Air Duster - how many cans do I need?

[AmberClad]

I'm about to drop by MicroCenter to see if they have any specials, and to pick up some canned air. I think they have 8 oz and 10 oz cans, and maybe 3-packs of those. How many cans are you normally supposed to use? Like, how long does a can last? TIA...

Edit: Ok, after reading over my post - that didn't sound quite right. How many cans to clean a computer...not for "other purposes" .

 

[Injury]

Canned air is stupid. You can't clean a computer by just blowing dust around because it's just going to land on other parts of it. Vacuum the thing.

But if you insist, if you can't get it done with one, you fail.

 

[AmberClad]

There are crevices where even the small brush attachment won't reach...

 

[Alistar7]

Unless your PC is excpetionally dirty one can should suffice. A vac will not clean out the fins in a good HS, completely clear out your fans, nor will it reach every area you will likely need to clean. I tend to prop mine against something at an angle so it falls outside the case, with a vac handy to suck up the dust.

 

[mobobuff]

Use a shop air compressor. ~10hp

 

[Mutilator]

Shop vac on blow > canned air.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Whats does an inexpensive shop air compressor cost?
I am tired of spending $ on canned air and vaccuum does not do a good job - it sucks. (Mine can only suck)

 

[Sentinel]

Shopvac?

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
Whats does an inexpensive shop air compressor cost?

my kids gave me a cheapo last christmas, from tractor supply, they are only about $75-$99 on sale

works great for filling my car tires and blowing out computers

 

[MegaVovaN]

Alright thanks, I'll look into it.

 

[clamum]

Yeah, another vote for a (cheap) air compressor. I hate those cans of air, expensive and they can't blow for shit.

 

[Mutilator]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
Whats does an inexpensive shop air compressor cost?
I am tired of spending $ on canned air and vaccuum does not do a good job - it sucks. (Mine can only suck)

I got a inexpensive Rigid shop vac from Home Depot for well under $100. Remember it's not necessarily the power of the air coming out, it's the volume of it to get the dust out. I just carry my case outside and blow it out for a few seconds. Just seems like a shop vac would have more uses around the house than a regular compressor... unless of course you actually have air tools.

 

[Throckmorton]

Using a shop vac to clean a computer is a bad idea because the vac causes static charges to build up. It just goes to show. People giving advice in an authoritative manner are not always to be listened to. Stick with the cans. The pressure you'll get out of a can is much greater anyway

 

[Mutilator]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
Using a shop vac to clean a computer is a bad idea because the vac causes static charges to build up. It just goes to show. People giving advice in an authoritative manner are not always to be listened to. Stick with the cans. The pressure you'll get out of a can is much greater anyway

Which is why I don't use the vacuum as a vacuum, I use it more like a leaf blower from 1-2ft away.

If I can't take the PC outside then that's when I'll use compressed air + a vacuum but the vacuum stays away from the case and sucks the dust up as it comes out rather than putting it up against the components.

 

[cherrytwist]

How many cats do you have?

 

[AmberClad]

Well I'm back. I ended up getting three cans. They had some sort of volume discount thing going on.

As far as the computer, I ended up needing a whole can to get all the dust out, despite the small case. Amazing how much dust builds up in there in only half a year. Plopped down vacuum hose down next to it to suck up all the dust flying out.

As a sidenote, they had a ton of Antec cases sitting around all over the store. I saw some Nine Hundreds ($69.99 I think) and some others.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
Using a shop vac to clean a computer is a bad idea because the vac causes static charges to build up. It just goes to show. People giving advice in an authoritative manner are not always to be listened to. Stick with the cans. The pressure you'll get out of a can is much greater anyway

What about SUCKING air with a regular home vaccuum with 3-4 ft long pipe? I did that earlier and my computer works fine (well it was already killing video cards before)

 

[Dacalo]

Originally posted by: Injury
Canned air is stupid. You can't clean a computer by just blowing dust around because it's just going to land on other parts of it. Vacuum the thing.

But if you insist, if you can't get it done with one, you fail.

That's why you take the computer OUTSIDE and use the can. Using it inside is just retarded.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: Dacalo

Originally posted by: Injury
Canned air is stupid. You can't clean a computer by just blowing dust around because it's just going to land on other parts of it. Vacuum the thing.

But if you insist, if you can't get it done with one, you fail.

That's why you take the computer OUTSIDE and use the can. Using it inside is just retarded.

What?!? Do you imply I must get out of my dark, cold, humid basement? In the blinding sunlight?
NOOOOOOOO!