Quickest Way to Clean Your Rig (internally)

[bean_sprout 1,201]

Your rig should be near a door or open window.  I found an electric leaf blower does a good job.  Your targets are all of the case entrances which will most likely be fans.  A few blasts and any dust will be quickly blown out.

At some point you may want to do a tear-down and actually clean your fans but when I get there I'm ready for another build.

 

Cheers
bs

[MrSpeaker 122]

I do that too except with a shop vac that has a blower on it. The amount of dust is surprising. 😀

[Matthew Kane 1,343]

22 minutes ago, MrSpeaker said:

I do that too except with a shop vac that has a blower on it. The amount of dust is surprising. 😀

I do the same, reverse shop vac, works well

[jcorstjens 63]

I just opened my computer case to install a new grahics card, but the amount of dust after 4 years was minimal. This is due to the fact that all openings into the case are protected by dust filters. 

[HiFlyer 9,343]

I've had one of these for years. Sometimes can be found at local stores for cheap: https://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-MDV-1BA-DataVac-Computer/dp/B00006IAOR

Sucks and more importantly, blows. And the small nozzles (which concentrate into a very powerful blast) allow you to get into unseen crevices to blow out accumulated dust bunnies. You can even wedge the tip right past the fans of a graphics card to blow out stuff you really don't want in there.

 

[vp49p3 216]

55 minutes ago, HiFlyer said:

I've had one of these for years. Sometimes can be found at local stores for cheap: https://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-MDV-1BA-DataVac-Computer/dp/B00006IAOR

Sucks and more importantly, blows. And the small nozzles (which concentrate into a very powerful blast) allow you to get into unseen crevices to blow out accumulated dust bunnies. You can even wedge the tip right past the fans of a graphics card to blow out stuff you really don't want in there.

 

Have had the same vac for six years-works great!

[fppilot 4,355]

4 hours ago, HiFlyer said:

I've had one of these for years. Sometimes can be found at local stores for cheap: https://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-MDV-1BA-DataVac-Computer/dp/B00006IAOR

Sucks and more importantly, blows. And the small nozzles (which concentrate into a very powerful blast) allow you to get into unseen crevices to blow out accumulated dust bunnies. You can even wedge the tip right past the fans of a graphics card to blow out stuff you really don't want in there.

I use a routine ole shop vacuum and a cheap micro tool attachment set.  Virtually no investment and great results.  One small brush, about an inch wide, has its soft bristles at a 45° angle and it is great for reaching tight spots.  The kit has a reducer that fits into a 1 1/4" hose and its reduced opening is less than 1/2 inch.  That accepts the micro tools.  And it vacuums the dust out. It does not blow dust into tight recesses.where it is not seen.

Link to inexpensive kit: https://www.amazon.com/Green-Label-Micro-Vacuum-Attachment/dp/B01HDYEBW8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1541302703&sr=8-4&keywords=micro+vacuum+attachment+kit

Edited November 4, 2018 by fppilot

[WingZ 547]

Remember to hold onto the fan blades as you blow... the bearings are not designed for that airflow!

[troyboy66 66]

I use this and it works wonders

XPOWER A-2

[Raging Bull 23]

8 hours ago, bean_sprout said:

Your rig should be near a door or open window.  I found an electric leaf blower does a good job.  Your targets are all of the case entrances which will most likely be fans.  A few blasts and any dust will be quickly blown out.

At some point you may want to do a tear-down and actually clean your fans but when I get there I'm ready for another build.

 

Cheers
bs

 

Tear down? Another build when the fans are dirty? 

Can i have your old hardware? You must be replacing parts every month then. 🙂

Not sure about the tear down part. I just slide the side off and blow it out. I live in a dusty area so I do it every 3 motths. Reverse vac like everyone else. 

Edited November 4, 2018 by Raging Bull

[JRBarrett 3,049]

5 hours ago, WingZ said:

Remember to hold onto the fan blades as you blow... the bearings are not designed for that airflow!

This is good advice. The cooling fans are not made to rotate at the speeds that a powerful blast of external air can induce - especially if the stream of air hits the fan blades off center, which can put an excessive side load on the bearings. 

[stans 702]

I tape used clothes drier fabric softener sheets over intake vents, change them at least once a month, and that eliminates most of the dust that can enter my case.  About once a year I will open the case and use a vacuum to collect any dust that managed to get in and a can of compressed gas duster to blow the dust out of the areas in which the vacuum is not effective.

[bean_sprout 1,201]

The basic premise is to pressurize your case so air flows in reverse.

Cheers 

[stans 702]

Yep, and if you can force sufficient filtered air into the case, exhaust fans could be irrelevant and you would  have good air cooling.  My Antec 900 has two 120 mm intake fans on the front set to medium speed, a single 120 exhaust fan on the back and a 200 mm exhaust fan on the top, both set to low speeds.  I think my case air pressure is balanced, but I cannot swear that it is under positive pressure.  The last thing you want is negative pressure inside the case as that will suck dust in through every crack and crevice.

[HiFlyer 9,343]

LOL!