Help with cleaning of pc parts.

[sbaksh]

Hey Guys,
Is it wise to clean parts like the sound card,video card with a ESD Brush ??
I've seen guys washing these parts in water ..lol! I heard that ESD brushes "minimize" electro static, so there are small risks. My Current sytem is giving me headache, i would like to build a new system and cleanup the 1 yr old parts. I would appreciate your input, pls don't be a wise ass.

 

[MisterDonut]

Most people I know clean it out with an air compressor with some kind of anti water vapor nozzle or something like that.

 

[csc]

I blow my machines out with air compressor and never used a water filter. 10 Years and havnt had one die, just lucky I guess!

 

[Pederv]

Cleaning with water isn't a problem as long as the fans are removed first and all the water is removed. Some if not most PCBs are soldered with water soluable flux and have already been exposed to water.
I'm not a clean freak so I just use compressed air from a cheap 5 gallon compressor.

EDIT - There are other parts that are usually added after wave or IR soldering, these usually can't get wet either.

 

[Blain]

I don't allow fan blades to spin when I use canned air to clean out dust.
Some fans function as generators when spinning (unpowered).
I don't want to be pushing voltage (no matter how small), back into the MB circuits.
Besides the added wear on the bearings with the blades spinning much faster than normal.

I can here the guy now...
"I've been spinning fans with air for the past 75 years and never had any problems"

To that I say...
Great, if that's been working for you keep it up.
There is no downside for me, if I do not follow your example.... Absolutely none.

 

[shaftymcnasty]

I just use bursts of canned air to clean everything. I don't have room in my apartment for an air compressor and I doubt the neighbors would like the noise if I did.

 

[Fayd]

i use an air compressor on the case and lightly over sensitive components, and canned air more directly over sensitive components.

generally this isnt required, as i have all air filtered upon going into the case. I clean filters once a month.

 

[ShawnD1]

I blow my machines out with air compressor and never used a water filter. 10 Years and havnt had one die, just lucky I guess!

Same here. I give my systems 130psi of love and it always works out fine. The worst that ever happened was when I held it against the CPU fan in an old computer and the fan spun so fast that it blew apart.

 

[MisterDonut]

Same here. I give my systems 130psi of love and it always works out fine. The worst that ever happened was when I held it against the CPU fan in an old computer and the fan spun so fast that it blew apart.

Not to laugh at your misfortune, but I just pictured that happening in my head and started laughing out loud...haha. Yeah, make sure to hold the fans still, so you don't damage the motor.

 

[csc]

I don't allow fan blades to spin when I use canned air to clean out dust.
Some fans function as generators when spinning (unpowered).
I don't want to be pushing voltage (no matter how small), back into the MB circuits.
Besides the added wear on the bearings with the blades spinning much faster than normal.

I can here the guy now...
"I've been spinning fans with air for the past 75 years and never had any problems"

To that I say...
Great, if that's been working for you keep it up.
There is no downside for me, if I do not follow your example.... Absolutely none.

No I dont let the fans spin, always worried it would burn them up. Not to mention if they are spinning one could not blow the dust off of them. Never thought of the electrical generation though. Someone needs to do a test and see if the fans produce any electrict.

 

[csc]

Would also like to hear of anyone that has had the misfortune of ruining a pc by blowing it out with aircompressor.

 

[0roo0roo]

not worth the risk. just blow off the dust and vac it up , don't touch stuff with brushes. it doesn't need to be that clean.

 

[sbaksh]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWv9r-AnhA0

 

[tcsenter]

Sure its fine, just don't use the really stiff short-bristled brushes. Use a smallish paint type brush as seen (but not being used) in the video posted by sbaksh. I actually use the cleaning brush that came in my Remington electric hair clipper set (even though its not an ESD brush). Looks like this:

Its perfect for this. Then I just use a household vacuum cleaner with hose attachment to suck up the loose dust/bunnies.

 

[Blain]

Never thought of the electrical generation though. Someone needs to do a test and see if the fans produce any electrict.

I tested six random fans I had laying around here.
Half produced voltage when spun with canned air and the other half didn't.

 

[csc]

I tested six random fans I had laying around here.
Half produced voltage when spun with canned air and the other half didn't.

Thats interesting, I'm gona try some too!