Mini air-pumps for cleaning stuff ?

[MathWizard]

I just saw a mini air-compressor on sale and thought it was for cleaning, but it was for artwork. Does any make mini air-compressors/pumps just for cleaning ? Something no bigger than a small tire pump, and fits on a bench.

A few times I've used a big compressor to clean electronics, and it was wonderful. If i had a mini one, I'd use it on my computers all the time too.

[langwadt]

all over ali and amazon, https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010495396437.html

[AndyC_772]

I bought this one, Wolfbox MF200:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FLTHPN3P?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Yesterday I used it to clear several years' worth of dust out of a server - it took seconds, and the machine looks like brand new. Even gets cat fur out of a keyboard unless it's really tangled in there.

Great little power tool, wish I'd bought one earlier.

[David Aurora]

Yeah I feel like for general dust blowing you don't really need an actual compressor these days. I've been using them to blow dust out of gear for years until maybe 6 months ago when I bought one of those rechargeable handheld blower things thinking it could be helpful when I don't have a compressor within reach. Haven't turned either of my compressors on since.

I got one of these just because a friend recommended it and shipping was fast, but my gut tells me the ones on Ali Express that look the same for a fraction of the cost probably ARE the same. It's nothing special at all build wise, all the attachments looked like home made 3D prints- https://turbojetoz.com/collections/turbojet-original™/products/turbojet-oz™

[PlainName]

I had a blower off Amazon which was.. ok, but a bit weedy. Eventually offloaded it onto my partner and got the Wolfbox MF200. Seriously impressed. So much so I'm tempted to get the new version, which differe only in having removeable batteries.

Also have a mains powered blower. Far more powerful than my compressor, but it's a drag to get it out and plugged in, etc. The MF200 is almost as good  and instantly there.

[TUMEMBER]

This is not an accusation against you, but against the "actor of this scene".
This model comparison is "good."
 
But the way this guy talks (the soundtrack) gave me goosebumps for the entire weekend. The inflection of his words in auction/bidding mode gave the impression that he was one step away from a massive, rare bout of diarrhea. You can't unsee/unhear that. Setting the playback speed to 0.5 or 2* doesn't help. Tragically, if I were the officer deciding who should be allowed into the quarantine or elimination zone, I'd have to "shoot the 10*, pour gasoline on it, and set it on fire" and let the zombie standing next to him go instead.

[negativ3]

I use an airbrush compressor with an "airhorn" tank for volume. Gives me 30-40psi air on tap and is silent. The airbrush gives me very fine adjustment and directed airflow which is useful.

I have similar bits to make a custom solder sucker as well (vacuum pump), just need to pony up for the JBC cartridge.

[voltsandjolts]

Garden sprayers are cheap, good volume.

[PlainName]

Garden sprayers are cheap, good volume.

Interesting idea! Might have to give that a whirl 

[tooki]

This is not an accusation against you, but against the "actor of this scene".
This model comparison is "good."
 
But the way this guy talks (the soundtrack) gave me goosebumps for the entire weekend. The inflection of his words in auction/bidding mode gave the impression that he was one step away from a massive, rare bout of diarrhea. You can't unsee/unhear that. Setting the playback speed to 0.5 or 2* doesn't help. Tragically, if I were the officer deciding who should be allowed into the quarantine or elimination zone, I'd have to "shoot the 10*, pour gasoline on it, and set it on fire" and let the zombie standing next to him go instead.

He has a very special way of speaking, and I do agree it's a bit odd. I once counted how many times he started a sentence with "And the..." in a video. I forget the number, but I think it was in the high double-digits. With that said, he's been successful with his format for years and years now, so he's not gonna change. (Though I have left feedback about the "And the..." issue.)

[rogerggbr]

UK source of the cheapo model for cheapskates like me... https://www.joybuy.co.uk/dp/10548946

[5U4GB]

all over ali and amazon, https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010495396437.html

And some of them come with 1,000,000 lumen LEDs to light up the work area, powered by a 100,000mAh 18650 battery.

I must say they've managed to make the titanium shielding required for when the 1.3Mrpm turbine disassembles itself very compact.

[5U4GB]

Unless you're using the thing all the time, why not just buy some canned air?  Costs a few dollars and even if you need to replace it once a year (mine go several years) it's still a cheaper than some of those battery-powered blowers.

[PlainName]

Canned air has issues: not that strong and promotes condensation, and gets weaker as soon as you hit the button the first time. But major gripe is it costs money to use, so one tends to use it sparingly.

While, technically, all means cost to use (in batteries, electricity, beans), canned air is probably the most expensive and in-your-face direct. It's almost like a subscription!

Also depends on what you use it for. For clearing dust of a small lens it is probably good; for cleaning the shit out of a casing it's a dead loss.

[MathWizard]

Well a little fan blower might be ok too, I was thinking about just trying to make a ghetto version with some plastic bottle, 12V fan, and nozzle.

I use my vacuum and toothbrush for cleaning too, but yeah, the power of a shop air-compressor, is impressive. IDK what to expect from a PC fan and nozzle.


