Probably a stupid question...

hohum · Feb 15, 2004, 11:41 PM

Not sure where to post this so thought i'd try here

You know those cans of compressed air you can buy? Well my question is are they safe to use for cleaning a motherboard or graphics card etc? It's a really n00bish question I know, but I don't want to go ahead and find out after that they contain some special chemical that dissolves circuit boards

But seriously, i'd imagine there's some sort of vapour produced as a result of compressing the air - just unsure as all the cans i've seen seem to give uses such as cleaning keyboards, fans, cd drives etc, and no mention of pc components. So... safe? Yes, no?

/me walks off feeling rather silly posting this...

Gizmo[5h1t3] · Feb 15, 2004, 11:44 PM

not as silly as it might sound m8....you didnt know...so therfore you asked.

the cans are perfectly safe for using to clean up around the memory slots...CPU, graphics card etc.....the pressure isnt so great as to harm components.

unlike other boards....driverheaven doesnt have a "lets take the p**s out of the n00bs" policy.

if you dont know...just ask.

TwistedMetal · Feb 15, 2004, 11:54 PM

As said above cans of air are perceft for computer hardware.

Other tip, use a Q-Tip to clean the fans really good.

Gizmo[5h1t3] · Feb 16, 2004, 12:00 AM

also....when the motherboard gets really dirty....i use a really soft.....fine bristled paint brush.....1/2 inch..........works a treat gettin the dust off of the circuits.

@/2ct!< · Feb 16, 2004, 12:35 AM

I thought Judas said they had micro particles in them and dont hold the can too close, was a while back though..

Dyre Straits · Feb 16, 2004, 01:01 AM

The cans of compressed air are excellent for this kind of cleaning. I've used them for years and they are highly recommended by reputable technicians.

My only suggestion to add to this is:

If the inside is noticeably dirty with 'dust bunnies', I'd disconnect everything and take the case outside to do the cleaning. Why fill the room and surrounding area with all the dust so it can just re-enter the computer and cause potential problems with other things? Just keep in mind that what you blow out of your computer goes 'somewhere'.

You might also keep in mind to not put the case down on the floor. That's where most of the dust will settle in a house and the computer will tend to get dirtier faster if placed there.

Mazuko · Feb 16, 2004, 03:06 AM

The can advises you to keep it a few feet away from whatever you are spraying. It is wise advice as it does generate some condensation and can even freeze skin as it is so cold. Just keep it a good distance from your PC and you should be golden

zerodamage · Feb 16, 2004, 03:16 AM

Not a stupid question at all.

Another alternate may be a vacuum kit. You can pick them up at computer places. It is a kit which allows you to hook up attachments to your vacuum cleaner and instead of blowing dust every which way, it sucks it in.

To avoid the above issue of dust going everywhere, clean out your case more often.

swimtech · Feb 16, 2004, 03:54 AM

Should be a part of every computer owner's maintenance kit - and that kit is not very big either. There is no substitute for canned air especially for cleaning the keyboard (food crumbs, and I haven't seen a vacuum that could get it all yet - blow it out into the open!), and, if your comfortable doing so, inside the power supply once a year (taking off the cover after unplugging and removing from the 'puter).

Never had a problem with the air causing damage to components or plastics in twenty years...

Dyre Straits · Feb 16, 2004, 04:01 AM

There's one big issue I have to mention about possibly using a vacuum to do the job: Static Electricity!

This is the main reason for using compressed air rather than this option. Also, you really don't want to get any nozzles really close to your components.

I'm not trying to doubt zerodamage's remarks about this, BUT, it's VERY important to understand this issue especially in the winter time when the surrounding air is very dry.

I, personally, won't do it. I had someone even give me a gift of a battery-powered vacuum a few Christmases ago. I have yet to put batteries in it.

zerodamage · Feb 16, 2004, 04:05 AM

That is why I recommend a kit just for computers and vacuum cleaners. Every attachment has bristles on the end that are non conductive and will not transfer electricty, meaning no static. The attachments should also be all plastic. Non Conductive material. All is good. Just do not put the suction directly on a capacitor or anything, it may not be there when you finish.

hohum · Feb 16, 2004, 01:09 PM

Thanks for the replies, I tend to use a camera lens cleaning brush to loosen any dust that's settled then vacuum it - just that some areas I can't do this (particularly around the cpu area due to the capacitors all huddled around it) and wanted to know if cans of compressed air were safe to use. Guess they are then

Ta.

Dyre Straits · Feb 16, 2004, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hohum
Thanks for the replies, I tend to use a camera lens cleaning brush to loosen any dust that's settled then vacuum it - just that some areas I can't do this (particularly around the cpu area due to the capacitors all huddled around it) and wanted to know if cans of compressed air were safe to use. Guess they are then

Ta.

You might be amazed at how much dust gets caught around the cooling fans. Only a blast from a can of compressed air is sufficient to get that removed.

If you have ceiling fans in your house, just notice how much dust gets caught on the front edge. The same thing happens to the fans in your computer.

Bane the ECF · Feb 18, 2004, 12:49 AM

Don't blow a can of compressed air directly into fans either. That's a great way to destroy them.

Dyre Straits · Feb 18, 2004, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bane the ECF
Don't blow a can of compressed air directly into fans either. That's a great way to destroy them.

