievously blow small nearby objects across the room.

Much nicer than a compressor for electronics. I'll never be without one. Massively superior to air in every way and small enough to tuck away. When you need help with your computer blow jobs, maybe getting ready for a nice gaming sesh, you can just whip it out right quick, plug it right in there, and get her to blow, blow, blow (3 quick blows gets it there - she's that good.) Just like that it's all over with. You can put it away real fast and hide it so nobody sees it. Wrap it up, collapse it down, whatever you gotta do and stuff it somewhere. And then... you see your computer over there looking all 'that way' being all beautiful and squeaky clean with the side panel off and stuff... but now after all the blowing you're really tuckered out and kinda just wanna curl up by it and sleep...

 

[Ramo1203]

I have a DataVac blower and it's great. If you have the space and possibility, I think a compressor is a better option though. Since I live in an appartment, I think the small Datavac blower is a nice option because it's slighty less noisy and takes less space.
For me it was worth the investment and I have had it since 2 years.I also use it to blow dust from hard to reach spots. (behind my room eletric heater that is wall mounted, etc.)

 

[Kapone33]

The Xpower unit I bought in 2018 has served me quite well.

It cleans my keyboard in like 15 seconds. I
I use on the air filter on my wife's car.
I use it on the washable filter for my furnace.

Of course I also use it to dust my PC. It cleans rads in no time and if you have filters it really works well too. There are also a nice selction of heads too.

The Xpower unit I bought in 2018 has served me quite well.

It cleans my keyboard in like 15 seconds. I
I use on the air filter on my wife's car.
I use it on the washable filter for my furnace.

Of course I also use it to dust my PC. It cleans rads in no time and if you have filters it really works well too. There are also a nice selction of heads too.

Xpower Airrow Pro Multi Use Electric Computer , 2.3 Ounce : Amazon.ca: Office Products

Xpower Airrow Pro Multi Use Electric Computer , 2.3 Ounce : Amazon.ca: Office Products

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