Anyone use a "violent fan" instead of compressed air? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 04:03:37 pm
content: Watching some repair video, the guy whipped out a tiny turbo fan to blow out the dust. Naturally I want one too.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008799101463.html(And the item descriptions are hilarious, easily cope with stolen goods, shift files at will, etc...)Is this any good? Anyone use one?

author: artag
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 04:23:08 pm
content: I was looking at these too. There are a bunch of reviews on youtube and quite a lot of difference between the best and worst. However all the battery ones are significantly worse than mains-powered, and even the mains-powered pale into insignificance compared with an actual compressor and blow nozzle.It's possible that if you mostly use air-duster aerosols they'll be sufficient and save a lot of money, but if you have a real compressor I think you'll be disappointed.Look at Xpower for the dividing line - it's marketed for dust removal but mains powered and looks like a small cylinder vacuum. The battery ones from Makita, Millwaukee and DeWalt may be better than most.I'd be happy to be corrected and hear about a handheld unit that approaches the effect of an airline !

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 04:42:51 pm
content: Before ordering yet another gimmick, check the user manual of your household vacuum cleaner. Many vacuum cleaners can have the hose attached at the output (so to turn a domestic vacuum cleaner into an air blower). We used to use that trick to blow away the dust from desktop units before servicing them (dedusting has to be made mandatory outdoors).Beware if the PCB/desktop has any fans (keep them fixed, so to not turn from the blown air), or else you can damage the fan, or even the PCB if you blow air into an unpowered fan (the fan RPM can go very high, and become a generator of dangerous voltages).

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 05:17:56 pm
content: Guess I'll stick to dollar store compressed air.

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 05:27:31 pm
content: I don't remember where I saw one, but I didn't really like the one I saw. Kind of like the mini battery powered pen "carvers". For carving, it's useless, but it's exactly the right amount of power for board rework. I've even saved a chip with broken off leads by grinding down to the lead frame. But not sure what else id use it for.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 06:39:50 pm
content: Some blowers are good, rest are junk. And price or BS marketing is not a true measure of performance.If you want a good blower, watch this video first:Small dusters...Jet blowers.... (like the output of a shop-vac held in your hand...)

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 06:43:02 pm
content: That audio needs a serious pitch shift.

author: jh15
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 07:12:57 pm
content: He is very intelligible though, don't need to turn on captions for mumbling, accent.I wonder about ESD generation. The cans specify they are ESD safe (and also contain a choking chemical to prevent "huffing").

author: KE5FX
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 08:15:05 pm
content: The Wolfbox is indeed very effective. I bought one after that review came out. It is capable of replacing a can of air for most applications.Very frustrating user interface, though. Need to take it apart and deal with that at some point.

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 08:37:14 pm
content: Quote from: KE5FX on August 17, 2025, 08:15:05 pmThere's an interface? I really like Project Farm (and his voice is just find, thanks...). I haven't watched this review. What's annoying about it? It's not just hit a button, and blow?

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 08:57:15 pm
content: Quote from: voltsandjolts on August 17, 2025, 06:43:02 pmI do know that one of the blowers has a really loud high pitch wine to it. Stay away from that one.

author: KE5FX
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 10:09:02 pm
content: Quote from: John Coloccia on August 17, 2025, 08:37:14 pmThere's one button that you have to hold down for a few seconds, when you first pick it up. That button lets you select the air speed, and also enables the trigger button. The trigger then responds almost immediately, but frequently cuts off quickly so you have to hit it again.There's a way to latch the trigger in the 'on' position but I haven't managed to do that consistently yet. If you set the blower back down for more than a minute or two, you have to enable it and select the desired speed all over again.They hadone job: emulate a spray can full of air.One job...

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 10:10:31 pm
content: Quote from: KE5FX on August 17, 2025, 10:09:02 pmOMG, how stupid. Yeah, that's a non-starter for me.

author: KE5FX
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 10:13:47 pm
content: Don't get me wrong, I still find it a useful gadget and would buy it again. I've had other Chinese air dusters that weren't worth dealing with, but the Wolfbox is a cut above.With most of these things, there would be no point in a speed control because even the strongest setting doesn't blow enough air to be useful. With the Wolfbox, you often need to use one of the lower speeds to keep from damaging the target object or blowing it completely away.

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 10:19:05 pm
content: I'm cool with that. Just remember the last setting and blow when I pull the trigger. Lol.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 10:38:34 pm
content: Quote from: John Coloccia on August 17, 2025, 10:19:05 pmScrew that, use a non software analog variable speed throttle style trigger like any sensible modern drill or toys. How can that be so bloody difficult?

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 10:47:59 pm
content: Quote from: BrianHG on August 17, 2025, 10:38:34 pmI'm good with anything that blows air when a pull the trigger.It's an old book, but everyone should read "the inmates are running the asylum", by Cooper.What do you get when you cross compressed air with a computer? A computer.I swear, that one book completely changed my approach to engineering. Not just UI but all interfaces. Even internal and low level interfaces should be ergonomic, where possible.