Canned air alternative?

[lnanek]

Also, air compressors usually have some moisture in their output unless removed so they're not usually the best option for electronics. The little AliExpress handhelds overall are good bang for buck

Hmm, ok, no compressor. DeWalt blower with leaf blower nozzle off doesn't look too much bigger than the handhelds, though:

There's some slim nozzles out there too:

Wolfbox MF200 CFM is only 72 vs. 600 for the DeWalt, so should be much stronger too. Personally, it will be hanging and used in my garage 99% of the time, so think I'm happy to give up the portability here.

 

[Epithemeus]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Tools/comments/1mcol0x

Now I don't know who to trust! This was going to be the impetus for me to put one on my wishlist but how will I ever decide? (Probably just the cheapest, I'm not a heavy duty user)

 

[neptronix]

I havent tried any of the ones from the large tool manufacturers but they seem pretty expensive and a bit unwieldy for what ultimately is an edf stuck on top of some cylindricals. You could probably also build one yourself with relative ease. Could some of the new tabless 5ah cells, 2s 40a drone esc and one of the ~100k rpm metal bladed edfs and slap them together with a 3d printed case.

Man... i need a 3d printer so bad.. you are right. And the bonus is that you can order spare parts.

I've used two of them and the were nice while they lasted, but eventually they both died. Both of them were tiny BLDCs with a small BLDC controller in the circuitry, and they both failed after a couple of years of normal use. Its possibly that it still beats the cost of purchasing the same amount of compressed air in disposable cans...

This sounds about right for the cheapies, which is why i think they are maybe not worth buying

You know, what's unfortunate is that i can't find one of these that doubles as a tire inflator.

Fit a shraeder valve to an expired aerosol tin ala u-tube vids and pump up to pressure with a tyre pump perhaps?

Cool, and low cost, but doesn't keep up with professional appearances

 

[Papa]

Cap removable to optionally fill with liquids... Not this exact one, but I have two nearly identical. Canister is aluminum. But I have a compressor to refill. Which reminds me... somewhere I have an airbrush compressor - perfect for inside projects.

 

[neptronix]

That looks professional enough, less like something they found at the unabomber's log cabin.

How much pumping does it take to get that up to 90 PSI? I'm imagining it's a less intense workload than a small bike tire. And if you get up to 90 PSI, how is the power compared to a standard can of air?

 

[lnanek]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Tools/comments/1mcol0x

Now I don't know who to trust! This was going to be the impetus for me to put one on my wishlist but how will I ever decide? (Probably just the cheapest, I'm not a heavy duty user)

That guy rates XPower A-5 the highest, though, and the reviews for that are terrible:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/XPOWER-A-5-Multi-Use-Powered-Air-Duster-Dryer-Pump-Blower-A-5/322623297#product-section-qa

So it seems like he really needs to be more holistic to actually provide a useful recommendation, not focus on one number.

He also assumes the published Project Farm video is everything that was done, which is unlikely. E.g. it's entirely possible Project Farm tested every nozzle for every device, then averaged or took the max value, but those clips just didn't get into the public video.

 

[neptronix]

Yeah i don't know what to think of that redditor. He is right about some inconsistencies, but i don't think the degree of potential inaccuracy is super big.

Redditors can be way too cynical on average for my taste, so i read that site with suspicion

 

[Diggs]

I just finished scanning 3,000+ slides (my mom's slide collection starting in the late '40s). After going through half a dozen duster cans I bought a Wolfbox 100. Pretty unbelievable for a little duster. I cleaned slides on low power and that was 3 times what a can duster would do. On high you can blow the leaves off your porch. It seems to have an RC airplane motor in it - heh! I wish I would have had it when my computer business was open. (Ever been to the Technibble forum @neptronix ?)

Amazon.com

 

[Zambam]

That looks professional enough, less like something they found at the unabomber's log cabin.

How much pumping does it take to get that up to 90 PSI? I'm imagining it's a less intense workload than a small bike tire. And if you get up to 90 PSI, how is the power compared to a standard can of air?

Do you have one of these? I have the Cycplus ($39.99 one) since 10/23 and it's served me well for topping up my car and bike tires. Well built solid aluminum housing. I estimate it will pump up that 16 oz can to 90 psi in about a minute or 2.

 

[Zambam]

Cap removable to optionally fill with liquids... Not this exact one, but I have two nearly identical. Canister is aluminum. But I have a compressor to refill. Which reminds me... somewhere I have an airbrush compressor - perfect for inside projects.

View attachment 387349

Amazon.com

Says "not advisable for air duster use-ineffective"!

