Cleaning Systems and Games with Canned AIR SPRAYERS?

[NintendoMan]

Just wondering if anybody else on here cleans any of their systems or games with those canned air sprayers you can buy in Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, Office Max, etc. They are only like 1.25-2 a can or so. (I know some are more expensive than others)

Anyways, I have always used them to clean my systems, epscially CD based systems, getting inside the tray. Also, they work good to clean out the air vents on the sides of the systems, etc. But if you tilt the sprayer on it's side, mositure will come out. And it can't be good it that hits the insides on systems!

So, does anyone else use them. AND are they ok to use. They work great for me, but have always wondered if I might be doing harm to my stuff??
:)

[Gapporin]

I do. Nothing bad has happened so far.

[Mr. Smashy]

If you're only cleaning the dust off, then yeah, that's a good way to get the dust out of hard-to-reach places.

[James]

I have used compressed air to clean out the insides of the connectors on cartridge based systems espesially the original NES and the model 1 Genesis, they don't seem to stay clean for long even with clean like new inserted cartridges. As for the cartridges themselves the best way to clean Nintendo ones is to take them apart with a special $20 or so overpriced tool and use a decent quality white eraser to gently erase the crap on the contacts. As for the Genesis and Master System Carts this doesn't always work, for some reason the connectors seem to be married to the gunk on the pins, so I suggest modest amounts of WD-40 or some equivalent. As for Game Boy, Game Gear and Turbo Graphics/PC Engine Hu Cards I've never had to clean those as they are designed extremely well compared to standard top loading cartridges. As for CD based systems I've never had to clean trays or flip top covers because they never seem to be open long enough for lots of dust to settle, although dust does seem to get in there somehow.

Oh and whatever you do don't use a vacuum to cleam any electronic components.

[rpepper9]

Have you used the new canned air that has a fresh lemon scent to it? I work at CompUSA and it is the latest innovation on the canned air front. Kinda smells good at the start, but when using it for more than about 10 seconds it gets kinda nauseating. :/

[Slipdeath]

It is flammable, It is strong enough to power my airsoft gun.

[davidleeroth]

If you're using compressed air any more than a couple of times a month I think you'd want to condiser a small compressor powered by mains. At least here they start at 22€ whereas a can is 9€.
I bought one of these 22€ models and it has proven it's worth on many other things than dusting.

[Raedon]

I just wipe dust off with a microfiber towel.

[Nesmaster]

funny you should mention this. i JUST got a can for my computer, and used it on my consoles as well! works great and havent had any problems thus far.

[NintendoMan]

funny you should mention this. i JUST got a can for my computer, and used it on my consoles as well! works great and havent had any problems thus far.

Yes, those kind of canned air sprayers. I think some of you guys think I am using a AIR COMPRESSOR. that would probably work though too. Don't think I want to lug one of those things up to my room though.

[NintendoMan]

Have you used the new canned air that has a fresh lemon scent to it? I work at CompUSA and it is the latest innovation on the canned air front. Kinda smells good at the start, but when using it for more than about 10 seconds it gets kinda nauseating. :/

Well, I do love LEMON smelling cleaners! But NO WAY I would use it on my games and systems though. Thanks anyways.
Oh yeah, I guarantee it would make me nausious too! I just know it.

[Nez]

funny you should mention this. i JUST got a can for my computer, and used it on my consoles as well! works great and havent had any problems thus far.

Yes, those kind of canned air sprayers. I think some of you guys think I am using a AIR COMPRESSOR. that would probably work though too. Don't think I want to lug one of those things up to my room though.

I wouldn't use a ari compressor, water from the air gets in there and WILL spray water on your systems. Oh and dont use a leaf blower either, my SNES was not happy with that.

[Raedon]

.. and just so you all know..

That isn't compressed air in there, it is compressed chemicals. There is no telling what the fumes from those chemicals will do to your games/consoles in the long run.

Compressed air can't be made into a liquid in those containers.. It's impossible..

[NintendoMan]

funny you should mention this. i JUST got a can for my computer, and used it on my consoles as well! works great and havent had any problems thus far.

Yes, those kind of canned air sprayers. I think some of you guys think I am using a AIR COMPRESSOR. that would probably work though too. Don't think I want to lug one of those things up to my room though.

I wouldn't use a ari compressor, water from the air gets in there and WILL spray water on your systems. Oh and dont use a leaf blower either, my SNES was not happy with that.

Oh hell no I won't be using an Air Compressor!
Sorry about the leaf blower thing! LOL
I won't be using one of those either.

[NintendoMan]

.. and just so you all know..

That isn't compressed air in there, it is compressed chemicals. There is no telling what the fumes from those chemicals will do to your games/consoles in the long run.

Compressed air can't be made into a liquid in those containers.. It's impossible..

That's why I am asking if anything has happened to anybody's stuff WHILE using those canned air sprayers. I know it's not just air that comes out, I can smell the chemicals!

And on the canned sprayers, there is some moisture that does come out, if you hold the can wrong.

[NintendoMan]

If you're only cleaning the dust off, then yeah, that's a good way to get the dust out of hard-to-reach places.

Yep, like inside cd trays and side vents. Don't know if it's good for the system though??

