Why does caned/compressed air cost so much?

[Locut0s]

I've seen cans at a local store sell for 12-15 bucks. I know you can get better deals than that but it's still expensive. Other compressed gaseous products like hairspray doesn't cost as much and you are actually getting a product that's compressed, not just air.

 

[akshatp]

Dunno..

My advice is to buy a small portable air compressor from Sears and get an air gun tip...

 

[waggy]

WTF you think air is free!? its not a renewable resource you know!

damn hippies. wanting everything given to them!

 

[spidey07]

Supply and demand. That is the only thing that sets the price.

Learn it, live it, love it.

 

[l0cke]

It's not actually air in the can, it's difluoroethane, trifluoroethane, or tetrafluoroethane.

Text

 

[Engineer]

Edit: Nevermind, beaten to the punch!

 

[0roo0roo]

low volume specialized product.
mostly its paying rent for its shelf space since it moves slow

 

[Bignate603]

It's because it's not actually air.

From wikepedia...

A gas duster, also erroneously referred to as canned air, is a product consisting of liquefied difluoroethane, trifluoroethane, or tetrafluoroethane in a spray can, with a long nozzle that enables the user to direct a precisely focused blast of gas. Gas dusters do not use compressed air, but other inert gases that are much easier to compress into a liquid state. Hydrocarbons, like butane, were often used in the past, but their flammability forced manufacturers to use fluorocarbons.

 

[Ronstang]

Because people buy it. I simply take the side door of the case off, grab it like a suitcase from the top lip, carry it down to my garage and blow it out with compressed air from my big compressor. I won't buy that expensive air in a can.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: l0cke
It's not actually air in the can, it's difluoroethane, trifluoroethane, or tetrafluoroethane.

Text

This AT!!!

I thought it was already assumed that of course it isn't "compressed 'air'"

PV=nRT and organic chemistry FTW!!!

 

[HardcoreRobot]

scuba tanks only cost a few bucks to rent if you are looking for compressed air

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
scuba tanks only cost a few bucks to rent if you are looking for compressed air

But, you're not going to rent one without a certificate.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Just get an air compressor. No worries about the liquid coming of the can, and much more air pressure to get that stubborn dust out. Just be sure to jam the fans though, I found a 2000RPM rated fan screams when hit with 120PSI of air and at 10000000RPM the bearings don't last too long

 

[ppdes]

Liquid coming out is part of the fun, though. They are multi-purpose! Freezing bugs is the modern magnifying glass cool trick.

 

[nervegrind3r]

they actually make a wicked bomb if you know what you are doing, the air blowing thing is just a cover so they can sell in stores

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Locut0s
I've seen cans at a local store sell for 12-15 bucks. I know you can get better deals than that but it's still expensive. Other compressed gaseous products like hairspray doesn't cost as much and you are actually getting a product that's compressed, not just air.

Because the markup is massive. At Office Depot we sell them for like $13.99. We buy them for ~$4.00.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Supply and demand. That is the only thing that sets the price.

Learn it, live it, love it.

The folks in charge of the price need to drop it, IMO. We don't sell much because everyone who comes in is shocked at the price. One can go to Costco and get 3 of the same cans for the same price or less.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
Because people buy it. I simply take the side door of the case off, grab it like a suitcase from the top lip, carry it down to my garage and blow it out with compressed air from my big compressor. I won't buy that expensive air in a can.

well it used to be free after rebate a lot. you could buy enough of those for regular cleaning.

 

[Soundmanred]

-1 Reps for thinking it's just air in the can.
Silly uman.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: ppdes
Liquid coming out is part of the fun, though. They are multi-purpose! Freezing bugs is the modern magnifying glass cool trick.

i thought i was the only one that did that :Q

 

[911paramedic]

Scuba tank, but you need a cert, costs five bucks for 80 cubic feet. (2000 psi)

 

[Captante]

Because people buy them at the high prices.

I get mine at Costco for a whole lot less.

 

[jlee]

They must've gone up a lot lately...I thought they were in the $5-7 range still.

 

[zeruty]

They want to make money off of huffers?

 

[Scarpozzi]

At work, we got a few "ReAir" cans. They come with a small compressor and a check-valve at the bottom that allows you to refill them to a certain pressure. The problem is that they don't last as long, but they do pay for themselves if you're willing to fill them yourself.