Cleaning the fans

[MysticCow]

Does anyone have a step-by-step guide to cleaning the fans on a Digital Audio G4? I just looked at mine and they are cringe-worthy.

 

[S.B.G]

I like to use a vacuum cleaner and a canned of compressed air to blow out dirt/dust/grim from fans and suck it up with the vacuum at the same time.

 

[Altemose]

I like to use a vacuum cleaner and a canned of compressed air to blow out dirt/dust/grim from fans and suck it up with the vacuum at the same time.

Make sure the vacuum is slow enough that you don't rip parts off the board!

 

[MisterKeeks]

I like to use a vacuum cleaner and a canned of compressed air to blow out dirt/dust/grim from fans and suck it up with the vacuum at the same time.

Careful, the vacuum cleaner can cause static electricity to damage the computer.

 

[fhall1]

I also try to stick a pencil or something similar in the fan to stop it from "over-revving" and perhaps damaging the fan bearing when hitting it with compressed air.

 

[gavinstubbs09]

When I have lots of time to go through fans I use a towel and a toothbrush to get dust out, cleans them up nicely

 

[S.B.G]

Make sure the vacuum is slow enough that you don't rip parts off the board!

Careful, the vacuum cleaner can cause static electricity to damage the computer.

Both wise points. I'm always careful, and never use a powerful shop vac! I've never had any negative issues doing it that way so far.

 

[Altemose]

Both wise points. I'm always careful, and never use a powerful shop vac! I've never had any negative issues doing it that way so far.

A small Dirt Devil or Dust Buster should work great here.

 

[S.B.G]

A small Dirt Devil or Dust Buster should work great here.

Yep, something small like that. I use the compressed air to blow out the dust and the vacuum to suck it up before it gets all over the place.

 

[Altemose]

Yep, something small like that. I use the compressed air to blow out the dust and the vacuum to suck it up before it gets all over the place.

It would also be good to empty the bag or waste tube in case some part gets pulled off the board... It is a lot better digging through just dust to get a part rather than half a dog, dirt, glass, etc.

 

[S.B.G]

It would also be good to empty the bag or waste tube in case some part gets pulled off the board... It is a lot better digging through just dust to get a part rather than half a dog, dirt, glass, etc.

Do you speak from experience? Lol

 

[Altemose]

Do you speak from experience? Lol

I can speak from the experience of laughing as my friend dug through dirt and debris to find a keyboard key.

 

[S.B.G]

I can speak from the experience of laughing as my friend dug through dirt and debris to find a keyboard key.

He must have used one heck of a vacuum to rip a key off!

 

[Altemose]

He must have used one heck of a vacuum to rip a key off!

Standard Bissell home upright vacuum cleaner.

 

[weckart]

Careful, the vacuum cleaner can cause static electricity to damage the computer.

I really would not want to point vacuums close to fans or anything delicate regardless of any potential static build up and fans are where gunk and dustballs accumulate.

I had a filthy QS to decontaminate. Nothing beats dismantling and getting the brushes out. Vacuums and air cans are good for loose dust but when this is stuck on with years of random gunk you have to agitate it loose.

 

[bunnspecial]

If I can access the fans, I prefer to use a cloth and q-tips to manually wipe off the fan blades.

At least on the Quicksilver, you can remove the main case fan without too much trouble, and should have ready access to the blades to do this. The CPU fan isn't too hard to get at, either.