Using leaf blower to dust a PC!

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Yep. Moving that much air causes static buildup and discharge. I see it in my shop year after year and its usually the motherboard that was damaged.

It wont happen to everyone, but it is a risk that people should understand. ... and a costly one if they dont know how to diagnose what fried, and how to replace it.
 
I'd take a Vacuum to my computer long before I'd take a sponge to it...


I'd be more worried about oxidation than shorting something out. I also wouldn't feel safe going around my mobo and shorting out the caps.

Seems like a lot more work than taking a duster to it. What's the benefit?
 
I can't believe that a vacume that did not touch anything killed a computer. If there was not static discharge that went over to one of the computer's componets then how did the air kill the computer. Then I guess you need to be careful how fast you run your exhaust fan on your case............... :wink:

Sounds like she didn't tell you the whole story. I have take comptuers apart on carpet, in my garage on a dirity floor, when it was wet, dry you name it and I have done it and I have never killed one yet. I did fry a cpu once by putting the heat sink on backwards but that was plain dumb on my part.
 
I've always found my paintball gun works great. High pressured but extremely short bursts of pure air.

For those of you hyping canned air: What is it about being canned that lowers the static? Air is air is it not? Besides, canned air can spit and what not, which is why you are NEVER supposed to use it on more delicate equipment like camera CCD's. If it's just that you're using less air, than short bursts off of a very thin nozzle on an airc ompressor would be even better (higher pressure = less air), and probably nothing would beat a paintball gun. Thoughts?
 
Ever hear "there is electricity in the air". Well thats something different, related to thunderstorms.


Dry air and dust particles can rub together to create a static charge that can discharge inside the computer. When you increase the airflow to much higher volumes such as produced by a vacuum, then this effect is magnified enough to kill parts.

Now dust inside a computer, when it is to the point that it is thick and clumpy can shock and kill easily with the fans inside.
 
AFAIK, Air molecules won't cause static electricity: it's the water molecules in the air that cause/maintain a charge.

As for the vacuum; did she plug the vacuum into the same outlet as the cmoputer? Vacuums use a lot of Amps, and it couldv've blown the PSU. Also, some vacuuma have a "brush"-type attachment. I can see that holding a static charge.

What damages components is NOT static electricity: it's static discharge. This means that something must build up enough of a static charge to discharge and fry a component. Any static electricity that builds up in the computer would be absorbed by the ground (case), and any static charge that builds in the air would be held by small water molecules and eventually dispersed until no charge was left (When was the last time you got shocked in mid-air?).

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I know, it doesn't make sense that blowing fast air on your computer would harm it.
 
The compressor with a de-humidifier is the go, A leaf blower or vacuum will cause ESD and ruin components sooner or later.

On of the first things you'll learn in A+ certification is never use a vaccum on a computer.
 
The compressor with a de-humidifier is the go, A leaf blower or vacuum will cause ESD and ruin components sooner or later.

On of the first things you'll learn in A+ certification is never use a vaccum on a computer.
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agreed... but I live in Arizona, and there's relatively no humidity in the air... been blowing out PC's across 5 shops for at least 5 years (25 years totalled between the shops) using compressors, and not 1 ESD related death...

who the hell buys canned AIR anyway?! the stuff is FREE HAHAHA LAWL!!

*continues to chuckle as he drinks his imported evian bottle of WATER)*
 
Leaf blower works just fine. Make sure you do it outside and at a distance. The blower creates more volume of air at a lower pressure. As long as you stay at least a foot away their should be no problems.

You will still need to remove the cpu and case fans for the final cleaning.
 
who the hell buys canned AIR anyway?!
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As president of Planet Spaceball, I can assure both you and your viewers that there's absolutely no air shortage whatsoever. Yes, of course. I've heard the same rumor myself. Yes, thanks for calling and not reversing the charges. Bye-bye.
:lol:
 
who the hell buys canned AIR anyway?!
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As president of Planet Spaceball, I can assure both you and your viewers that there's absolutely no air shortage whatsoever. Yes, of course. I've heard the same rumor myself. Yes, thanks for calling and not reversing the charges. Bye-bye.
:lol:


YES! 😀 (President Skroob was my second choice for my THG profile name, but sirrobin4ever wasn't in use, so here I am.....)

I always use "Perri-Air" to clean out my PC....I mean, it canned in Druidia, and is salt-free, so I don't have any corrosion problems! 😀 8) :lol:
 
Exactly where can I buy the Binford 3000? Seriously though, I can see there are varied opinions on the subject of using a leaf blower. Once again thank you all for the assistance. I guess its up to me now. Thanks again
 
If you use an electrical blower, especially and unshielded one, the air can be statically charged which has the potential for damage...

Compressed Air is Simply the Safest and Recommended way...
regardless of which source of propellant is used, ground yourself to the PC and do not go RAMBO cleaning it...
 
It takes me 2-3 cans to clean 4 computers to my satisfaction. So at $5.99 per can it adds up. I guess I could get a better house keeper. It would still be cheaper in the long run to spend $30.00 on the ShopVac. I hope this clears up any confusion.
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Whoa, dude - you have a housekeeper and yet quibble over $6 cans of compressed air?? :lol:

Just ask your housekeeper if she does Windows :)

Seriously, I have a house vac system that I installed myself, and for an extra $15 I got a PC attachment kit which comprises a reducer with variable vacuum bypass attached to a 3' long hose, with tiny brush and nozzle attachments. The vacuum itself is a 2-motor monster sitting in the basement - running all that PVC piping through the attic & walls was a bear, however. Much easier if you do it while the house is being built :).

Biggest dust-bunny generator I have found is cheap wall-to-wall carpeting, plus having a dryer upstairs near my computer "office" [aka spare bedroom]. Next house I buy is gonna have the fake hardwood flooring instead of carpeting.
 
Air is bad....it moves dust instead of removing it. Dust also has a chance to enter into areas like hard drives, CD Roms, mods, etc.... Air compressors have moisture or oil in the air. You don't want to spray that on your system. You can get filters for compressors but that's still no good...your blowing.

The best thing is a vacuum. If you have a vacuum get a micro attachment kit for cleaning electronics. You can buy them at hardware stores cheap. They are all the same, the one branded Shop Vac should be easy to find. Only $10 for the kit and it has everything you need to get every nick and cranny.

People might claim static with the vacuum, but I never had a problem using that in a computer shop for 10+ years. You can get specialty static free vacuums but they are $300.

I'd go the electronics vacuum accesory package for $10. Works way better than air and is cheaper. If you don't have a vacuum go get a Rigid Shop Vac over at home depot. The price of the shop vac and the kit is less than an air compressor and it would give you a shop vac for cleaning your car :)
 
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