Dust Removal Question

[Noctua Fan Fan]

This isn't TECHNICALLY air cooling, but its kinda an appropriate sub. Please tell me where to go if not but:

 

What tools do you guys use to clean dust out of your PCs? I dont want to use cans of compressed air due to waste. I'd like some sort of handheld air blower. What do you guys use?

[SupaKomputa]

toothbrush and a vacuum.

[Radium_Angel]

2 minutes ago, EmpC said:

What do you guys use?

They make dust blowers you plug in, like an endless can of compressed air. Works great

[Noctua Fan Fan]

Just now, SupaKomputa said:

toothbrush and a vacuum.

I use a fine paintbrush in lieu of a toothbrush (I fear they can be too coarse).

 

When you say a vaccum, like a regular household one? You prefer to pull the dust out than push it out?

[Boomwebsearch]

6 minutes ago, SupaKomputa said:

toothbrush and a vacuum.

 

Not sure if this is a joke, although this can definitely cause damage to your computer, a toothbrush's movement will generate static and when you are pulling air (such as with a vacuum cleaner) static gets generated. ESD (electrostatic discharge) can kill your hardware and/or damage it. A can of compressed air would work best, although there are electronic dusters available if you don't want to keep having to buy cans of compressed air such as a DataVac or XPower Airrow.

 

https://xpower.com/shop/a-2-airrow-pro-multipurpose-electric-duster-blower/

[SupaKomputa]

Pull the dust out certainly, i don't want to sniff it. Compressed air should do it, but i don't have one in my house.

There's a radical way thats common in used part workshop, is to wash it down with a good old detergent.

Some succesfully revived old motherboard with this method, fully dried ofcourse.

[SupaKomputa]

 

[Boomwebsearch]

Just now, SupaKomputa said:

Pull the dust out certainly, i don't want to sniff it.

When you are pulling air, Electrostatic Discharge gets generated that can damage/kill you hardware component/s, if you don't want the dust getting everywhere then do your dust blowing outside.

 

 

Just now, SupaKomputa said:

There's a radical way thats common in used part workshop, is to wash it down with a good old detergent.

Some succesfully revived old motherboard with this method, fully dried ofcourse.

Just now, SupaKomputa said:

 

 

LOL, you do realize that this is a joke/troll video and was for entertainment purposes only, read the video description:

 

[Applefreak]

Depends on the component. If inside a pc case for example, I have a hair dryer and an improvised cone for my vacuum to suck all the particles in. Works pretty well. For components like cpu heatsinks, I remove them first and use non oiling contact cleaner and then let it dry before using it again. For radiators or tower heatsinks as well as pc cases in general (with all the hardware removed) I prefer to rinse it with a shower head and some warm water with mild cleaning products. For gpu heatsinks, without removing anything first, either blow with your mouth but let it dry up before putting it back in or use one of those balloon air thingies that you use to create a vacuum. Also a hand or foot pump for bicycles works great as long as your computer is on a desk and you can operate the pump standing up.

[MartinKweh]

I literally use a leaf blower lol. Though i tape the fans so they wont spin . Then just manually clean the stuff that wont come off. Usually i dont do the second part since the leaf blower does things great. Though i lower the power to about half so the components wont just fly away lol

[Noctua Fan Fan]

12 minutes ago, Boomwebsearch said:

 

Not sure if this is a joke, although this can definitely cause damage to your computer, a toothbrush's movement will generate static and when you are pulling air (such as with a vacuum cleaner) static gets generated. ESD (electrostatic discharge) can kill your hardware and/or damage it. A can of compressed air would work best, although there are electronic dusters available if you don't want to keep having to buy cans of compressed air such as a DataVac or XPower Airrow.

 

https://xpower.com/shop/a-2-airrow-pro-multipurpose-electric-duster-blower/

This is exactly the kind of recommendation I was looking for.

 

The needless waste of compressed air vs how much I'll spend over 12 months is a consideration.

 

Do you use linked?

[SupaKomputa]

Just now, Boomwebsearch said:

LOL, you do realize that this is a joke/troll video and was for entertainment purposes only, read the video description:

Haha, oh man i don't see it. But really, i've seen it with my own eyes, how they dump it in soap water, brush it a little, 2 days later it's working again.