 

[marty]

doesn't keep up with professional appearances

If you want to be professional like me. You should suck and blow. Got this. Been happy. Also makes a nice table or chair. Have used wheels as a stupid dolly to move heavy stuff. Cost is lots. Need 4 batteries so it don't die.

 

[fill]

That looks professional enough, less like something they found at the unabomber's log cabin.

How much pumping does it take to get that up to 90 PSI? I'm imagining it's a less intense workload than a small bike tire. And if you get up to 90 PSI, how is the power compared to a standard can of air?

Power should be no different but compressed air at 90-100 psi wont have the same volume as the air duster propellants (butane?) which liquify under the can pressure.

If considering compressed air as a substitute you may need a tank of sufficient volume depending on your use?
With an airtank you can use any airtools you like.
for mobile tanks perhaps the paintball people might have off the shelf products??
If needing litres or gallons of volume perhaps corny kegs as used on labs not by brewers, hic

Or you could just pick up a handy sized co2 container regulator and airtools to suit.. refilling/replacing as needed

 

[neptronix]

Fill, that's too bulky for my desires. Live in an apartment and also wouldn't want to run an air compressor due to the noise.

I want a unit with good longevity as i'd use it a lot!
This rules out all cheap Chinese-originated units for me. Wolfbox only has a 18 month warranty; that tells me that despite the power, the longevity might not be there.

As far as my choices go, i think the top choice so far is the Milwaukee M18 version.
It has an air filter, variable speeds, a 6mm nozzle, and the power is awesome.



They offer a 5 year warranty, which is an indicator of good build quality/longevity, which matters to me since i'm about to spend a few years of canned air usage to get one of these.



In that system we can also get a pretty nice die grinder with a variable speed throttle. This should make for a good upgrade over my large dremel for cutting metal/plastic, maybe even sanding it too:



Makita has a nice unit but unfortunately i can't find another compatible tool i'd like to buy within their ecosystem, so for this reason, i must personally disqualify it.

Worx does not have any other tools i'm interested in ( most of them look like wimpy versions of real tools ), and no air filter, so that disqualifies them, even though the price is right and it should have more than adequate power. 3 year warranty is decent.

 

[RunForTheHills]

Milwaukee makes great tools, but Makita does have a similar tool. And, of course, everyone needs a cordless drill and impact driver.

 

[lnanek]

I love the Milwaukee tool ergonomics, but it's such a pain the huge resistors they put in the way of balancing their packs externally. Wastes a weekend once a year disassembling them and charging up any their chargers refuse. Forces me to buy extra too since some packs will always be down waiting for maintenance.

 

[neptronix]

Milwaukee makes great tools, but Makita does have a similar tool. And, of course, everyone needs a cordless drill and impact driver.

Oh dang you're right, but they don't have a model with variable speeds do they.
I like the variable speed throttle-lever thing on the Milwaukee too much

I love the Milwaukee tool ergonomics, but it's such a pain the huge resistors they put in the way of balancing their packs externally. Wastes a weekend once a year disassembling them and charging up any their chargers refuse. Forces me to buy extra too since some packs will always be down waiting for maintenance.

Damn, any other problems with them?

I wonder if you could add on a 2p balance lead then use a RC charger to straighten it out? would involve modifying the case but, would simplify things

 

[lnanek]

Yeah, I do charge them with an RC balance charger already anyway on disassembly. I'd trust myself with a tiny JST pigtail sticking out. But sometimes I loan tools to neighbors, or my Dad or brother in law come help with some house renovation. Could get crushed or ripped out tossing the tools and packs around an attic or roof in gloves.

And a full five of the packs are in my daughter's power wheels at any time, which is sometimes driven by her friends. Don't want spare wires bouncing around causing shorts in there:


Only other thing that really bothers me about Milwaukee is that I saw a good deal on a battery, charger, and multi tool once, bought it, and it ended up being the useless brushed motor one.

Also kind of annoyed you have to pick either a hydraulic impact or a compact one, but can't have both in one tool. No clue if other brands fix that, though. There are other brands with balancing chargers.

There are other brands that don't force picking 12v or 18v lines too. The former are lighter, but worthless for many tools like circular saws. Makita has some tools where you just slot in two packs to get the higher voltage, for example. So you are more likely to get by with just 18V packs if the occasional heavy duty tool you need can use double 18V packs for 36V.

