Miniature Compressor for Air Dusting - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

pmmunro · 2nd Mar 2023, 8:50 pm

This is not really a radio question but I hope it will be permissible to draw on the expertise of forum contributors.

I am intending to digitally scan a large number of 35mm slides and negatives and, following available advice, I will need some means of blowing off dust. Due the quantity, concerns on environmental impact, cost and the fact it will be a long term project, I'm reluctant to buy "canned air" which is apparently a compressed gas other than air.

For this reason I thought that a mini compressor of the size suitable for an airbrush might be suitable. I have some small filters and pressure regulators already.

Could I ask for tips drawn from experience please?

PMM

Radio Wrangler · 2nd Mar 2023, 9:57 pm

Sensible to me.

Dad's an artist. One Christmas I decided to buy him an airbrush kit and a little compressor. Seeing the price of little compressors in the artistic world, I immediately decamped to my favourite tool supplier and got a substantially larger and better built machine for a substantially lower price. It's still carry-able and has a small receiver, so you can get a blast of air for blowing muck out of awkward places. It's even got enough umph to run my plasma cutter for chassis work. It's more than the airbrush needs, but the airbrush hasn't complained yet.

Once you've got some compressed air around the place, you find more and more uses.

knobtwiddler · 3rd Mar 2023, 12:37 am

I agree with David, in that an air compressor has a multitude of uses and is uber handy to have in the workshop. Try and get a decent brand, as my Draper one went kaput after only a couple of years.

One thing you might find is that a typical compressor could be a little too powerful for 35mm slides. Have you thought of a 'rocket blower'?

https://www.richardpeters.co.uk/giottos-rocket-blower/

fetteler · 3rd Mar 2023, 1:17 am

The rocket blower seems very appropriate for the task and certainly won't break the bank.

I'd also be concerned about particles of water and even oil in the air from a compressor. Driers and filters are available.

Steve.

pmmunro · 3rd Mar 2023, 10:09 am

Many thanks everyone for your help.

I've decided to go with Steve's suggestion of a Rocket blower.

I had't thought about those, possibly because I have meetings about blowing dust around the sensor of a DSLR. I would have thought suction was needed for sensor cleaning but devices for that seem rare.

PMM

fetteler · 3rd Mar 2023, 12:01 pm

Glad to hear you are happy, however I can't take credit for suggesting the rocket blower, that honour must go to 'Knobtwidler'.

Steve.

knobtwiddler · 3rd Mar 2023, 1:05 pm

There are generic Rocket Blowers out there, so you can save a few quid over the Giottos one if brand image isn't important to you.

andrewn · 3rd Mar 2023, 9:48 pm

I bought one of these electric blowers designed for cleaning computer equipment. It is surprising powerful, as good as a can of compressed air. It has a filter and comes with different nozzles https://www.itdusters.com/product/compucleaner/

Tim · 3rd Mar 2023, 10:47 pm

Fish tank air pump?

Nickthedentist · 5th Mar 2023, 10:17 am

I bought one of these a few years ago and wouldn’t be without it
https://www.itdusters.com/product/metro-datavac/

pmmunro · 22nd Mar 2023, 8:36 pm

Thanks everyone for comments and advice. I've chosen the Rocket blower solution for the present.

Unless anyone has anything to add, I would ask the moderators to close this thread olease.

PMM

2nd Mar 2023, 8:50 pm	#1
pmmunro Octode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dundee, UK. Posts: 1,734	Miniature Compressor for Air Dusting This is not really a radio question but I hope it will be permissible to draw on the expertise of forum contributors. I am intending to digitally scan a large number of 35mm slides and negatives and, following available advice, I will need some means of blowing off dust. Due the quantity, concerns on environmental impact, cost and the fact it will be a long term project, I'm reluctant to buy "canned air" which is apparently a compressed gas other than air. For this reason I thought that a mini compressor of the size suitable for an airbrush might be suitable. I have some small filters and pressure regulators already. Could I ask for tips drawn from experience please? PMM

2nd Mar 2023, 9:57 pm	#2
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 21,445	Re: Miniature Compressor for Aor Dusting Sensible to me. Dad's an artist. One Christmas I decided to buy him an airbrush kit and a little compressor. Seeing the price of little compressors in the artistic world, I immediately decamped to my favourite tool supplier and got a substantially larger and better built machine for a substantially lower price. It's still carry-able and has a small receiver, so you can get a blast of air for blowing muck out of awkward places. It's even got enough umph to run my plasma cutter for chassis work. It's more than the airbrush needs, but the airbrush hasn't complained yet. Once you've got some compressed air around the place, you find more and more uses. __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

3rd Mar 2023, 12:37 am	#3
knobtwiddler Heptode Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: London, UK. Posts: 694	Re: Miniature Compressor for Air Dusting I agree with David, in that an air compressor has a multitude of uses and is uber handy to have in the workshop. Try and get a decent brand, as my Draper one went kaput after only a couple of years. One thing you might find is that a typical compressor could be a little too powerful for 35mm slides. Have you thought of a 'rocket blower'? https://www.richardpeters.co.uk/giottos-rocket-blower/

3rd Mar 2023, 1:17 am	#4
fetteler Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 1,287	Re: Miniature Compressor for Air Dusting The rocket blower seems very appropriate for the task and certainly won't break the bank. I'd also be concerned about particles of water and even oil in the air from a compressor. Driers and filters are available. Steve. __________________ Those who lack imagination cannot imagine what is lacking...

3rd Mar 2023, 10:09 am	#5
pmmunro Octode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dundee, UK. Posts: 1,734	Re: Miniature Compressor for Air Dusting Many thanks everyone for your help. I've decided to go with Steve's suggestion of a Rocket blower. I had't thought about those, possibly because I have meetings about blowing dust around the sensor of a DSLR. I would have thought suction was needed for sensor cleaning but devices for that seem rare. PMM

3rd Mar 2023, 12:01 pm	#6
fetteler Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 1,287	Re: Miniature Compressor for Air Dusting Glad to hear you are happy, however I can't take credit for suggesting the rocket blower, that honour must go to 'Knobtwidler'. Steve. __________________ Those who lack imagination cannot imagine what is lacking...

3rd Mar 2023, 1:05 pm	#7
knobtwiddler Heptode Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: London, UK. Posts: 694	Re: Miniature Compressor for Air Dusting There are generic Rocket Blowers out there, so you can save a few quid over the Giottos one if brand image isn't important to you.

3rd Mar 2023, 9:48 pm	#8
andrewn Pentode Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Taunton, Somerset, UK. Posts: 129	Re: Miniature Compressor for Air Dusting I bought one of these electric blowers designed for cleaning computer equipment. It is surprising powerful, as good as a can of compressed air. It has a filter and comes with different nozzles https://www.itdusters.com/product/compucleaner/

3rd Mar 2023, 10:47 pm	#9
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,262	Re: Miniature Compressor for Air Dusting Fish tank air pump? __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."

5th Mar 2023, 10:17 am	#10
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,207	Re: Miniature Compressor for Air Dusting I bought one of these a few years ago and wouldn’t be without it https://www.itdusters.com/product/metro-datavac/

22nd Mar 2023, 8:36 pm	#11
pmmunro Octode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dundee, UK. Posts: 1,734	Re: Miniature Compressor for Air Dusting Thanks everyone for comments and advice. I've chosen the Rocket blower solution for the present. Unless anyone has anything to add, I would ask the moderators to close this thread olease. PMM