Small compressor

[P&H-Gas]

Hi all, I am a PC engineer by trade and one problem I come across daily is filthy computers/laptops.
At home I use my compressor to blow all the dust out, but most of the time I am at customers sites.
What I am looking for is a small compressor with a small air store. I have had a google, but the only thing suitable is on alibaba and they want orders of 50 units plus.
So I got to thinking, could I build one?

My vauge plan is to use a 12volt compressor like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW...t=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item5189e3d340

and connecting it to a small cylinder, such a medical air cylinder.

Can anyone see a major pitfall in this idea?
Cheers

 

[rtbcomp]

In my experience blowing dust out in a customer's office is a no-no. Invest in a dustbug or similar, brush the dust off and suck it out of harms way.

 

[tigler]

If you go the compressor route have a look at Bambi oil free compressors.

 

[P&H-Gas]

Thats why I want to run it from 12 volts, so I can take the PC outside and do it there. I have found that blowing the dust out gets them far cleaner than the 1" paintbrush and hoover method.

 

[pete23]

what about a 12volt pump off a rangy or disco?? the ones they use for the air bag suspension.

 

[pete23]

or a tmax type comp used for off roading to blow the tyres up

 

[outofthefire]

if that compressor will blow a car tyre up in 3 1/2 minutes I doubt you'd need a tank just for using a blower. When I was a pc technician I was told never to use a hoover on PC there supposed to generate quite a lot of static, I either used a compressor or co2 spray dusters.

 

[cumbriasteve]

The compressor you mention won't give you a 'blast' of high pressure, I have a similar one somewhere in the dark corners of the workshop, they work well blowing a tyre up with a steady stream of air but not a strong stream...if that makes sense.

It probably would work as you mention by connecting it to a reservoir of some type.

Not sure what pressure the disposable welding bottles will hold but there must be loads of those get threw out and if you could make some mods to them you could charge them at home and carry a couple around ready for use.... once sure they are safe for the mods and proposed use of course.

 

[rtbcomp]

Thats why I want to run it from 12 volts, so I can take the PC outside and do it there. I have found that blowing the dust out gets them far cleaner than the 1" paintbrush and hoover method.

That would be the best method.

When I was a pc technician I was told never to use a hoover on PC there supposed to generate quite a lot of static

Never heard that one before, we always used vacuum cleaners on maintenance days.

 

[P&H-Gas]

My only concern with using just a compressor without the air tank, is that they are more of a steady flow rather than a short high pressure blast which is more effective for shifting the dust build up.

@ pete23, do you mean on their own or to fill a reciever?

@outofthefire, I have use the co2 dusters, but as most if the sites I visit are transport yards, i reckon i could use 4 or 5 a day, and that would get pretty expensive

 

[P&H-Gas]

This is the sort of thing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=li4No0-wc0E&NR=1

 

[pete23]

i meant on there own, never used one meself, so did,nt know what sort of air they pushed out.

 

[brightspark]

cheap option a foot operated lilo airbed inflator just make a smaller jet for the end or a bycycle pump

 

[MattF]

if that compressor will blow a car tyre up in 3 1/2 minutes I doubt you'd need a tank just for using a blower. When I was a pc technician I was told never to use a hoover on PC there supposed to generate quite a lot of static, I either used a compressor or co2 spray dusters.

Anything creates static, whether that be airborne particles in a moving air stream, a plastic vacuum nozzle brushing up against components, a brush etc. The static problem is highly over-rated these days. Provided a mains lead ground is connected and all boards/components inplace, the grounding circuit is complete and will dissipate any static encountered. Even without a mains lead being present and connected, you'd be hard pushed to damage anything.

Static precautions are reaching paranoid levels these days. Components supplied by manufacturers are a prime example. They'll use anti-static packaging on some components which you could never hope to destroy under anything except highly abnormal circumstances.

 

[MattF]

You could just use a CO2 canister like they use for airgun recharging and the like. It's portable and cheap enough to have refilled once depleted. You can use that absolutely anywhere.

 

[P&H-Gas]

You could just use a co2 canister like they use for airgun recharging and the like. It's portable and cheap enough to have refilled once depleted. You can use that absolutely anywhere.

I thought about that, but dont want to have to keep paying to recharge all the time and also I don't really like the thought of carrying round a pressurised container all the time, might just me being over cautious, but thats just me

 

[P&H-Gas]

cheap option a foot operated lilo airbed inflator just make a smaller jet for the end

And free exercise to boot

 

[MattF]

An old air horn compressor, possibly?

 

[Wedg1e]

... disposable welding bottles...

That was my first thought.

 

[rtbcomp]

....
Static precautions are reaching paranoid levels these days. Components supplied by manufacturers are a prime example. They'll use anti-static packaging on some components which you could never hope to destroy under anything except highly abnormal circumstances.

Years ago a cousin of mine was a careers officer and she went round the Ferranti factory in Manchester, where everyone on the assembly line had antistatic bracelets connected to the benches.

She reported back to back to her boss that everyone was shackled to their benches