 

[RunForTheHills]

Since you are in IT, I'll let you in on a tool that I love. It is made by Makita, but not part of their 18V line. So it won't affect your choice of a power tool ecosystem. Makita has a small impact screwdriver. It easily fits in a belt pouch, pocket, or tool bag. It is only 7.2V, but I have yet to run into a rack screw it can't extract due to the impact feature. The only downside is the price, but you can write it off as a business expense. Makita TD022DSE

 

[PaPaSteve]

A Slime battery rechargeable air compressor is a handy tool to carry in a car.
Supposedly, they have enough battery capacity to fill a car tire.
Charges from a USB port.
The one I have will hit 100 PSI max which is enough for checking bicycle tires and air shocks on the current rides.
Combine that with refillable sprayer and maybe a nozzle off a WD40 can ?

Cordless Rugged Tire Inflator

Air up anything, anywhere! Slime's Cordless Rugged Tire Inflator offers the most desired tire inflator features in one sleek, durable design. With a built-in Lithium-Ion battery, a digital gauge with Inflate-Right Technology (auto shut-off at set pressure), very bright LED lights and a...

slime.com

 

[Cowardlyduck]

@neptronix the irony is if you do get a 3D printer....you may well find yet another use for canned air!
I don't like having to use it either, but my main uses for canned air are rapid cooling!
I use it on 3D prints I want to remove from my Ultrabase rapidly.
I also use it extensively for a variety of cooling tasks in the workshop from rapidly cooling overworked (incorrectly used!) power tools, to making very tight fitting metal parts fit easier or cooling off welded parts so I can handle them.
Just don't use it to blow out a clogged bug zapper.....turns out that stuff is flammable!

So yeah....I haven't been able to get away from canned air and don't think I will be able to with the use cases above. At least using it like this doesn't use too much though.

Cheers

 

[marty]

Being a PC technician, living in the high desert

Got a dusty computer. Just sneezed on the monitor. Cracker crumbs deep into keyboard. Shopping for someone to delete some ???????????? and clean things up a bit. First I would look at his/her web site. How does this look?

https://WeBlowComputerRepair.com

We Blow Computer Repair YEA! that's how we blow the dust. Does this guy have transportation?



Yes the Rocket Bike really does work. 17 MPH with no pedaling. Problem is noise. Hearing protection solves that.



Look what I garbage picked today.



Its about the size of a BBQ propane tank. If you fill bicycle tires with helium, will bike be lighter?

Party neighbors must have had a lot of balloons? Very sad that they have died. Alcohol, Fentanyl, possible other drugs? Can you get high from inhaling helium? Well? One way to find out

With some brass fittings, and imagination think my balloon tank would make a low cost air blower. Nep - To help with your computer confusion and cleaning. I could make sure tank is empty. Find a box and send it to you. YOU PAY SHIPPING. Weight is less then a propane tank. How much air pressure before tank explodes? Think a pressure relief valve would be a good idea.

If there are no buyers for my $0 air tank? It goes in the scrap metal pile. Value is $160 / GT. Works out to 7¢ a pound.

If I hired anyone to clean anything and they came over without a shop vac. I would teach them how to clean the furnace, computer, dryer vent. Nep, can you vacuum the couch while you fixing the computer? Clean the car interior? My life sucks. Been garbage picking Ridgid shop vacs since the beginning of shop vacs. Lifetime guarantee. Ridgid used to make me send the head to them. After Covid they want pictures. I have a lot of shop vacs. Very sad that after the last pictures. My replacement request was denied. Could it be that I got 2 new shop vacs a few months before? How many Ridgid shop vacs do I have? 8 and want more! Yes my life sucks.

Next time I find a Ridgid shop vac. They orange. Take it to the repair shop. Love this place. Been buying motors from them since the first broke motor.

S-S Electric Repair Shop

Home

Wonder how they deal with Ridgid?

 

[fechter]

Inhaling helium won’t get you high but it will make your voice sound like Mickey Mouse. Try it.

It will make your bike lighter if you fill the tires with it. We can do the math to see how much. I bet it’s at least a few grams. The big downside is helium will leak out much faster than air.

 

[Apartunis]

Inhaling helium won’t get you high but it will make your voice sound like Mickey Mouse. Try it.

It will make your bike lighter if you fill the tires with it. We can do the math to see how much. I bet it’s at least a few grams. The big downside is helium will leak out much faster than air.

Helium is in short supply for science and high tech. Better to use hydrogen for bike tires and air dusting!

 

[RunForTheHills]

Helium is a noble gas. Hydrogen is quite explosive.

 

[Apartunis]

Helium is a noble gas. Hydrogen is quite explosive.

The emoji was implied.