Can we talk about the switch from canned air to a proper compressor for cleaning boards?

I used to swear by those little cans of air, going through maybe two a week in my home shop. They were cheap and easy, but I was always fighting that cold spray that can mess with parts. Then about six months ago, I got a small shop compressor for a different job and tried it with a moisture trap and a fine nozzle. The difference is huge. I can blast dust out of a laptop fan in seconds without worrying about the can going empty or leaving that weird frost. It cost me $150 for the setup, but I've already saved that in canned air. The pressure is just right, and I feel like I'm not throwing away so much plastic. Has anyone else made the switch and found a specific nozzle they like for tight spots?

2 comments

2 Comments

taylor_mitchell8011d ago

Get a good moisture trap, it's the most important part. I learned the hard way when a tiny bit of water messed up a board. A cheap one from the hardware store works fine.

blair63011d ago

Wait, those cans were never cheap for me, they added up crazy fast. The real win with a compressor is the constant pressure, no sputtering like a dying can. I grabbed a cheap angled nozzle that gets under big heatsinks perfectly.