Can I vacuum my mac pro?

[juliancs]

I dust out my macpro every week with a can of air. I was wondering, can I just use a vacuum cleaner to suck it out? I'm wary of sucking in a transistor or something...Any dangers?

Cheers!

[Queso]

Normally a bad move. Vacuum cleaner motors tend to generate quite a large amount of static electricity. You may end up blowing a chip.

[Hellhammer]

I wouldn't. I only use vacuum to clean the fan area and the case, never touch or clean the mobo with it and the ones we use at work are user-controllable so they are set to the lowest to avoid accidents.

Use the can of air to clean the mobo and then vacuum the dust form the bottom of the case

[Transporteur]

Vacuum cleaners tend to spin the fans really fast which then generates power that might destroy your mainboard.

So no, not a good idea.
I clean my machines with an air compressor once in a while, but every week seems a little too anxious. ;)

[300D]

Vacuum causes static, deadly to electronics.

[Apple Corps]

The internals of my 3.2 year old Mac Pro have been "dusted" twice - and I live in a very dusty area.

What in the world are you doing that has you dusting the internals of your computer on a weekly basis :confused:

I did what you are asking about many years ago on an old G3 - some small components got sucked up and the computer was ruined.

Dumb move to even contemplate.

[iHateMacs]

An air compressor is your best bet.

Someone mentioned about not letting the fans spin fast as they can produce electricity and damage the MB. It's not something I have thought of, but I can see it's something to be wary of.

My main worry with using compressed air on a fan is catastrophic failure of the blades. They are not designed to run at very high speed and can shatter. I know a man who lost a the tip of his finger when a fan he was rotating with compressed air "exploded".

Keep the nozzle well back and you'll be ok.

[nanofrog]

I was wondering, can I just use a vacuum cleaner to suck it out?
They make ESD compliant vacuum cleaners, but the prices might scare you (example (http://www.all-spec.com/products/Tools%7CVacuums%7CTOL-66/?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=esd%20vacuum%20cleaner&utm_content=367073917&utm_campaign=4053631297)). :eek: ;)

As mentioned, compressed air is your best bet.

[Hellhammer]

They make ESD compliant vacuum cleaners, but the prices might scare you (example (http://www.all-spec.com/products/Tools%7CVacuums%7CTOL-66/?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=esd%20vacuum%20cleaner&utm_content=367073917&utm_campaign=4053631297)). :eek: ;)

As mentioned, compressed air is your best bet.

We have similar vacuums at work, they work very well. Compressed air is best bet for home use though, as we use those vacuums everyday for several times :cool:

[666sheep]

My little 5 cents:
I'm always using (regular, not ESD compliant) vacuum cleaner to remove dust from case (my hobby is fixing Macs) and done hundreds of them without any issues. Never blown any logic board or graphics card. G4, G5, Mac Pro – no matter what type it was.
That's what i can tell from my personal experience.

[KeriJane]

Here's what I've found to work best for cleaning out dusty computers, including my Mac Pro:

Get a vacuum cleaner that can have the hose attached for blowing instead of sucking. The low-pressure, high volume airflow works great for cleaning out the messiest computer without the chance of knocking parts loose with the wand. It works far better than those compressed air cans.

I use a Filter Queen Majestic and generally take the computer and vacuum cleaner out onto my porch so as to keep the resulting dust cloud outside.

The dustiest system to date? An Antec 900 build in for Virus removal work. All of those fans really packed the poor thing full of dust. (I recommended a better vacuum cleaner to the owner ;))

Have Fun,
Keri

PS. If you're worried about static discharge, don't do cleaning (or any disassembly) on a dry day! Wait for humid weather or crank up a humidifier.

[nanofrog]

We have similar vacuums at work, they work very well. Compressed air is best bet for home use though, as we use those vacuums everyday for several times :cool:
They're a bit too pricey for a home user to keep around for occasional cleanings. A repair tech/shop or data center for example, can justify the cost of having one around though. ;)

[MindlessJD]

They make ESD compliant vacuum cleaners, but the prices might scare you (example (http://www.all-spec.com/products/Tools%7CVacuums%7CTOL-66/?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=esd%20vacuum%20cleaner&utm_content=367073917&utm_campaign=4053631297)). :eek: ;)

As mentioned, compressed air is your best bet.

Ouch! :eek:

They are expensive... I think I'd stick to using a compressor or canned air if it was me. Luckilly my MBP doesn't show what dust is in it, if there is much at all! :cool:

[monokakata]

Vacuum cleaners tend to spin the fans really fast which then generates power that might destroy your mainboard.


I always thought the issue with spinning fans too fast wasn't power generation, but that the speed could cause the fan's bearings to fail.

Same thing as not putting your bicycle wheels unrestrained on the car roof -- even Campy bearings aren't meant to withstand the speeds that a bike wheel can reach when it just up there spinning as you drive 70 mph.

But, like 666sheep, I've blown and vacuumed dozens of motherboards and fans over the last 30 years and have never had a problem of any kind that I could trace to my cleaning procedures.

[itou]

i've vacuumed my mac pro without any problems of static.
never crossed my mind about this problem, sounds legitimate, but i've never had a problem.

[drewsof07]

I use the air compressor in my garage (yes the same one I use for air in my tires). Using a slotted/suppressed wand on the end, I can direct the flow at a wide angle to slow the speed and velocity, thus providing enough power to blow the dust off but not harm any components. Also, I never point it directly at any components (other than the gpu). With enough power to blast away dust, but gentle enough to not harm any components, it is the perfect tool. I do this about once every 2-3 months.
As far as vacuuming goes, the only place I would think about vacuuming would be the case (top, door, front/rear grilles).

