vacuum to clean your comp?

[een]

Is it alrite to vacuum your comp for dust? Coz I can't seem to find myself a can of compressed air??

Thanks heaps guys


Edward

 

[mrgoblin]

Sure so long as you dont get violent with it and its small enough. compressed air works the best though

 

[een]

Someone was saying to me that vacuum generates thousands of vols of static electricity which scares the s*** out of me...
Is this true?

 

[Mitzi]

I personally wouldn't use my hoover (UK speak for vacuum ), the power of the suction could potentially grab IDE cables and put a strain on the connection pins, also the fins on fans are pretty delicate and can snap off (I've had this happen before when using a hoover to clean dust off an 80mm fan).

 

[hjo3]

I've tried using a vacuum before, but it wasn't very effective. IIWY, I'd just fork over the $3 or whatever for some canned air.
EDIT: The stuff about static electricity is bunk. It might be a factor if you were using the floor-bit-with-the-spinning-brushes part... but only an idiot would try that. Using the hose attachment shouldn't cause any ESD-type problems.

 

[vegetation]

I always used a vacuum, never had any problem. Then again, so humid around where I am that static electricity is hardly an issue.

 

[MichaelD]

I've been using the "soft furniture brush" on the end of the attachment hose to clean inside computers for years now, w/no harmful or ill effects.

Use common sense; dont' bang or slam into any components, be sure not to suck up any cables (which won't happen if your cables are zip tied down/together in the FIRST place ) and you'll be fine.

 

[spaceman]

i use a vacuum and a quality small paintbrush in tandem.
paying for air sucks.

 

[lenjack]

There are small, battery operated hand vacs that do a decent job.

 

[dunkster]

I've used an ordinary vacuum cleaner with standard plastic nozzles to clean out dust several times with several different boards. No problems.

 

[nowayout99]

I've done it several times... But putting the vac on exhaust (if yours has it) works a lot better than suction. It's also safer so you don't lose any small pins.

But remember to do it outside. That dust will go --everywhere-- Trust me.

 

[dkozloski]

Computer and electronic professionals use a static protected(toner) vacuum cleaner with the proper attachments and a soft brush to do their cleaning. Using an ordinary vacuum around a copier or laser printer using toner is a severe explosion hazard. While vacuuming toner the static discharges can be nearly continuous. Using compressed air just launches the dust into the air and can blow dirt into the innards of delicate devices. At one NASA contract I worked on for RCA Service Co. it was grounds for instant firing to get caught using compressed air for cleaning electronic equipment.

 

[lchyi]

My friend has this Hoover that looks like one of those professional grade vacuums (you know big barrel for the waste depository and a hose that can suck the hair from your head) that has an option to blow air out also. Honestly it's like a leaf blower you can use inside your house and it works wonders on computer dust. Just make sure you have nothing that can detach and potentially slam into some part (ie CCFLs, loose screws, even flimsy PCI cards that can blow over and crack). But when I don't have access to that, canned air while your PC is outside works well. Hope NASA doesn't fire me now.

 

[pelikan]

I vacuum my computer every couple of weeks for maintenance. Once every month or two I use my air compressor to get it really clean.

 

[OverVolt]

I prefer a leaf blower to clean out the inside of my computer.

Jkin just pay for the darn air. i have a problem with shoving a 10amp appliance inside my 1k dallor computer

 

[BZ]

ever notice dust and hairs sticking to the end of a vacuum nozzle? I would be careful getting it too close to any boards

 

[StraightPipe]

you could always put a static resisitant wrist band on you vacuum,
seriously, wallyworld sells duster.

 

[pelikan]

I tell ya, an air compressor is nice. Unlimited air at adjustable pressure. I could never go back to cans.

 

[Zepper]

Dirt Devil makes a neat little kit that you can use on most vacuums specifically to work on equipment like computers.
The connector that fits on the end of the vacuum cleaner hose can turn to open some vents to reduce the vacuum strength.
. That attaches to a length (~2ft) of 1/2' reinforced hose, and that has another adapter on the end to fit the 4 or 5 tools that are included - several sizes of brushes and straight and angled crevice tools.
. That's what I recommend for vacuuming equipment and it only costs about $10.. You can use it with the grounded and metal cased Metro vacs that the pros use, if you want to spend the extra $$$.
.bh.
:moon:

 

[sykopath79]

Originally posted by: pelikan
I tell ya, an air compressor is nice. Unlimited air at adjustable pressure. I could never go back to cans.

Where does one find such a contraption and for what price?

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: sykopath79

Originally posted by: pelikan
I tell ya, an air compressor is nice. Unlimited air at adjustable pressure. I could never go back to cans.

Where does one find such a contraption and for what price?

Any mid to large hardware store for probably $75 (el super cheapo) to more than it's worth for cleaning a computer. But it does have more uses, like filling tires and air-powered tools. I'd guess that $150 is a decent price point to get a good compressor. They usually aren't small either.

 

[pelikan]

Or get a used one. I got mine used for free.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: pelikan
Or get a used one. I got mine used for free.

Or borrow someone's for a min or two

 

[DaTT]

Originally posted by: sykopath79

Originally posted by: pelikan
I tell ya, an air compressor is nice. Unlimited air at adjustable pressure. I could never go back to cans.

Where does one find such a contraption and for what price?

If you plan on going that route (which I hope no one ever does, and I'm surprised you do), you run the rick of blowing water directly into your machine.....yummmmm. An air compressor creates condensation, and if not drained all the time, can blow the water through the hose.

 

[een]

Hmmm...

Okay, so I can start vacuuming now, coz I can''t find any canned air anywhere, notice that I am in another part of the world... (Australia) Where do you guys get them anyway?