Large room fan caked with dust...

[homercles337]

I have a number of room fans that get caked with dust. Usually, i just take them apart and rinse the violated parts in the shower. However, i have a rather big complicated fan that is not mine (it belongs to a coworker) that is going to take a while to take apart. I would rather not do this. I had a "friend" over a while back and she said its time to throw it in the shower (motor and all). This makes me nervous because its not mine. If i did this, what would be the proper procedure?*

Here is the fan in question...

* Yes, i know to unplug it first, all you "wise guys."

 

[PottedMeat]

Hah! I had one of those in college. Was goddamn loud. My roommate vomited all over it.

I cleaned the dust and vomit off by taking it apart and using a damp cloth to wipe it off, it really doesn't take very long.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: homercles337
I have a number of room fans that get caked with dust. Usually, i just take them apart and rinse the violated parts in the shower. However, i have a rather big complicated fan that is not mine (it belongs to a coworker) that is going to take a while to take apart. I would rather not do this. I had a "friend" over a while back and she said its time to throw it in the shower (motor and all). This makes me nervous because its not mine. If i did this, what would be the proper procedure?*

Here is the fan in question...

* Yes, i know to unplug it first, all you "wise guys."

If y ou leave it plugged in and turned on, the blades will turn and make rinsing it more efficient!

I've had a couple of similar fans and they were built in such a way that made taking them apart nearly impossible. The best I could do was to clean off the blades with a bit of rag on a stick, then blow the rest of the dust off/out of the housing with my vacuum cleaner with the hose reversed.

 

[edro]

Washing machine, while it's running.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Find an air compressor and blow it clean.

 

[Epic Fail]

Find a larger fan to blow it.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: homercles337
I have a number of room fans that get caked with dust. Usually, i just take them apart and rinse the violated parts in the shower. However, i have a rather big complicated fan that is not mine (it belongs to a coworker) that is going to take a while to take apart. I would rather not do this. I had a "friend" over a while back and she said its time to throw it in the shower (motor and all). This makes me nervous because its not mine. If i did this, what would be the proper procedure?*

Here is the fan in question...

* Yes, i know to unplug it first, all you "wise guys."

If y ou leave it plugged in and turned on, the blades will turn and make rinsing it more efficient!

I've had a couple of similar fans and they were built in such a way that made taking them apart nearly impossible. The best I could do was to clean off the blades with a bit of rag on a stick, then blow the rest of the dust off/out of the housing with my vacuum cleaner with the hose reversed.

Yep, this one has what looks like hex bolts on only the top and bottom of the case (two out of probably 12). However, no hex fits them. It looks like it could be a rivet, which makes taking it apart impossible without drilling them out. Not my fan. It looks the only thing i can take apart is the stand which does nothing for me...

As for the compressed air suggestion, i only have access to "air in can"s. This is never enough pressure to blow this shit out from fans. Plus, it makes a hell of a mess (i live in a small apartment in boston).

What about my original question about rinsing in the shower?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

If you get it wet it's dead.

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: homercles337

Yep, this one has what looks like hex bolts on only the top and bottom of the case (two out of probably 12). However, no hex fits them. It looks like it could be a rivet, which makes taking it apart impossible without drilling them out. Not my fan. It looks the only thing i can take apart is the stand which does nothing for me...

As for the compressed air suggestion, i only have access to "air in can"s. This is never enough pressure to blow this shit out from fans. Plus, it makes a hell of a mess (i live in a small apartment in boston).

What about my original question about rinsing in the shower?

Thats strange, mine looks identical and its got 6 philips head screws on the back.

I don't think I'd do the shower thing, if you got water into the control ( 3 speed dial right? ) it looks like it would take some time to dry out. Maybe stick a piece of cardboard with some paper towel wrapped around it then turn the fan on - maybe when it starts up slowly the dust will flick off. Long q-tips maybe?

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: homercles337
I have a number of room fans that get caked with dust. Usually, i just take them apart and rinse the violated parts in the shower. However, i have a rather big complicated fan that is not mine (it belongs to a coworker) that is going to take a while to take apart. I would rather not do this. I had a "friend" over a while back and she said its time to throw it in the shower (motor and all). This makes me nervous because its not mine. If i did this, what would be the proper procedure?*

Here is the fan in question...

* Yes, i know to unplug it first, all you "wise guys."

The PROPER procedure is to NOT put it in the shower.
You new to this whole 'electricity' thing we've got going on?

 

[MrPickins]

I have a fan just like that, and clean it by sticking the end of a hand broom into the grill and turning it on. Then, compressed air to get the rest.

Originally posted by: PottedMeat
Hah! I had one of those in college. Was goddamn loud.

That's why I like it, drowns out random noise while I sleep.

 

[Juno]

swiffer

 

[IronWing]

Put it in the shower. Let it dry completely before plugging back in. It cost $17. If it works, you're golden. If it dies, you're out $17 and you don't get to go out one night.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft
The PROPER procedure is to NOT put it in the shower.
You new to this whole 'electricity' thing we've got going on?

Like i said a "friend" said this is what she does/did. I thought WTF? But she was serious.

Originally posted by: ironwing
Put it in the shower. Let it dry completely before plugging back in. It cost $17. If it works, you're golden. If it dies, you're out $17 and you don't get to go out one night.

Yea, good point.

Originally posted by: PottedMeat
Thats strange, mine looks identical and its got 6 philips head screws on the back.

I got past the two hex bolts. Destroying one in the process. I thought they might be rivets because they were *soft* as hell and poorly formed. Im going to pull the motor out and rinse the back housing. Oddly, the fan is secured with a pressure clip. This thing was not meant to be taken apart. Probably because of ironwing's point.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
Find an air compressor and blow it clean.

That's your best bet. It's amazing what a 200 psi line with 50+ SCFM can do.

Do NOT put it in the shower. That will loosen up the dust and allow it to go in places it normally would not and when the water dries it will leave abrasive particulates in the bearings along with rust. Cheap steel rusts extremely easily.