Air compressor -> canned air

[marshaul]

So, I have an air compressor (the tank is 8 gallons @ 120 PSI).

A: If I bought a moisture trap, would this air be suitably dry for dusting electronics?

B: Does anybody make some sort of small, hand-held pressure vessel that can be charged with a normal garage air compressor, and then used as a replacement for products like Duster?

I realize using actual air, which won't liquify, means such a device would have relatively low capacity. Still, it would be free to recharge.

My google-fu is weak today...

I've seen products that purport to do this, but they all come with a compressor onboard, and a price tag to match. Seeing as I have a compressor, it would seem to make sense to simply charge a vessel.

 

[RKA]

Two choices. Get a portable air tank and attach a blow gun. Typically the tanks will be around 5 gallons, so you'll have a lot of capacity. The other option is something linke a sure shot sprayer. It's only 32 oz, which isn't a lot of capacity.

If you want to spend money, google power tank. .

 

[theknurl]

use a small propane tank and change the valve to a 1/4" bushing, then ******, cross fitting, gauge, female hose connector and regulator screwed into the cross, female hose connector screwed into the regulator

recharge it with 2 male fittings in a coupling, release the tank connector first

use a short hose and blow gun

i have one for filling neighbor's flat tires....when they can't get here (without the regulator)

 

[firebox40dash5]

If you want to spend money, google power tank. .

Does Lowes/Kobalt still sell that kinda crappy CO2 regulator they sold for running nailers and stuff? No need to spend PT money to just blow dust off.

Sorry to say I don't think you'd get anything worthwhile outta something 'handheld' like you asked with only <200psi. Need at least a few gallons to have much of anything of consequence.

 

[vanvera]

Something like these?
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182338
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002D3WXMU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I think I saw in the amazon listing you couldn't use it for a duster...
You may need this:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006T5JQ9Q/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Shadowdog500]

I have one of these that i use for Kroil. I love it but Harbor freight stopped selling them. I understand Menards has them, and I bet Amazon has them as well.

I use a Bicycle hand pump to compress mine. It only takes a couple pumps to fill it. The instructions say not to use a compressor, I assume because it fills so quickly. I leant mine to my neighbor and he used a compressor to fill it and he said it shot up to 135psi immediately. Good thing it didn't explode in his hand. I don't lend it out anymore.

Chris

 

[KPSquared]

Nobody addressed the op's moisture issue. . .

 

[beamrider]

I've just got a simple moisture trap on my shop line, and I've used it for years to blow the fur out of computer cases, no problems yet. Just keep in mind, however, that 135psi air will spin an 80mm fan up so quick that you run the risk of frying the cheap sleeve bearings in it. Don't ask how I know this.

 

[RKA]

Does Lowes/Kobalt still sell that kinda crappy CO2 regulator they sold for running nailers and stuff? No need to spend PT money to just blow dust off.

Seems like a very limited number of stores might have NOS, but mostly gone. Can't even order online. I've been looking for a similar regulator for running brad and pin nailers for quick jobs.

 

[Vvmvbb]

Do you even need dry air for electronics dusting?

 

[stonesfan68]

Do you even need dry air for electronics dusting?

Ideally, the air needs to be dry and oil-free.

 

[Jswain]

If you let it sit for 24 hours unplugged and with the CMOS battery removed it wouldn't matter if there was a little(or a lot) of moisture in your air. I used to take xbox's/computers apart all in pieces and throw them in a dishwasher to clean them out after living a life inside a dusty cabinet. Obviously the hard drives/disk drives and fans never went in but if they can take a dishwasher and function better then ever(from non working to fully functional) then the little bit of moisture in your air lines wont phase them.

 

[cheechi]

Do you even need dry air for electronics dusting?

on paper yes. In the real world, that's up to you whether you want water drops flying toward your electronics.

 

[RKA]

Ideally, the air needs to be dry and oil-free.

Have you tested your compressor to see if moisture is coming out using a blow gun? Go from an empty tank to full, then use the blow gun until the compressor kicks on again.

I have a little 20 gallon IR garage mate, and in the situation above, I don't see any moisture spitting out. If I were to let the compressor run for 20 mins straight, I'm sure I would at some point, but for cleaning electronics, how much is the motor really going to run? Now you're in the Gulf Coast, so YMMV based on humidity in the air. But I get the feeling we might be making a mountain out of a molehill. Try it and see? Worse case, buy a moisture trap and filter as suggested. Pipe it between the compressor and your blow gun and you're done.

 

[cheechi]

use a small propane tank and change the valve to a 1/4" bushing, then ******, cross fitting, gauge, female hose connector and regulator screwed into the cross, female hose connector screwed into the regulator

recharge it with 2 male fittings in a coupling, release the tank connector first

use a short hose and blow gun

i have one for filling neighbor's flat tires....when they can't get here (without the regulator)

I like this idea, when you say small do you mean like a 20lb or the real small ones for camping? If it's the real small one, I'd like to see this with pictures and a parts list if possible. There's only one change with the bigger tanks to break the check valve or whatever on the inside of the fitting, then its all ready to go.

 

[Vvmvbb]

on paper yes. In the real world, that's up to you whether you want water drops flying toward your electronics.

Yeah, ideally, clean dry air. But a 5 or 10 second blast of raw air twice a year or so is not a lot of droplets. I am not going to worry about it.

Still, there's a hundred other reasons to dry the air system so this might just be the first reason.

 

[3oheight]

I used to have a blower that was powered by co2 airgun cartridges for this purpose. Worked great. Misplaced it some time ago.