Never had the nerve to try it though.

 

this one is serious, no joke

 

[Noctua Fan Fan]

3 minutes ago, Applefreak said:

Depends on the component. If inside a pc case for example, I have a hair dryer and an improvised cone for my vacuum to suck all the particles in. Works pretty well. For components like cpu heatsinks, I remove them first and use non oiling contact cleaner and then let it dry before using it again. For radiators or tower heatsinks as well as pc cases in general (with all the hardware removed) I prefer to rinse it with a shower head and some warm water with mild cleaning products. For gpu heatsinks, without removing anything first, either blow with your mouth but let it dry up before putting it back in or use one of those balloon air thingies that you use to create a vacuum. Also a hand or foot pump for bicycles works great as long as your computer is on a desk and you can operate the pump standing up.

This is awesome info, thank you! I'm focussing on just general 'housekeeping' when removing dust from natural build up.

[Noctua Fan Fan]

Just now, SupaKomputa said:

Haha, oh man i don't see it. But really, i've seen it with my own eyes, how they dump it in soap water, brush it a little, 2 days later it's working again.

Never had the nerve to try it though.

 

this one is serious, no joke

 

Just to elaborate on my query, I'm just looking to clean normal build up. Not an attic for 10 years clean. Just general housekeeping on my daily driver.

[Noctua Fan Fan]

9 minutes ago, MartinKweh said:

I literally use a leaf blower lol. Though i tape the fans so they wont spin . Then just manually clean the stuff that wont come off. Usually i dont do the second part since the leaf blower does things great. Though i lower the power to about half so the components wont just fly away lol

That's amazing.

 

Has Linus et al done a video on the best way to clean dust out of your PC?

 

I feel like watching them do it with a leafblower would be amazing to see haha.

[CommanderAlex]

I use a dry vac with the hose on the exhaust which is built into the dry vac design and blows pretty hard. For the fans, I sometimes use a rubber band and a wooden clothespin to secure the fan from spinning. Sometimes, I'll remove the case fans and use my pinky wrapped in a microfiber cloth to clean the fins as blowing does not remove the dust that much. I did use an air compressor but you have to worry about moisture getting in the lines and also if the air compressor is an oiled-type, oil may pass through as well!! 

[Boomwebsearch]

8 minutes ago, EmpC said:

That's amazing.

 

Has Linus et al done a video on the best way to clean dust out of your PC?

 

I feel like watching them do it with a leafblower would be amazing to see haha.

 

 

17 minutes ago, EmpC said:

This is exactly the kind of recommendation I was looking for.

 

The needless waste of compressed air vs how much I'll spend over 12 months is a consideration.

 

Do you use linked?

You're welcome, I have borrowed the XPower Airrow from a friend a few times before to dust off my computer equipment and it worked great, if you have an air compressor or even a bike pump and use it carefully on the lowest setting from a distance that would work fine as well.

[Noctua Fan Fan]

2 minutes ago, Boomwebsearch said:

 

 

You're welcome, I have borrowed the XPower Airrow from a friend a few times before to dust off my computer equipment and it worked great, if you have an air compressor or even a bike pump and use it carefully on the lowest setting from a distance that would work fine as well.

You the man for these and the info.

 

I appreciate your time

[SolarNova]

2 hours ago, EmpC said:

This isn't TECHNICALLY air cooling, but its kinda an appropriate sub. Please tell me where to go if not but:

 

What tools do you guys use to clean dust out of your PCs? I dont want to use cans of compressed air due to waste. I'd like some sort of handheld air blower. What do you guys use?

Soft brush and a vacuum.

 

 

[freeagent]

I use this guy, it’s awesome.

 

https://metrovac.com/products/datavac-electric-duster?variant=18877237067849

[Mick Naughty]

A small compressor works just as well. Pretty cheap too. I have a 30 gallon in the next room so I just carry them over which is quite the hassle. But a long hose or a little pancake compressor would be nice. 

[Demonic Donut]

I use compressed nitrogen because I have it on hand, and a bonus is it's dry. If stuff gets stuck I'll use a toothbrush. When I repaste, I'll remove coolers and wash them in the sink.

 

Be careful with air compressors. They WILL collect some moisture if not blown down properly. And a fine mist blowing out of your nozzle might not be noticed.