Cans of compressed air just add up to too much over time.
Similar to the following if you don't know what I mean:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J4ZOAW
Is there like a $10 version of this kind of thing? I don't even know what they're called - an air compressor?
Cheers for any help!
My mini tower was self built. If your lazy like i am. What i did was i installed those ladies stocking all over my tower, fan/dust filters and at the rear, sides i dont need to since no air going through it.
I only have to vacuum it once a month on those filters with handheld vacuum. Its been 3-4 years already and computer is running great with hardly any dust in there. My tower is always on the ground too. (:
Never realized computers & their components needed this kind of care & attention - ours works brilliantly with only a dust off each week with a microsoft cloth.
However all this talk re blowing & sucking is doing my head in - might have to download 50 shades of grey !
Goodnight.
we are referring to the inside of the pc… not wiping the outside of the case dust…
Vacuum it, just dont brush on the components, hold the head about 0.5cm away, my PC survives it for 3+ years and counting.
Use a vacuum and a small brush, works perfectly
Just use the air blower in your garage or get it from binning for $39.
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/182927
anyone got the Homelite vac with blower? maybe you can use this only $25
I just take my pc outside on the verandah and start the blower vac, it power cleans it in seconds!
Have a $25 12v compressor(supercheap) for blowing car tyres up, use it on my 4wd for beach fishing and wondered if I put a tubeless car tyre valve stem with out the valve in it into the end of it whether that would concentrate the air supply enough to blow the dust off and it is and does the job pretty well.
Vacuum works well.
Haven't tried it personally, but a cheap balloon pump (got mine from Woolworths) might also work too.
Vacuum works well.
+1, it's not ideal, but it works.
Whatever method you finally choose, try to minimise static electricity discharge(which likes to kill electronics). As previously mentioned keep the computer plugged into the wall. Keep it turned off of course. Also grab and keep hold of the metal case/power supply while working on it. If possible don't do it on carpet as this will increase potential static discharge.
I just put mine in the washing machine. On a delicate cycle, naturally - and line dry. Don't tumble dry, whatever you do - you might damage your Hard Drive.
That's stupid.
Tumble drying your computer might cause your desktop to shrink into a laptop. You wouldn't want to ruin a perfectly good desktop.
That's why I said. You don't want to tumble dry.
On a side note, how come you get upvoted and I get negged?
Couldn't you take it to one of the many shops mentioned on OzBargain that are reputed to suck? They should vacuum out your computer in no time. :)
+1 funny. And shame on the person who negged you.
There are no superior ~$10 alternatives to something that is already ~$10.
As you said, it adds up too much over time so you have to decide whether or not you're willing to fork out the cash for the electric duster thingy.
I've been considering this recently so I know the spot you're in but the issue it pretty straight forward: continue buying cans of air or buy that DataVac electric duster thing.
Just buy any 240v High Volume Air Mattress pump/blower. They are excellent for cleaning computers, they blow a lot of air! They usually come with 3 sized nozzles, I find the best one is the middle sized one. I have had one for 10 years now, does an excellent job, spend a good 10 mins blowing the dust out and my computers like brand new.
Don't get compressed air cans, they are biggest waste of money out there. I paid $30 for my Coleman pump. You don't have to worry about buying compressed air on an ongoing basis. Also with a high volume air pump you dont need to worry about any of that liquid residue coming out like with compressed air cans. I posted this on whirlpool forums too, I think some have taken my suggestion.
I dunno about anti static compressed air cans, but anything that moves dust around is going to create static charges. Everything you do will come with its' own risks Best to try minimise the amount of dust that gets in, in the first place. Try placing filter paper around air intakes, in front of fans. Best to have the fans blowing out rather than in. I guess the best option is to filter paper around all air inlets and use water cooling.
You can get filter sets from PCCG as well as from various computer part suppliers
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=25…
and generic size fan filters
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&c…
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&c…
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&c…
and if you are on a super tight budget, pantyhoses make a good alternative.
It's also a good idea to ensure your case has positive air pressure (that is, more air moving in than there is air moving out) to ensure that your air is not being sucked in through unfiltered PCI slots, or other seams or holes in the case. Linus explains it pretty well, on what the difference between pos. and neg. air pressure is and how it affects cooling performance and dust buildup.
You can just use swiffer cloths or something like that from the super market. Forgot what the Au equiv is called.
I work in Desktop Support and was spending quite a bit on canned air so I spent ages researching what I could use as an alternative (we could not fit a full air compressor in the office).
I ended up buying this:
https://www.canlessair.com.au/
Its really great. Perhaps not the cheapest but the thing blows a decent amount of air, does not get moisture in it as its not a compressor and runs for about 10 minutes on a charge.
Makes my job a heap easier. Nothing makes a system more prone to hardware failure than it being chock full of dust
Slr camera sensor dust pump $2 ebay. Hand power keeps you fit for fapping
I bought one of these in Australia many years back. Cost me AU$5.
http://www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-foot-air-pump/212-6687.prd
Worked like a charm. Lost it a long time ago when I started getting industrial size air compressors for work.
I use a $39 Ozito shop vac from Bunnings which can be reversed to blow air quite powerfully
Is it any good around the house? Thinking of getting a shop vac for the home when i move places (rather than a home vacuum)
Yeah it drives my wife nuts how much Vacuuming I do now, I use it for everything
If you already bought into the Ryobi 18V one+ cordless range, you could try this, http://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-one-18v-cordless-air-inflat… $79 (needs one of your existing batteries)
Has a high pressure compressor for tyres on one side, and a low pressure high flow side for inflating stuff like air mattresses. Gives you the option of high flow or high pressure, and is quite useful for other things as well.
Daiso sells a small air blower for $2.80..
Got one of these. Refill them at the nearest servo. Still working after a year but not a cheap option tho. Could be years before I could recoup the cost of them but meh.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FIT-Aluminum-Can-Air-Pneumatic-Re…
This Mini Air Brush Compressor With Spray Gun would be ideal for the job. $49 delivered from Victoria.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mini-Air-Brush-Compressor-W-Spray…
Delivers precision continuous airflow at a suitable pressure and flow.
As a bonus you can take up scale model painting, stencil tattooing and pin striping your neighbor's cars.
Current $39 kogan deal for 12v air compressor with free shipping —> https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/183311
Although not as good as the $25 SCA one mentioned above. Dunno what the link is for that though —> http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/Product/Best-Buy-Air-Compre…
Just take your computer with you when you visit your dentist every 6 months for your cleans. All of them have an air and water thingy. Just use the air button for your parts and the water button for the dental nurse ; )
tell some footballers you think there might be cocaine in the somewhere and give them a straw
Lr2785 mentioned a paint brush.
You can go a step further and use an anti-static brush.
Something like this http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/6pcs-Anti-Static-PCB-Motherboard-…
It will get to most parts in your computer and under the fans ect. It will miss the psu though so finish it off with a can of air (not that that gets very dusty, depending on how hot yours gets I guess).
Then use something like a swiffer cloth over your vents as a dust filter to prevent more dust from getting in. (No don't use it on your components, they use static to attract dust, which is probably bad your for pc.)
keep it plugged in and the earth is connected and provides adequate grounding.