Desk/lab sized air compressor (eternal dust-off?) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: TheBorg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 01:36:39 am
content: I deal a lot with repair, and occasionally fix mobile devices, phones, laptops, et cetera, that sometimes require screen replacement. Dust is a huge problem with this, no one wants dust under their screen forever, so I generally use compressed air to get it out. But compressed air cans are expensive! And I go through more cans than I want... So I was thinking about air compressors! Just having a tiny little air lab air compressor would be so helpful!Does anyone have an idea if there are small desk sized compressors? I don't need huge PSI, just air flow. Quiet would be nice to, but I'm sure I could live with something fairly loud if it came down to it. Any thoughts?

author: nowlan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 01:39:10 am
content: I have seen dental air compressor.Except the ones i saw were real compressors, not desktop ones.Having said that, there are baby ones on ebay under dental.

author: TheBorg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 01:43:22 am
content: Quote from: nowlan on February 24, 2014, 01:39:10 amThat's kind of the setup I was thinking about, something with a separate air hose.This looks pretty small and decenthttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Maxi-Myst-Compressor-Model-585-Oil-less-Medical-Air-Supply-Mead-Johnson-Lab-/121282079624?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c3cf9ab88

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 02:22:24 am
content: The dental type are oil free which is a good idea if using it on electronics. A moisture trap is also recommneded.

author: Legit-Design
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 02:36:35 am
content: Some people have converted refrigerator compressors for compressed air. Fridge compressor produces same amount of noise your typical fridge does. Old fridges can be typically found for free, usually they just lose the gas and don't transfer heat anymore. One example:http://jason-jones.com/hobbies/airbrushing/110-diy-mini-silent-compressor.htmlanother onehttp://www.militarymodelling.com/forums/postings.asp?th=83956(more can be found with google with free choice of keywords)Small compressor itself won't do much so you need air tank, but that tank can be filled by just using electricity. Some fridge compressors might require oil change since some oils are not compatible with air.If you use the compressor inlet instead of outlet you get vacuum pump.Some people have also done this:Be sure to check comparison at the end.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 03:18:21 am
content: You'll want to add an air filter to the inlet. HVAC compressors are built to roughly 10 times the precision of a car engine and will not tolerate dust very well. A cheap PCV air filter will do, as will just wrapping some scraps of cloth over the tube.I suggest the simple and cheap route of using a bicycle pump.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 03:42:08 am
content: Assuming you have ready access to some compressor somewhere, you can get a cheap separate air tank from harbor freight and just charge it up when you need it. Make sure you don't have any leaks, and you should have a good supply of air for blowing stuff off. The dental compressors are kind of quiet, but still louder than you would want to have running all the time.

author: TheBorg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 03:46:53 am
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on February 24, 2014, 03:18:21 amWell then....had not thought about that...At the very least it's the interim option. But will likely stay for a while.

author: Legit-Design
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 04:12:14 am
content: I think some airbrush people also pump up a car tire, maybe car tire inner tube, they sell those to fix tubeless tires with leaks. What goes in must come out.http://www.goldenpaints.com/technicaldata/airtips.phpCompressed Aerosol Can+ low cost, constant air pressure, silent, very portable- low pressure, runs out fast!Tire Inner Tube+ low cost, refillable, constant air pressure, silent, portable- low pressure, runs out fast, pressure quickly lowersAir Tank+ low cost, refillable, very portable, various sizes, pressure regulator- medium pressure, runs out fast, pressure quickly lowersAir Regulator/Compressor (without Air Holding Tank)+ inexpensive, long life, small size- constantly runs, gets hot, low pressure, pressure drops of while spraying, noisy, uses electricity, pulsating air flowOil Lube Air Compressor+ moderate pricing, reservoir tank, higher pressures, automatic shut-off, built in regulator, constant air- noisy, needs frequent oiling, oil can get into airline, uses electricity, tank needs frequent "bleeding" of moistureOil - less Air Compressor+ moderate pricing, reservoir tank, higher pressures, automatic st-off, constant air, built in regulator- noisy, uses electricity, tank needs frequent "bleeding" of moistureSilent "Pancake" Compressor+ "silent", automatic shut-off, constant air, built in regulator, compact size- expensive, uses electricity, needs frequent "bleeding" of moistureCO2 Tank+ truly silent, built in regulator, moderate pricing and/or rentable, no electricity needed, portable, long lasting, moisture-less air source- needs refilling, all connections must be secure to avoid freezing up, moderate danger of compressed inert gas

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 07:47:06 am
content: Quote from: TheBorg on February 24, 2014, 03:46:53 amI doubt it would do... They have high PSI but low overall air volume.I have a couple of those "emergency car tire pump". 100psi max, 12volt, only about $15 - fills a typical car tire in about 15 minutes. These are far more efficient than bicycle pump. But judging from how long it takes to discharge air from a car tire (<1 minute of strong air flow) and how many pump-minutes it takes to refill it back, I think it would be far below what one needs to blow dust for anything much larger than a shoe box - unless one finds a far better air-storage method than say merely a spare-tire.

author: lapm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 01:23:30 pm
content: I wonder how these cartridges for those carbonated drinks machines might work as presure source...

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 03:44:57 pm
content: Quote from: Rick Law on February 24, 2014, 07:47:06 amA bicycle pump with the basketball needle works just as well as those aerosol cans.

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 04:06:01 pm
content: Quote from: Legit-Design on February 24, 2014, 04:12:14 amSome of them seem pretty affordable, or is everything cheap just crap?

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 04:16:46 pm
content: I use an old hand pumped bug sprayer (well cleaned, of course). I release the remaining pressure and open it up after use. No oil, no moisture.

author: iDevice
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 08:57:54 pm
content: I'm using a standard airbrush compressor for years as it is ideal for what you want to do.Those compressors are based on fridge rotary engines and are so inherently noiseless.In my lab background noise I can't hear it, just the pressure switch when tank reaches mac pressure.Obviously, the air volume is low (I think mine is 4L, but I would have to dig under the desk to check) but this quite sufficient to air clean electronic stuffs.Added advantage is that you can use the same compressor to feed your solder paste automatic dispenser.The only caveat is that you need to find an adapter to convert the airbrush style quick fit connector to the standard pneumatic tools quick fit connector.Mine is a Sil-Air 4D.