Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: lightstand on March 31, 2010, 12:19:50 am

Title: Air Compressor for cleaning Equipment?
Post by: lightstand on March 31, 2010, 12:19:50 am

I'm looking for recommendations for a good oil-less air compessor with a water trap and a trigger nozzle so I can blow dust off lenses, and camera bodies, etc without having to use canned air. What specifics should I look for and what models are people using for camera equipment?  Any insights or suggestions concerning air compressors would be appreciated. thanks jeff

Title: Air Compressor for cleaning Equipment?
Post by: Peter Mellis on March 31, 2010, 10:56:19 am

I have a small Porter Cable pancake type compressor that I use in my workshop to drive nail guns and clean power tools. This type of machine does not have a water filter (that I know of);I believe that you could attach one to the air hose like an in-line set up for a larger stationary unit. You can buy a trigger controlled nozzle;I have a long one that I use for blowing sawdust off of the inner works of a table saw. That said, I think that an air blast from this compressor (normally set at 100-120psi) is way too strong for use on photographic equipment. I've never tried to run it with less pressure, so I can't comment on how it would work at substantially lower pressure.

You might look at the specs for the smaller compressors that are used with air brushes, to see if they run at lower settings.

Title: Air Compressor for cleaning Equipment?
Post by: lightstand on March 31, 2010, 01:18:59 pm

Quote from: PeterAM

You might look at the specs for the smaller compressors that are used with air brushes, to see if they run at lower settings.

Hi Peter thank you for your response, yes the air brush compressors are what I'm looking at.  Anyone else have specific models I should look at?

thanks, Jeff

Title: Air Compressor for cleaning Equipment?
Post by: lightstand on March 31, 2010, 04:21:15 pm

Here's another idea on cleaning equipment using a vacuum for computer equipment

http://www.metrovacworld.com/Shopping/prod...ct_id=DataVNext (http://www.metrovacworld.com/Shopping/product.asp?catalog_name=metrovac&category_name=&product_id=DataVNext)

although it gets some pretty bad reviews claiming it doesn't have the power and over heats

any other opinions?  thanks jeff

p.s. I'm not talking about the sensor, just the lenses and camera bodies

Title: Re: Air Compressor for cleaning Equipment?
Post by: Thomas McConnell on June 09, 2011, 09:14:57 am

Air blower may help too.

Title: Re: Air Compressor for cleaning Equipment?
Post by: elf on June 14, 2011, 03:01:36 am

Compressed air is probably the worst thing to use around cameras.  All it will do is move the dirt deeper inside the camera.  However, if you insist on using it, a better option would be to use nitrogen gas. You can get a tank from welding supply companies and is not overly expensive. Nitrogen gas doesn't have water or oil in it like compressed air.

Title: Re: Air Compressor for cleaning Equipment?
Post by: Peter McLennan on June 14, 2011, 11:57:05 am

Every camera truck on every film production in all of recorded history  : )  has a bottle of nitrogen for cleaning the gear.  Everything from the  camera's inner workings to muddy tripod feet get a blast from this universal cleaning apparatus.  It's extremely efficient for drying out wet equipment and as a first step for lens and filter cleaning.  Bottles of nitrogen contain no water or oil, are portable and relatively cheap to rent.

Title: Re: Air Compressor for cleaning Equipment?
Post by: kiefers on August 09, 2011, 06:07:41 am

I also thought about using an air compressor to blow dust off lenses. I searched a bit in the internet and found oil-free air compressor rentals (http://www.aggreko.ca/products-and-services/rental-air-compressors.aspx) and I think I will try this. I can additionally use the air compressor for blowing off dust for example on my keyboard too. So to me it makes sense to rent one and not to buy it. I hope it will work.

Title: Re: Air Compressor for cleaning Equipment?
Post by: degrub on August 09, 2011, 08:43:06 am

Make sure it comes with the equipment to dry the air as well, dewpoint in the -20 to -40 range - otherwise it'll spit all over your gear.    ;D You will need a particle filter as well - .1 micron should be good enough.

why not a small bottle of nitrogen ? just be careful to use it outside of a confined space - less than 19% volume oxygen in air is considered hazardous limit by many.

Title: Re: Air Compressor for cleaning Equipment?
Post by: jrsforums on August 09, 2011, 10:03:24 am

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J4ZOAW

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/05/the-lensrentals-lens-cleaning-methods

John

Title: Re: Air Compressor for cleaning Equipment?
Post by: Dennishh on August 09, 2011, 10:01:34 pm

I've been using air from a dive shop that has worked great for years now. Most dive shops have used tanks and variable air tip that attaches to the regulator. I can put just the amount of air I want on the camera or sensor or other equipment. The refills are cheap and contain no oil. Some tanks are portable but I only use the larger ones for economic reasons.