Leaf blower as PC cleaner

[Faisal A]

Can I use a leaf blower as a PC cleaner ? I have heard hair dryers kill the motherboard but not quite sure about leaf blowers.

[Guest]

It’s not a good idea. I’d go for an air compressor instead and use that. A leaf blower has more dirty air, and more turbulent.

[Tilaron]

Use a can of compressed air and a vacuum to suck up all the crap it flings out. A leaf blower is overkill.

[Aimi]

Sure, it's really good at cleaning out all those pesky working parts.

[Tamesh16]

41 minutes ago, floofer said:

air compressor

if you need a permanent solution this for sure , you can get then quite cheap 

_{also can of  compressed air is quite cheap too} 

[mr moose]

I did it once because I had no other option.  It worked great, just make sure you hold the fans so they don't spin up too fast from the air flow.

[Tamesh16]

1 minute ago, mr moose said:

It worked great

was it electric?

[scottyseng]

I use the blower end of my shop vac, works well, but a leaf blower might be too crazy (gas blower? haha)

[Virus__]

2 hours ago, floofer said:

It’s not a good idea. I’d go for an air compressor instead and use that. A leaf blower has more dirty air, and more turbulent.

Also if you're gonna use an air compressor, might be smart to install an inline water/oil trap like you would use when using a paint gun on one, so you don't have oil & water come down the line & get blown into your PC components.

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Tamesh16 said:

if you need a permanent solution this for sure , you can get then quite cheap 

_{also can of  compressed air is quite cheap too} 

Cans of compressed air have liquid in them, which i’d be a bit paranoid about.

 

I got my air compressor for like $100 new, about the same cost as  a leaf blower.

 

[Tamesh16]

2 minutes ago, floofer said:

compressed air have liquid

thats understandable, people used to get high on the chemicals in there, i think its still not safe to inhale 

[Guest]

Just now, Tamesh16 said:

thats understandable, people used to get high on the chemicals in there, i think its still not safe to inhale 

Its probably not too bad, but don’t want it on computer components. 

[mr moose]

10 hours ago, Tamesh16 said:

was it electric?

yep.

[mr moose]

7 hours ago, floofer said:

Cans of compressed air have liquid in them, which i’d be a bit paranoid about.

 

I got my air compressor for like $100 new, about the same cost as  a leaf blower.

 

 

So do air compressors, unless you get a good quality water separator you'll have water vapor in the air.  In fact you will get more water from a shop compressor than from a can because they are usually filled with filtered dry air (if they weren't they would spray rust chunks after a short time).

 

 

[MyName13]

11 hours ago, floofer said:

It’s not a good idea. I’d go for an air compressor instead and use that. A leaf blower has more dirty air, and more turbulent.

Don't these contain water?

[Guest]

1 minute ago, mr moose said:

 

So do air compressors, unless you get a good quality water separator you'll have water vapor in the air.  In fact you will get more water from a shop compressor than from a can because they are usually filled with filtered dry air (if they weren't they would spray rust chunks after a short time).

 

 

It’s embarrassing to admit, I’ve never actually used a can of air and just bought an electric air compressor instead and don’t really know how to use it, apart from the air gun and paint gun. Oh and I used it to cool off in the summer.

[Loote]

From my experience with canned air it's important to hold it the right way up, otherwise you will get moisture out of the dispenser. We'd do it trying to freeze some things, lots of fun though the pressure is unimpressive, so the cleaning effect is subpar to the air compressor.

[mr moose]

10 minutes ago, floofer said:

It’s embarrassing to admit, I’ve never actually used a can of air and just bought an electric air compressor instead and don’t really know how to use it, apart from the air gun and paint gun. Oh and I used it to cool off in the summer.

Something like this will remove 99% of the water,  but like all things the more you spend on better quality the better your results.

 

https://www.amazon.com.au/Fasterhab-Regulator-Moisture-Compressor-Separator/dp/B07DN548DP/ref=asc_df_B07DN548DP/?tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341792992280&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3341988334422447487&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1000567&hvtargid=pla-763685114375&psc=1

 

 

If you look at the bottom of your tank, you should find a drainage valve for draining the water out of the tank.   Drain it after every use if you use it infrequently and at least weekly if more often.

[Guest]

1 minute ago, mr moose said:

Something like this will remove 99% of the water,  but like all things the more you spend on better quality the better your results.

 

https://www.amazon.com.au/Fasterhab-Regulator-Moisture-Compressor-Separator/dp/B07DN548DP/ref=asc_df_B07DN548DP/?tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341792992280&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3341988334422447487&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1000567&hvtargid=pla-763685114375&psc=1

 

 

If you look at the bottom of your tank, you should find a drainage valve for draining the water out of the tank.   Drain it after every use if you use it infrequently and at least weekly if more often.

Honestly I’m probably going to sell it, planned to fix the paint up on my car but it’s just been sitting there after the odd jobs. I’ll order one for the next guy that uses it, but it’s just the 2.5HP one from Repco, but I got a huge discount (not the store discount, because that’s just always on, and 10% off that). Don’t get me wrong though, they aren’t bad.

[mr moose]

3 minutes ago, floofer said:

Honestly I’m probably going to sell it, planned to fix the paint up on my car but it’s just been sitting there after the odd jobs. I’ll order one for the next guy that uses it, but it’s just the 2.5HP one from Repco, but I got a huge discount (not the store discount, because that’s just always on, and 10% off that). Don’t get me wrong though, they aren’t bad.

Just buy spay cans to fix your car, cheaper and just as good in the long run for home/diy/first time repairs.

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, mr moose said:

Just buy spay cans to fix your car, cheaper and just as good in the long run for home/diy/first time repairs.

Well I do have it now might as well use it tbh. It’s mainly clear coat that’s peeling in a few areas and some scratches, so nothing major at all. I already have all the tools just need the paint, primers and time.

[RejZoR]

Water when using compressors is not the issue. It'll evaporate because it's never pouring out of the nozzle like from a faucet. The problem is oil from a compressor. Not that it would damage components as is, but over time it'll build up stickly layer over components so dust will stick to it and you won't be able to blow it off. That's assuming you clean it really regularly. If you do it every 6 months like I do, I don't think it's gonna be a real problem. Especially since I replace components before that could happen.

[Tamesh16]

11 hours ago, comander said:

there is liquid. It's non-conductive.

its usually a short chained Fluoride and some air, and thats why the can feels like it has some liquid in it 

[BuckGup]

23 hours ago, floofer said:

It’s not a good idea. I’d go for an air compressor instead and use that. A leaf blower has more dirty air, and more turbulent.

How is the air more dirty? Maybe if it's caked in dirt but the fact that's its a leaf blower doesn't make the air magically dirty

[Guest]

3 hours ago, BuckGup said:

How is the air more dirty? Maybe if it's caked in dirt but the fact that's its a leaf blower doesn't make the air magically dirty

Because it’s sucking it in from the air, then blowing in, so if you have a bit of dust, or are outside, that will be blow into your case.