Anyone know of a good effective way of ridding dust build up from heatsink
fans and components without damaging anything?

On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 14:47:08 -0800, Ryan wrote:
>
> Anyone know of a good effective way of ridding dust build up from heatsink
> fans and components without damaging anything?

You will get dust on internal items no matter how clean your computer area
is. I like the poof-can's you can purchase at most office supply and
computer stores, but if you have an air compressor with clean/dry air, set
the pressure to about 40 PSI and go at it.

Once you get it clean, a typical home, the computer should be cleaned at
least once a year. I've been in some clients offices (cement factories)
where they needed cleaned once every 2 months, about the same as one
neighbor we have

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"Ryan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote...
> Anyone know of a good effective way of ridding dust build up from heatsink
> fans and components without damaging anything?

Small vacuum cleaner with a small a crevice tool as you can find.

Though there are REALLY small "micro" vacs sold, you can use any vacuum that has
a reasonable (not "maximum") suction. There should be nothing useful running
around loose in the case. Just in case you overdo it, put a clean bag in the
vacuum before you start, so you can retrieve anything inadvertently sucked in.

We use a 3M static-free vac.

Wonderful thingy.

Matt Gibson - GSEC

"Ryan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:A8B526A6-0CB8-4709-BD3F-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Anyone know of a good effective way of ridding dust build up from heatsink
> fans and components without damaging anything?

On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 15:01:08 -0800, John R Weiss wrote:
>
> "Ryan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote...
>> Anyone know of a good effective way of ridding dust build up from heatsink
>> fans and components without damaging anything?
>
> Small vacuum cleaner with a small a crevice tool as you can find.

Bad idea - any non-computer vacuum will cause a severe static build-up
that could easily damage computer parts, I've seen it happen. Clean/Dry
air is the best method (as long as you don't use 100PSI).

> Though there are REALLY small "micro" vacs sold, you can use any vacuum that has
> a reasonable (not "maximum") suction. There should be nothing useful running
> around loose in the case. Just in case you overdo it, put a clean bag in the
> vacuum before you start, so you can retrieve anything inadvertently sucked in.

Those computer vac's are designed to eliminate static caused by the
airflow across the plastic tools/hose.

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Ryan wrote:
| Anyone know of a good effective way of ridding dust build up from
| heatsink fans and components without damaging anything?

Vacuum cleaner, Styrofoam cup, 5/16 plastic hose.

If one is careful, then anything can be donw with reasonable results.

If one uses an artists paint brush in one hand to 'loosen' the dust, and
then holds a vacuum nozzle nearby with the other, there'll be sufficient
vacuum to draw the dust away from the components as it is loosened.

Some parts can easily be removed from the PC, such as case fans, that will
enable more thorough cleaning of the fan and give better access to the
internal surfaces.

It is possible to buy dust filters to palce over any fan that draws air into
a PC which will help to a degree.

The best solution is to keep the PC off a floor especially if it is
carpeted, using a small stand.

"BBUNNY" wrote:

> Ryan wrote:
> | Anyone know of a good effective way of ridding dust build up from
> | heatsink fans and components without damaging anything?
>
> Vacuum cleaner, Styrofoam cup, 5/16 plastic hose.
>
>
>

If you live in a dry, dusty place such as Phoenix,
keeping the system off the floor makes almost no difference
unless you have pets. I've tried.

Take off system cover(s), take chassis outside. Put
it up off the ground on something ( I use an upside-down
trash can, a card table would be good). Close all the windows
to your house so the mess you're about to make doesn't blow inside.

Use the "blow" side of a good shop vac to
BLOW, not SUCK, all the crap out. Kinda like
a leaf blower. Empty the vac bucket and wash it and
the filter before starting. Keep the hose AWAY at least
12 inches, under NO circumstances touch the hose
to the case or any part of it. Don't even get close. Static can build-up
on plastic hoses. Wave the hose around until you
stop generating a dust cloud by doing so. Don't miss
cracks/crevices. Do NOT aim into CD/DVD/floppy/tape, etc. drive
slots/trays/cooling holes-too delicate in there. Optical drives need
to be disassembled to be cleaned effectively. This is
generally a moot point these days, as the quality of optical drives
has declined such in our "race to the bottom-build 'em as cheap
as possible" society, the drive will likely fail way before
it ever needs cleaning.

Don't use a compressed air hose to do the same
thing, pressure's too high and there can be oil in the air.

And now, anticipating the inevitable bashing of this
method from "those who know better", this has been my method
of choice for 15+ years and 20+ systems, and I have NEVER
had ANY problems arise from doing it, if done with care
and common sense.


"Ryan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:A8B526A6-0CB8-4709-BD3F-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Anyone know of a good effective way of ridding dust build up from heatsink
> fans and components without damaging anything?

On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 17:23:17 -0700, V Green wrote:
>
> Don't use a compressed air hose to do the same
> thing, pressure's too high and there can be oil in the air.

That's why I said to lower the pressure to about 40 PSI.

> And now, anticipating the inevitable bashing of this
> method from "those who know better", this has been my method
> of choice for 15+ years and 20+ systems, and I have NEVER
> had ANY problems arise from doing it, if done with care
> and common sense.

Actually, I've done it many times too and it works quite well, but I
always open all removable drives slots and blow clean air through them
too, never had a problem doing it. I forgot about the Shop-Vac method when
I brought up this method, it's less prone to getting static actually
touching the parts since it's a blow rather than a vac. Good job
mentioning this one.

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"Leythos" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote...
>>
>> Small vacuum cleaner with a small a crevice tool as you can find.
>
> Bad idea - any non-computer vacuum will cause a severe static build-up
> that could easily damage computer parts, I've seen it happen. Clean/Dry
> air is the best method (as long as you don't use 100PSI).

Simply blowing the dust out doesn't eliminate/contain it -- it will simply
settle elsewhere...


>> Though there are REALLY small "micro" vacs sold, you can use any vacuum that
>> has
>> a reasonable (not "maximum") suction.
>
> Those computer vac's are designed to eliminate static caused by the
> airflow across the plastic tools/hose.

That's fine. I've never had a problem with the portable Oreck we have.