I have never destroyed a fan by blowing the dust off it with a can of compressed air. I've done this for years. BUT, you do have to do with them just like the rest of the job and not get the can's air tube too close to them. A good distance is about 10 - 12 inches.

If you've done it this way and disabled the fan, it was likely about to go anyway.

swimtech · Feb 18, 2004, 02:43 PM

I love the sound the fans make when you blow 80psi out of a compressor line across those fan blades - wow (but for only a moment though). I haven't damaged one that way yet (yes, our shop has filtered compressed air lines to each work station - nice...) but I have been judicious not to rev 'em too high.

Feb 15, 2004, 11:41 PM	#1
hohum HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: UK Posts: 298 Rep Power: 0	Probably a stupid question... Not sure where to post this so thought i'd try here You know those cans of compressed air you can buy? Well my question is are they safe to use for cleaning a motherboard or graphics card etc? It's a really n00bish question I know, but I don't want to go ahead and find out after that they contain some special chemical that dissolves circuit boards But seriously, i'd imagine there's some sort of vapour produced as a result of compressing the air - just unsure as all the cans i've seen seem to give uses such as cleaning keyboards, fans, cd drives etc, and no mention of pc components. So... safe? Yes, no? /me walks off feeling rather silly posting this...

Feb 15, 2004, 11:54 PM	#3
TwistedMetal MC John-117 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 728 Rep Power: 0	As said above cans of air are perceft for computer hardware. Other tip, use a Q-Tip to clean the fans really good. __________________ [color=red][/color]

Feb 16, 2004, 12:35 AM	#5
@/2ct!< HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Not Vegas, anymore :( Posts: 1,391 Rep Power: 0	I thought Judas said they had micro particles in them and dont hold the can too close, was a while back though.. __________________

Feb 16, 2004, 03:06 AM	#7
Mazuko DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 1,008 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	The can advises you to keep it a few feet away from whatever you are spraying. It is wise advice as it does generate some condensation and can even freeze skin as it is so cold. Just keep it a good distance from your PC and you should be golden __________________ E-bay feedback: http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...me=STRK:ME:UFS

Feb 16, 2004, 03:54 AM	#9
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	Should be a part of every computer owner's maintenance kit - and that kit is not very big either. There is no substitute for canned air especially for cleaning the keyboard (food crumbs, and I haven't seen a vacuum that could get it all yet - blow it out into the open!), and, if your comfortable doing so, inside the power supply once a year (taking off the cover after unplugging and removing from the 'puter). Never had a problem with the air causing damage to components or plastics in twenty years... __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Feb 15, 2004, 11:44 PM	#2
Gizmo[5h1t3] DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Rochdale MCR England Posts: 176 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	not as silly as it might sound m8....you didnt know...so therfore you asked. the cans are perfectly safe for using to clean up around the memory slots...CPU, graphics card etc.....the pressure isnt so great as to harm components. unlike other boards....driverheaven doesnt have a "lets take the p**s out of the n00bs" policy. if you dont know...just ask.

Feb 16, 2004, 12:00 AM	#4
Gizmo[5h1t3] DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Rochdale MCR England Posts: 176 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	also....when the motherboard gets really dirty....i use a really soft.....fine bristled paint brush.....1/2 inch..........works a treat gettin the dust off of the circuits.

Feb 16, 2004, 03:16 AM	#8
zerodamage HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 3,478 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Not a stupid question at all. Another alternate may be a vacuum kit. You can pick them up at computer places. It is a kit which allows you to hook up attachments to your vacuum cleaner and instead of blowing dust every which way, it sucks it in. To avoid the above issue of dust going everywhere, clean out your case more often.

Feb 16, 2004, 04:05 AM	#11
zerodamage HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 3,478 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	That is why I recommend a kit just for computers and vacuum cleaners. Every attachment has bristles on the end that are non conductive and will not transfer electricty, meaning no static. The attachments should also be all plastic. Non Conductive material. All is good. Just do not put the suction directly on a capacitor or anything, it may not be there when you finish.

Feb 16, 2004, 01:09 PM	Thread Starter #12
hohum HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: UK Posts: 298 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the replies, I tend to use a camera lens cleaning brush to loosen any dust that's settled then vacuum it - just that some areas I can't do this (particularly around the cpu area due to the capacitors all huddled around it) and wanted to know if cans of compressed air were safe to use. Guess they are then Ta.

Feb 18, 2004, 12:49 AM	#14
Bane the ECF DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 220 Rep Power: 0	Don't blow a can of compressed air directly into fans either. That's a great way to destroy them. __________________ ASUS K8N-E Motherboard Athlon 64 3200+ 10x200MHz Zalman CNPS7000A-Cu Heatsink & Fan 2x512MB Mushkin Black Level 2 PC-3500 ATi Radeon X800 SE 256MB 100GB Western Digital SE 8MB 7200RPM 320GB Seagate 8MB 7200 RPM Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Sony 19" E400 Trinitron Thermaltake Xaser III V2000A All-Aluminum Logitech Z-5300 5.1 Surround Sound

Feb 18, 2004, 02:43 PM	#16
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	I love the sound the fans make when you blow 80psi out of a compressor line across those fan blades - wow (but for only a moment though). I haven't damaged one that way yet (yes, our shop has filtered compressed air lines to each work station - nice...) but I have been judicious not to rev 'em too high. __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.