[shoes23]

I would imagine that there are a couple of factors that can't be too great when using the canned spray:

1) If you do NOT hold the can at an almost perfectlly upright the propellent expells moisture.

2) When the chemicals in the propellent react with the oxygen in the air they become very cold, the same way that liquid nitrogen reacts when released from a compressed state.

I couldn't imagine that releasing moisture onto your circuit boards and then instantly freezing/rethawing them could have any benificial results.

[Jasoco]

That stuff gets ubercold. Especially if you squeeze the trigger and keep it going. Frost bite anyone?

Neat tidbit, hold the can upside down and the air is even colder coming out. We made ice form on a cardboard box once.

[NintendoMan]

I would imagine that there are a couple of factors that can't be too great when using the canned spray:

1) If you do NOT hold the can at an almost perfectlly upright the propellent expells moisture.

2) When the chemicals in the propellent react with the oxygen in the air they become very cold, the same way that liquid nitrogen reacts when released from a compressed state.

I couldn't imagine that releasing moisture onto your circuit boards and then instantly freezing/rethawing them could have any benificial results.

Yes, true. Maybe if you hold the can farther away, you know, not only like an inch away. I don't know though?? :roll:

[NintendoMan]

Neat tidbit, hold the can upside down and the air is even colder coming out. We made ice form on a cardboard box once.

Whoa, I didn't know it could get that cold????!!!!

[Vectorman0]

It's actually really cool firing off the compressed air can while it's upside down. If you haven't tried it, do it on a piece of paper and watch the freezing cold liquid work its magic.

[bargora]

When you buy the compressed "air" sprays, what you are getting is a low-weight hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon compressed to a liquid. When you release the pressure (by pulling the trigger), the liquid rapidly expands and evaporates, absorbing heat from the surroundings. As a result, you get a jet of cold hydrocarbon gas. The gas is pretty inert (although I havent tried spraying it across a blowtorch), so the absorption of heat is strictly due to the expansion and phase change, not due to a "chemical reaction" with the air.

if you hold the can upside down and observe liquid coming out, that's the hydrocarbon in liquid phase. It will quickly evaporate. So it's not "moisture" per se, because "moisture", at least where I come from, indicates "water". That liquid coming out of the can sure isn't water.

However, if you make something really cold, then you'll see condensation forming on it. Like you'd get on an ice cold glass of lemonade/water/beer on a hot summer day. So prolonged spraying of a cold, dry jet of gas onto an electronic component can have the end effect of getting your electronics wet.

Because the compressed "air" sprays are pretty much designed to be sprayed on computer components, the chemicals used in them (as pointed out above) are pretty much inert (or non-chemically reactive, at least under normal circumstances). So I wouldn't worry too much about getting the OMG CHEMICALS on your electroncs. But as was also pointed out, you don't want to cool your equipment to the point where you get condensation. I'd probably stick to using short, contained bursts, like you were shooting aliens with a pulse rifle (or like the instructions on the side of the can probably say). RTFM. YMMV. BBQ.

Finally, you may want to read this web page. (http://www.llamma.com/xbox/Repairs/xbox_dvd_repair.htm) In particular,


First off, DO NOT BLOW CANNED AIR INTO THE DRIVE WITHOUT OPENING IT!
This will almost certainly make things worse, you just assure that the dust will be redistributed evenly inside the drive and this includes a coating on the optics you are trying to clean.
That page is talking about fixing dirty DVD drives in Xboxes. But the lesson may be applicable to other systems using optical drives as well.

[SuperNES]

Hm... i wonder if you could use compresed air for paintball guns somehow... shoot the gun into your system on full auto (with no paitballs in there of course) and freezing cold CO2 comes out!

[NeoSNightmarE]

ive used that with my VCR and DVD player for the longest time. i havent seen any problems yet. as for my systems, my SNES and NES has been fine and my XBOX is already modded so i just open it to clean it. and since i just bought a PS2 theres hardly any dust. if the air is held at an angle, the coldness and moisture could definately cause a problem. but i havent gotten any of that with my VCR and DVD player. 8-)

[ozyr]

Been using canned air for years - to clean game systems, computer, etc., etc. Great suff! And no problem in doing so.

[spoon]

If you are not taking the top of your system off, all you are doing is blowing the dust around in the machine. Not really cleaning it out.

Fun tip

Get a zip lock bag. Hold a can of compressed air upside down and spray it inside for abotu 30 seconds to a minute. Drop the bag and run. The more you put in, the better it is.

[NintendoMan]

If you are not taking the top of your system off, all you are doing is blowing the dust around in the machine. Not really cleaning it out.

Fun tip

Get a zip lock bag. Hold a can of compressed air upside down and spray it inside for abotu 30 seconds to a minute. Drop the bag and run. The more you put in, the better it is.

Do you close the bag after your done? I think I like where this is going! :)

[spoon]

If you are not taking the top of your system off, all you are doing is blowing the dust around in the machine. Not really cleaning it out.

Fun tip

Get a zip lock bag. Hold a can of compressed air upside down and spray it inside for abotu 30 seconds to a minute. Drop the bag and run. The more you put in, the better it is.

Do you close the bag after your done? I think I like where this is going! :)

Woops, yeah, I forgot to add that part. make sure you close the bag kiddies. Yeah, it can be fun.Ii d this sometimes when I have nothing to do at GS.