Those air dusters are way cheaper, and smaller than mini-compressors, so I'll probably get a real one, but I should make a version for fun.

[NiHaoMike]

A bicycle pump with a duster nozzle works nicely.

Also helpful, if you have a window that can be opened, is a fan to blow the dust outside while you're blowing it out of whatever you're cleaning.

[Skashkash]

I have used a metrovac duster for years to blow out dust from computers and to clean PCBs of flux cleaner residue.

https://metrovac.com/products/datavac-electric-duster

The amount of air the metrovac moves is almost dangerously impressive,  and I love the thing.

I recently got one these handheld blowers, https://wolfbox.com/products/compressed-air-duster-mf200 
I do think it's a bit overpriced, and actually got mine for about 1/2 retail refurbed on ebay. 

Moves almost as much air as the metrovac, and is cordless. I keep it by the bench and it's been great for cleaning PCBs. Recommended.
I still use the metrovac for the big jobs.
And I save the canned air for when I need to chill some components.

[MathWizard]

The wolfbox dusters seem to rate good on amazon. Just looking at the wolfbox website, they have a Valentine's sale on. Yeah it seems a lot to spend on a fan, but I rather spend a few extra and get something trusted.

Next thing I want upgrade, is my clone 858D hotair station.

[5U4GB]

A bicycle pump with a duster nozzle works nicely.

For something a bit less clunky, the blowers used to get dust off camera lenses are also fine, search for "camera lens blower".  I have one that's at least 50 years old that moves almost everything except stubborn stuff wedged into cracks, for which I used the same canned air I've had for maybe ten years.  For larger areas a battery-pack workshop blower but that's used more for moving sawdust around.

[PlainName]

A bicycle pump with a duster nozzle works nicely.

For something a bit less clunky, the blowers used to get dust off camera lenses are also fine, search for "camera lens blower".  I have one that's at least 50 years old that moves almost everything except stubborn stuff wedged into cracks, for which I used the same canned air I've had for maybe ten years.  For larger areas a battery-pack workshop blower but that's used more for moving sawdust around.

Got one of those. Never use it - it is the manual puff..puff..puff rather than constant stream that makes it so bad. Anything which requires manual squeezing is going to be prone to inaccurate aim, too.

So yesterday I figured I would check out negativ3's suggestion of an airbrush and tank. But I'm not about to spend £100 on a hunch so got the cheapest airbrush and compressor going on Amazon with the idea that if it seems to work it would be worth spending on a better, and more application-specific, setup. I got this one instead of any of the other dross because it has tubing for remote user (which turns out to be not so good, but you don't know until you try!).

Result: It is brill. I will actually use it as-is since it puts out just the right amount of air in a continuous stream. I blocked off the pair reservoir hole so the button does nothing (before it very slightly increased flow). The very tight stream means it gets rid of dust and stuff easily but doesn't also affect things next door, and you can chase whatever it is all the way off the bench.

Edit: for avoidance of doubt... this is good for the kind of thing you'd use a lens brush for. Isn't going to force dried flux from under a BGA.

[MathWizard]

So I got the Wolfbox fan, their top model right from them directly. So far I've only just turned it on, but it sure blows the wind, so it should work pretty good. I won't use it often, so hopefully it will last.

It's way better than anything I would have made with a PC fan, soda bottles and straws, that's for sure. IDK if it runs while plugged in tho, that might take a mod if I felt like it.

Soon I'll clean my PC, then my bench PSU and an oscilloscope. The compressor I used before was nice, but those spit a bit of oil and or moisture sometimes, so this fan will be nice.

[AndyC_772]

You'll find the battery runs down quickly. If you're looking to mod it to run from an external supply, I'd suggest picking up a spare battery pack, removing the cells, and converting the pack into an adapter for a suitably powerful bench supply.

I very much doubt the built in USB-C charger would make the slightest difference to run time. It's discharge in minutes, recharge in hours.

[BadeBhaiya]

I use a "500W" 7$ leaf blower. It works well enough. Every few months I put my PC out in my yard and blow all the dust out.

[PlainName]

You'll find the battery runs down quickly. If you're looking to mod it to run from an external supply, I'd suggest picking up a spare battery pack, removing the cells, and converting the pack into an adapter for a suitably powerful bench supply.

The new version with removable batteries may help with that - just have a couple of sets of batteries to tide you over. But more than that suggests using it almost continuously and I'm not sure it is designed for that kind of use.

[Psi]

I got the Wolfbox MF100 based on the ProjectFarm video. It works great.
The case does get a bit warm if you hold it on continuously for over 10 seconds at max speed. Based on the location I'm sure it's the ESC rather than the motor.

I've pondered taking it apart and replacing the ESC fets with some fancy ones with really low RDS and perhaps replacing the 18650 with Samsung or Panasonic.
It doesnt need this at all, I just like to tinker and it would be nice knowing the batteries are good quality.

I can also confirm, yes, it does discharge the battery pretty fast at max speed.
I'm sure the current is crazy high given the size of the fan and the airflow out of it.