[Transporteur]

I use the air compressor in my garage (yes the same one I use for air in my tires).

Please keep in mind that home air compressors will produce condensation water that will be blown out with the air. Almost every compressors of that kind have a little nozzle at the lowest part of the tank which lets you drain the water, but still, the air of such home compressors is not completely dry, hence not really suitable for cleaning electronics.

This is why I generally use cans with compressed air instead of a compressor. Industrial compressors are fine, but I doubt that the general household has compressors worth a hundred grand in their garage. ;)

[nanofrog]

I use the air compressor in my garage (yes the same one I use for air in my tires)....
So do I. The cans add up quickly, and the air compressor not only saves money in the long run, it has more uses (things a can can't do, like run air tools). :D

[Lord Blackadder]

I use both an air compressor and a shop vac to clean out my towers. I set the compressor to a low pressure, and then suck up the dust with the vacuum as it gets blown out of the case. It takes two hands, and is a bit overkill perhaps but I've never had a problem and it's the least messy method I've found.

I know that air compressors can emit some moisture in the air, but I've never had issues.

[drewsof07]

Please keep in mind that home air compressors will produce condensation water that will be blown out with the air.

I live in Ohio, so the humidity runs about 70% all the time anyway. lol :o
I've been doing it like this for years with no problems on all kinds of equipment (stereos, speakers, towers, laptops), and like I said I never point the end directly at the mobo, so the risk of a short is minimal. Heck, I lifted a can of the compressed air from school and it had more condensation than the compressor ever did. After some investigating, I learned it was because I held it upside down :eek: !

[nanofrog]

I use both an air compressor and a shop vac to clean out my towers. I set the compressor to a low pressure, and then suck up the dust with the vacuum as it gets blown out of the case. It takes two hands, and is a bit overkill perhaps but I've never had a problem and it's the least messy method I've found.

I know that air compressors can emit some moisture in the air, but I've never had issues.
You could add in a water trap to be safe (kit example (http://www.amazon.com/DeVILBISS-LINE-FILTER-Water-Trap/dp/B002K5H632)). There's less expensive as well, particularly if you have an extra hose lying around of sufficient length (compressor - hose - trap - hose for tool).

Just make sure you don't attach it at the compressor end, as the water is still vapor, and the trap is useless. You'd need a long length of hose or pipe (there are articles/forum posts out there that go into detail), but the reason is to cool the air and allow the water to condense back into liquid.

[skotopes]

It`s always nice to read posts of people who did not learned physics and electronics in school.

First of all: static - yes it`s really dangerous, BUT only when components not soldered to the board. In addition mainly all computer parts contains fool protection: all external buses has terminators and/or other passive protection. All PC cards interfaces designed to be protected from small or/and middle static discharges. And one more: when system is in assembled state it`s much more complicated to kill it with static because circuits has a lot ways to the ground.

So overall: in normal room conditions risk is low. But remember some times **** happens, even if you think that fully protected.

[eemzah]

I just use my lens air blower. Cost less than 5 bucks. ;)

[drewsof07]

It`s always nice to read posts of people who did not learned physics and electronics in school.
We were just so busy learning about less important things, like sentence structure and grammar. ;)
people who did not learned physics
only when components not soldered to the board.
all computer parts contains fool protection:
all external buses has terminators
circuits has a lot ways to the ground.

[Transporteur]

We were just so busy learning about less important things, like sentence structure and grammar. ;)

Please keep in mind that a lot of people around here (hello :D) don't speak english natively.

[skotopes]

Please keep in mind that a lot of people around here (hello :D) don't speak english natively.

That`s right: English is my third language and last 2 years i`ve spent without any practice. Anyway English grammar and speech is my weakest side. ;-(

[reel2reel]

This is what I've done for years:

- get a Styrofoam cup and poke a small hole in the bottom

- put a drinking straw about halfway through the hole (should be snug)

- put the nozzle of your vacuum cleaner into the inside of the cup, so that the straw goes up the nozzle

- use the straw on the outside of the cup to carefully vacuum dust out of those tricky areas. The flow is much more controlled and accurate

I've never ever had a problem. In fact, I don't use compressed air around components, because they spray condensation

Hope that helps.

[SmellyTofu]

I got a foot pump that's normally used for pumping up air mattresses. No metal parts, no grease, no worries.

[drewsof07]

I got a foot pump that's normally used for pumping up air mattresses. No metal parts, no grease, no worries.

That is actually a very clever idea! Could also use a fireplace bellow and go really old school. lol :p

[reel2reel]

I got a foot pump that's normally used for pumping up air mattresses. No metal parts, no grease, no worries.

We're discussing computers, not your personal orifices. :p

[Dae]

In my childhood I killed a PC with a vacuum cleaner, but my fault that it was turned on :D

But after that I cleaned computers with a vacuum many, many times — all without a problem. Simply make sure to unplug all the wires.

[Erlang]

I have used vacuum cleaners to clean electronic devices for 30 years without an issue, just use some care and consideration.

I don't hold the vacuum nozzle very close to the board, just close enough to draw in the released dust then I use a combination of a lens brush and canned air to dislodge the dust which is captured by the vacuum.

if your worried about static use a static field service kit and strap your wrist to earth, and use that hand to hold the vacuum nozzle.

Don't dust with the power applied to the device.