How do you clean your computers?

[Preston Garvey]

From dust, that is. Do you use cans of air, air compressors (oil less or oil lubricated) or some other means? (Like DataVac). I currently use an oil-lubricated air compressor without a water separator but seeing how dangerous they really are to electronics I should probably look into using something else (maybe going back to the cans).

 

DataVac is out of the question, it's simply too expensive out of the U.S.

[Gale]

I use compressed air cans, and a soft brush for places I can't seem to clean with the air. I also cleared those ghouls for you.

[W-L]

In generally use compressed air cans and a brush to get stubborn one that won't leave. 

 

-Moved to General Discussion Section- 

[DragonTamer1]

I have a 50 gallon air compressor that helps get a lot of the dust out. Usually it gets the computer clean enough that I only need to use it once every 3 months or so.

 

About once a year I do a full system tear down and remove everything from the case. Dust filters heat sinks and fan fins get cleaned with water and sometimes soap. Fresh thermal paste is applied where it's needed, a lot of times I can scrape most of it off the heat sinks and put it back onto the GPU or CPU. Even the power supply gets opened up and cleaned inside (but not with water).

[aisle9]

1 hour ago, DragonTamer1 said:

a lot of times I can scrape most of it off the heat sinks and put it back onto the GPU or CPU.

...why? Why would you reuse old thermal paste?

[Cyracus]

I yank out my pressure washer for the old spray and pray

[DragonTamer1]

9 minutes ago, aisle9 said:

...why? Why would you reuse old thermal paste?

There is usually nothing wrong with it, it just needs to be moved around with a tongue depressor so it's not too thin.

 

Remembering that I'm too poor to even afford thermal paste I make that shit last for as long as I can.

[Herman Mcpootis]

I'd get Nate and Nora to do it, they help out settlements so well, they'll probably do a good job with cleaning computers.

[Preston Garvey]

8 hours ago, Gale said:

I use compressed air cans, and a soft brush for places I can't seem to clean with the air. I also cleared those ghouls for you.

 

Any specific brand of air or do you use what you come across, so to speak?

 

Thank you, General. I've received word that another settlement needs your help. A pack of raiders.

 

8 hours ago, W-L said:

In generally use compressed air cans and a brush to get stubborn one that won't leave. 

 

-Moved to General Discussion Section- 

 

This seems to be common practice. How do you deal with pressure loss when the cans get too cold? Do you have two or more to alternate with or do you simply wait?

 

6 hours ago, DragonTamer1 said:

I have a 50 gallon air compressor that helps get a lot of the dust out. Usually it gets the computer clean enough that I only need to use it once every 3 months or so.

 

About once a year I do a full system tear down and remove everything from the case. Dust filters heat sinks and fan fins get cleaned with water and sometimes soap. Fresh thermal paste is applied where it's needed, a lot of times I can scrape most of it off the heat sinks and put it back onto the GPU or CPU. Even the power supply gets opened up and cleaned inside (but not with water).

 

Is that compressor oil-lubricated? If so, do you have oil and water separators on it?

 

You're a better person than me, then. I can't for the life of me be arsed to do a full system tear down just for cleaning.

 

4 hours ago, herman mcpootis said:

I'd get Nate and Nora to do it, they help out settlements so well, they'll probably do a good job with cleaning computers.

They're too busy helping settlements, I've personally seen to that.

[Gale]

24 minutes ago, Preston Garvey said:

Any specific brand of air or do you use what you come across, so to speak?

I usually use this one, but none of the random ones I've used before have been bad.

24 minutes ago, Preston Garvey said:

Thank you, General. I've received word that another settlement needs your help. A pack of raiders.

Sure.

 

*Later* Let me delete this side-quest from my Pip-- I CAN'T.

[Preston Garvey]

3 minutes ago, Gale said:

I usually use this one, but none of the random ones I've used before have been bad.

Sure.

 

*Later* Let me delete this side-quest from my Pip-- I CAN'T.

 

Looks nice. I'll see if we have anything similar here in Sweden.

 

You're doomed, General. *laughs manically*

[DragonTamer1]

8 hours ago, Preston Garvey said:

Is that compressor oil-lubricated? If so, do you have oil and water separators on it?

No, it's an oil free compressor that was originally bought when we were replacing our roof and needed more air for all the nailguns. If I let it fill all the way up I could easily clean 6 or 7 computers before I would need to turn it back on.

 

Link to the overkill monster.

[Preston Garvey]

1 hour ago, DragonTamer1 said:

No, it's an oil free compressor that was originally bought when we were replacing our roof and needed more air for all the nailguns. If I let it fill all the way up I could easily clean 6 or 7 computers before I would need to turn it back on.

 

Link to the overkill monster.

That price tag almost makes me teary-eyed because I know it's going to be a LOT more expensive here in Sweden.

[WoodenMarker]

I take things apart and wipe them with paper towels/tissues. 

[DragonTamer1]

40 minutes ago, Preston Garvey said:

That price tag almost makes me teary-eyed because I know it's going to be a LOT more expensive here in Sweden.

That one is serious overkill, like I said it was bought for while we were redoing the roof and there were a lot of people using nail guns. The small portable one just couldn't keep up with even one of them.

[W-L]

@Preston Garvey

usually my system has a very light amount of dust so it's not too big of an issue but multiple cans help. A small air compressor with a dessicator to prevent moisture also works really well.

[ThomasD]

Compressed air, an couple old artists brushes and (gasp!) a vacuum.

 

Remain calm, it's an in wall unit which means the tip is metal and it is grounded.

[FRN]

Father-in-law have an air compressor in his machine shop. I sneak in the night to blow some dust. LOL.

[SageOfSpice]

I use an air compressor.

 

It's just a little oil-less unit. It was cheaper than a data-vac, so...

Charge it to 60 psi, and blow away. 

 

Not that much dust collects in it. The only hole in my case that isn't filtered is the exhaust.

[B16CXHatch]

Due to how quickly dust accumulates, I use air cans for clearing the front filters or any other quick clean ups. I also have an air bulb as a back up. For real cleaning every few months, I lug the heavy SOB down to the garage and fire up the compressor. I drop the truck's tailgate and set the computer on a mat in the bed. I then blast away with the garage door open. I usually remove the PSU, video card, sound card and SSDs before hand as well. Clean them separately. I also wash the filters in the sink too.

[v-raze]

I'm too poor for air cans or a compressor, so I generally use a few different sized brushes. If I have a system apart, I'll use a rag. When cleaning a really dirty one (like the family PC) I'll take the fans & heatsinks and wash them with warm water & a sponge. For cleaning out cases, power supplies, or older towers I don't care about as much, I'll take it outside and use a plug-in leaf blower.

 

Yes, I frequently clean dust out of computers and parts with a leaf blower.

[asand1]

I have a 22Gal oilless compressor, Why would I buy air in a can

[Equlizer]

I am surprised no one said Data Vac.  I've had mine for a few years now and love it!