home office peeps - where do you blow out dust?

[jesse]

I'm starting to repair computers at home on a part time basis and was wondering where do you home office folks blow out the dust? Outside? Inside and keep a regular vacuum handy to pick up the dust on the floor? ??

According to the code in my area:
Home occupation means any occupation that can be performed at home that does not involve a structural change in the building, that does not require the employment of help, that does not emit an odor or result in noise in excess of the normal residential activities, that does not result in any outdoor visible evidence of the business use other than the permitted signage, and that does not result in more than two additional vehicles at the residence at any one time.

"that does not result in noise in excess of the normal residential activities" is what concerns me. I plan to use an electric duster (Data Vac) and it is pretty loud but it won't be constant.

just trying to get some ideas....

thanks!

 

[Steve202]

Can of compressed air used outside (if the weather is ok), job done.

If the weather is bad, I blow out any dust in the garage.

 

[Carl]

Always Outside...

Here's what you need to know:
http://www.computerhope.com/cleaning.htm

Instructions on cleaning components:
http://www.computerdust.com/clean_computer/computer_cleaning.html

 

[charles4308]

When i think of excess noise, i think of someone doing automobile repairs with a loud air ratchet and a lot of banging. I think an air compressor or vac should be fine.

 

[Cornerstone Technologies]

Outside is preferred. If needed, I have a setup with an air compressor and two shop vacs to minimize the dust from becoming a mess.

 

[Martyn]

Outside.....................

 

[rudger]

I always take the machine outside and use a can of compressed air I know it is a bit expensive and an air compressor would be cheaper in the long run but im not too concerned about the cost at the moment

when onsite some customers look at me funny when I ask if I can take the machine outside to clear the fans out, until they see me in a cloud of dust one customer commented that it made them feel reassured that they had chosen a professional to look at their computer.

 

[AFCSOFME]

Outside....it works good for myself and others that are allergic to high amounts of dust, (adds up after a few computers or a couple people at once doing the same thing) grab a can of air and out the door I go!

 

[Knightsman]

Screw compressed air.

My Dirt Devil sucks up dust like its a piece of sand in Transformers 2!!!!

Seriously, get yourself a quality dirt devil, and you wont have to blow dust at all.

This is a similar model to what I have, and it sucks air up really well.

http://www.dirtdevil.com/products/details.aspx?id=SD20005RED

 

[datadatau]

Outside under a covered area. I will also use the dirt devil sometimes.

 

[rapidcom]

Screw compressed air.

My Dirt Devil sucks up dust like its a piece of sand in Transformers 2!!!!

Seriously, get yourself a quality dirt devil, and you wont have to blow dust at all.

This is a similar model to what I have, and it sucks air up really well.

http://www.dirtdevil.com/products/details.aspx?id=SD20005RED

I would be careful with vacuums.

When dust travels in the air sucked through a vacuum cleaner it impacts on the pipe walls and other internal parts. These impacts generate static charges on the particles and on the pipe walls. If these parts are made from plastics or other insulating materials they can charge up and give static shocks. Rotating parts such as carpet beaters can also charge up through rubbing action. If the suction pipe has a metal coil and is not earthed, this can charge up and give quite an energetic spark.

 

[Knightsman]

I would be careful with vacuums.

I've never had a problem. this probably comes down to the quality of the machine. But good to know. The dirt devil is easy for me. I primarily don't do compressed air because of my allergies to dust.

The only thing I normally have to get close to is the heatsink, I have dusted with that dirt devil, crazy suckage POWAAAA!!

 

[computersnmore]

Dirt Devil

You may not see the result of ESD for days, weeks, and even months. Read up on ESD and you will find that a vacum of any kind is not a good idea. A air compressor also posses and moisture problem unless you put a dryer on it. That is the way I do it in my shop, out the back door of course.

 

[gikstar]

I don't like using a vacuum. I keep a can of air in the car for small on-site jobs and always take the computer outside to blow out the dust.

In the shop I have two compressors, 1 5-gallon version and 1 30-gallon version. If I'm working on a maintenance contract and no-one will be in the office, I will take the 30-Gal compressor on-site with a long hose.

I find that sometimes the computer is so full of dust that even a full 5-gal tank isn't enough to get it clean to my standards... hence the lack of the use of the small cans of compressed air.

My own experience has taught me that having only 1 can of air along just doesn't work because as the can gets cold it won't produce any more air until it warms up again.

 

[jesse]

thanks for all your replies. got the datavac in and ended up taking the pc outside. the datavac ed500 is awesome, i'll never used compressed air again.

 

[HubCityPC]

Definitely outside...I use my trusty Shindaiwa leaf blower. On the computer, I wedge something in the fans to prevent them from spinning and damaging the bearings. I crank up the lawn blower and let her rip. It'll blow all the dust out in about 5 seconds. I keep it at a fair distance, no ESD no moisture, works great. I have considered the ED500 Datavac, maybe one day???

 

[Rob]

We've made a dust cabinet in the shop, basically a converted enclosed cupboard with an aircompressor to dislodge the crud and a heavy duty vacuum as an extractor for the clouds of dust. Its pretty loud but works well enough.

 

[Cornerstone Technologies]

We've made a dust cabinet in the shop, basically a converted enclosed cupboard with an aircompressor to dislodge the crud and a heavy duty vacuum as an extractor for the clouds of dust. Its pretty loud but works well enough.

Ive been thinking about something like this. Any chance you can post a picture?

 

[Zratch]

Where I used to work, we just build a plexiglass case on a mobile station, all connected to a 50gal. compressor and a shopvac. Kinda easy to do, just cut the plexiglass, seal together, cul a hole on one side for the vacuum, and another hole, on top if I remember correctly, for the compressor. Then, connect and blow. Fastest cleaning I've seen, we could clean around 30pc in no more than 20 minutes, and that include the time to disconnect the pc and replace after. (It was a school that why it is on a mobile station, around 500pc at that time). If you are interested I could manage to get a picture for my ex-it supervisor, it is a great way to build it since there won't be any dust since there's a shopvac connected to it.

 

[cheapfire]

Here is the dust cabinet Rob was talking about.