Dusting rads without having to disassemble loop?

[trawetSluaP]

Hi all,

Any tips for dusting radiators without having to disassemble my loop?

Or is the reality that I'll have to take it apart to dust?

Thanks,
Paul.

 

[NeverBackDown]

If you do it often enough you wouldn't have to take apart the loop. Just a tip for next time.

If it's not that bad I would just take the fans off and blow some compressed air through the rad. Clean the fans while you're at it they collect dust too. That's how I do it at least

 

[BigDaddyKong]

Do you have a sweeper that will blow instead of suck? I have an Electralux that I can swap ends. Just make sure you don't let your fans free spin when you blow it out. Even in your power supply. That's how I clean mine every 3 months or so.

 

[Bartacus]

Dyson vacuum cleaners FTW!

 

[Avet]

Air compressor if you can get your rig to one. That will blow everything away. Just make sure you jam your fans.

 

[BigDaddyKong]

Dyson vacuum cleaners FTW!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPTzNJMd19A

NSFW! Language.

Not a big Dyson fan.

 

[jimma47]

Why do you need to prevent your fans spinning when cleaning? I vacuum mine and let them spin. Is that a bad thing?

Edit - to clarify - I stop them when I'm cleaning the fan but if I'm doing the grill from the outside of the case I'll let them spin.

 

[tinytomlogan]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hurricane-...pID=310dhxPJjpL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch


That works but eventually you will need to take the rads out and rinse them with water. You then need to let them dry so to be safe it takes a few days....

 

[scubasteve]

living in a country made of dust i can tell you iv have tried everything over the years and can give you 2 suggestions 98% of canned air are crap hardly any power in them at all will not blow a feather of your nose and you will end up using 3/4 of the can for mediocre results

best canned air i have found is the AF Superduster http://www.af-net.com/products/spraydusters/spd300-super-duster/ this thing will blow your stuff away if not pinned down, so you judge how far away you need to hold it depending on what component you trying to clean - 1 or 2 second blasts into radiator and it will be spankin new and it dose not throw out all that liquid well not unless you turn it upside down
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AF-SPD300-...qid=1519209830&sr=1-2&keywords=AF+superduster

as for compressors ii seen ppl spunk a lot of money of stuff that just dont work right also if you get ones with tanks like for airbrushing cos others will just not have enough power to remove dust they do spit out water and oil as condensation dose and will build up in the tank

if you want to have a nice tank that will not have any oil/condensation in it and has a good stream of air and a controllable one, if you can get you hands on a small scuba tank not them massive ones second hand will do

example - https://www.divegearexpress.com/aluminum-cylinders-by-worthington
(just first one that came up in search that why its in $)

any scuba shop will refill it for 10 maybe 15 quid depends but you prob have to do that once a year if that depending on how much you use it, considering how expensive canned air is over lets say 5 years not more to keep it in perspective and end of the day can sell it get back money

get it fitted with a small compressor pistol all your troubles will be over keep it outside in garage and use it not only for pc but anything you desire

 

[Warchild]

Hi all,

Any tips for dusting radiators without having to disassemble my loop?

Or is the reality that I'll have to take it apart to dust?

Thanks,
Paul.

I always use one of my hobby airbrushes set to max PSI (minus the paint of course)
Removes all dust from my keyboard, PC and radiators. As long as I do it once in a while I dont get lingering dust particles staining the rads.

 

[trawetSluaP]

Thanks for all the suggestions people.

Removing the fans is a no go without disassembly so I shall try some of the compressed air suggestions.

Thanks again,
Paul

 

[Avet]

Why do you need to prevent your fans spinning when cleaning? I vacuum mine and let them spin. Is that a bad thing?

Edit - to clarify - I stop them when I'm cleaning the fan but if I'm doing the grill from the outside of the case I'll let them spin.

Depending on what you use for air pressure you can spin it faster than it is rated to, and can introduce uneven load on barring. That is not the main problem, because it is usually not that big stress.

Every electro motor is creating force when you put current trough it, and when you put force on it it creates current. So you are basically pumping current into your motherboard. I haven heard that someone fried board like this. But i haven't researched the subject (which i should probably do). I know the physics and i don't mess with the laws of nature. And i recommend to people just to avoid it.

I told you to jam them if you are using air compressor. Those things can do serious damage to fans. Regular household vacuum cleaner isn't that dangerous.

 

[Arne Saknussemm]

I recently did some maintenance on my loop and being a lazy git, tried the low impact cleaning method. In my heart of hearts I knew I was doing my loop a disservice. The results with air are OK and will buy you some time but once dust has started sticking to the boundary layer, it very quickly becomes a seed for further dust.

I know it's a hassle, but getting the rads out for a good hosing and cleaning and drying will keep them running optimal for longer...

 

[jimma47]

Depending on what you use for air pressure you can spin it faster than it is rated to, and can introduce uneven load on barring. That is not the main problem, because it is usually not that big stress.

Every electro motor is creating force when you put current trough it, and when you put force on it it creates current. So you are basically pumping current into your motherboard. I haven heard that someone fried board like this. But i haven't researched the subject (which i should probably do). I know the physics and i don't mess with the laws of nature. And i recommend to people just to avoid it.

I told you to jam them if you are using air compressor. Those things can do serious damage to fans. Regular household vacuum cleaner isn't that dangerous.

Thanks for that! Yeah I don't think I get them over 1200rpm with the Electrolux

 

[tannji]

In this day and age motherboards are considerably more resilient than they used to be, but still not a good idea. Another danger is that overspinning fans tends to damage bearings and considerably shorten fan longevity, if not outright kill them.