Air compressors and other cleaners on the playa.

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 10:57 am

Has anyone used compressors on the playa? what is your experience, what is the best kind to get and what other kinds of cleaners besides compressors are good to use on the playa?

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 3:08 pm

For what? I use a Hitachi 2 hp 2 tank for my nail gun.

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 4:31 pm

I could have been more clear.

I use air compressors to clean all my electronics.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 4:44 pm

Can't help you there. Tried opening up your chest plate and using a few Q-Tips?

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 7:13 pm

Uum Huummm!

so anyhoo, seriously though. has anyone any experience with air compressors cleaning electronics on the playa?

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 8:11 pm

I don't have any playa experience, but, well, couldn't you use one of the compressed air keyboard cleaners I have seen at computer stores? They seem to be fairly inexpensive, so you should be able to get enough to keep whatever it is you are bringing clean.

calsur · Post by **calsur** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 12:28 am

I would be worried about oil in the compressed air. Might contaminate your electronics.

shaunbarney · Post by **shaunbarney** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 2:18 am

Don't use air from a compressor for electronics. It has oil mixed in it. Instead use the canned air that you can get at any office supply store. Plan on about 1-4 cans per day, depeneding on your use.

SB

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 4:40 am

calsur wrote:I would be worried about oil in the compressed air. Might contaminate your electronics.

shaunbarney wrote:Don't use air from a compressor for electronics. It has oil mixed in it. Instead use the canned air that you can get at any office supply store. Plan on about 1-4 cans per day, depeneding on your use.

SB

Is that from petroleum run compressors that spews oil? I cant imagine electric air compressors doing that.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 5:40 am

Compressor air is humid, regardless of whether the compressor is electric or gas, although it's probably less of an issue on-Playa. Try an airbrush filter, available at art supply places- They're designed to remove moisture and impurities like oil.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 6:34 am

The oil isn't from the motor, it's from the compressor which usually has oil for internal lubrication. There are oil-less compressors, too.
You can get oil and water trap/filters at places that sell compressors, Sears being the most well-known. They work, that's how we paint cars without screwing up the finish with contaminates. If I was going to spray into electronic gear, I'd use one even if it was an oil-less.
If you're planning on electric power, you'll need a surplus of generator capacity, compressors of any decent size (a few horsepower and up) draw pretty large starting current.

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 6:03 pm

It just hit me.......what about the temperature with air cans?

I've been looking them up : http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control ... &Q=&ci=429

and they say nothing about temperature. I'll go to radioshack to get a general idea and do more research but does anyone know off hand?

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 6:05 pm

Captain Goddammit wrote:The oil isn't from the motor, it's from the compressor which usually has oil for internal lubrication. There are oil-less compressors, too.

some how I'm having a problem believing that for compressors used in photography. Does anyone know?

frenchblue1 · Post by **frenchblue1** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 6:21 pm

I would stick with canned air from the office supply. Its true that condensation can build in the compressor and the heat doesn't bother the cans...at least not in the 112 degrees here in phx.
Are you wrapping your system in some type of ventalated bag or is this not feasable?
:idea:

Tancorix · Post by **Tancorix** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 8:09 pm

DVD:
I'll start by swiping this section from Lowe's website on choosing an Air Compressor which can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/4u2a2

Here's the maintenance section:
Maintenance:

Oil-Free Compressors have sealed bearings and require less maintenance than oil-lubricated compressors. Oil-free compressors have plenty of power for most noncommercial uses.
Oil-Lubricated Compressors require the user to change the oil regularly.

Craftsman.com has another good blurb on compressors:

http://tinyurl.com/6q2ex
Oil-free compressors

One-cylinder; Teflonª coated with Teflonª piston ring
Pump motor is direct drive
Runs cool
Requires very little maintenance

Oil-lube compressors
Two cylinders; automotive pistons and rings with cast iron cylinder sleeves
Pump is belt-driven; belts require adjustments and replacements
Oil must be added and proper oil levels must be maintained

Air compressors can further be categorized by the way in which they compress air:

Single-stage compressor
Air is compressed once and stored in the air tank. It could be either a single or multi-cylinder unit. Single-stage compressors are normally used when air pressures form 140 to 175 PSI are needed.

Two-stage compressor
Air is compressed in the first stage (large diameter cylinder), cooled in the inter-cooler, then compressed again in the second stage (smaller diameter cylinder). Two-stage compressors are normally used to achieve air pressures from 140 to 175 PSI.

Going back to your post if you have a relatively new compressor it may be one of the oil free models. You mention using it for photography work so I'm assuming it's not a super mega compressor that can run at 10 scfm at 90 psi like I use. So yeah to answer your question, it very well could be oil free. I hope this helps.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 7:46 am

I would suggest that you not leave any pressorized cans in your closed car. Hair spray and the likes. Some people have forgotten the starting fluid cans from the winter. About Aug. they can get a nasty surprise. New York state limits the size of these cans. For that reason.

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 1:21 pm

Excellent Mr. K.. exactly the info I was looking for.

Thanks everyone.