Solved Compressed Air Or Vacuum – Which Is Better For Cleaning a PC

I took a few schools on this. Compressed air can create ESD damage. I know everyone does it. The two schools I had on ESD control assumed we had access to a esd safe vacuum.

Two issues with compressed air or canned air. The junk you blow out goes back into the room. You didn’t clean anything, you moved it. Unless you did this outside. A company can’t allow that.

Two is parts could blow off. Small jumper or other small parts or dust could fly off into your eyes or simply lost.

Last is the breathing the dust. That is really three.

Almost nobody has an esd vacuum. One can adapt a common vacuum but the rule is to reduce air speeds. Static is built up in higher air speeds. Plastic is usually bad. It creates static unless it is a special type.

A shop type vacuum where the air can be turned around and a paper end put on may be a choice if you are outside. It has lower air speeds and blows the dust and not blasts the dust.

In any case be careful.

Look at the msds on the cans. I know they claim safe but if you read further it is a type of freon generally that will be banned in a few years.

Hang up and live.