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Old April 30, 2009, 01:14 AM   #1
Shadi Khalil
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Dust Destroyer

Is the compressed air I use to clean my keyboard safe/useful for use on a handgun?


Thanks.
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Old April 30, 2009, 04:00 AM   #2
Conan1
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Yes, Yes, Yes
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Old April 30, 2009, 10:06 AM   #3
Shadi Khalil
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Yessss!

I'll try it out.
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Old April 30, 2009, 04:27 PM   #4
Russ5924
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I use it on my carry gun to blow out the Lint and Dust that collects. Kel-tec in my front pocket
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Old April 30, 2009, 07:26 PM   #5
Shadi Khalil
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Tried it, gangbusters. Thanks fellas.
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Old April 30, 2009, 08:51 PM   #6
Bud Helms
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Thank God that's cleared up.

Quote:
Is the compressed air I use to clean my keyboard safe/useful for use on a handgun?
Did we actually have to get the okay before we tried this?
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Old May 1, 2009, 02:18 AM   #7
Shadi Khalil
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Alright so maybe it was a stupid question. I really just was worried about rust. The head is hanging in shame.
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Old May 1, 2009, 05:32 PM   #8
Spur0701
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I wouldn't worry about rust but........when I went to some firearms training at FLETC they had air hoses in the cleaning rooms, but they were all disconnected. They said that the armorers complained about people using compressed air to help clean the weapons, it tended to blow crud and crap further into the action.....so they disconnected all of them.
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Old May 1, 2009, 07:03 PM   #9
Bud Helms
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The two biggest problems with using compressed air from a compressor is trash and moisture. There are ways to filter them out and they aren't really good for any use of the air.

The compressed air cans we buy in WalMart and other places like that is filtered air and it's pretty clean. It's for use on electronics, electric shavers, keyboards, watches, and other small parts, that are intolerant to high pressure, dirty air.
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Old May 1, 2009, 07:19 PM   #10
Tom2
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As far as I know that canned air(not just air, read the label) will act like a chilling agent. Therefore it might tend to cause some condensation on the metal if used for a long blast or if the can is tilted the wrong way. But if you are in the process of cleaning before reapplying some sort of protective oil or the like, not a problem?
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Old May 1, 2009, 09:45 PM   #11
Bud Helms
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I can see that happening. The brand I got (3M) doesn't even cause frosting on a bathroom mirror. The really fast evaporating agents have been removed from some of the compressed air cans (yes, you do have to read the label) because of that frosting effect. They are for specifically for dusting, not circuit chilling. I think those had a small percentage of refrigerant that was definitely cold.

The can I have now says, "1,1-difluoroethane". I'm pretty sure that's flammable. But it's not very cold to the skin. Anyway, the mirror frost test may be a way to tell. Or you could sneak up behind your wife and spray her just inside the elbow ... on the really tender part of the inner arm. She'll let you know real quick if it's cold.
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Old May 1, 2009, 09:54 PM   #12
Dingoboyx
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a word of caution tho

Sounds silly, but put your shootin' glasses on before blowing it out with compressed air.... gunk can & will come flying out at rediculous speeds, and could get in your eyes very easily.

I have an actual compressor in my bunker, works well (just have to be careful not to accidently blow a whole bunch of primers and things off my workbench)
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Old May 1, 2009, 10:06 PM   #13
Trooper Tyree
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When using "canned air" be advised that it is not actually "air", its usually fluorocarbons, compressed and liquidized. When used properly, you get a high pressure stream of gas. If you turn it upside down however, you get a high pressure stream of liquid that evaporates quickly and can cause frostbite and/or burns.
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Old May 1, 2009, 10:16 PM   #14
Bud Helms
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I haven't tried to invert the can while spraying. The label tells you not to do that.
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Old May 4, 2009, 12:26 AM   #15
Capt_Vin
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I would be worried about any moisture that was 'in the air' from a compressed source.
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Old May 4, 2009, 01:10 AM   #16
djohn
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Can air is good and bad Example Improper use by shaking the can or upside down can and most of the time will spray liquids,hence moisture and as mentioned frost bite.I see people use can air often and they always tend to shake then can then spray a stream of a instant liquid refrigeration or air condition,on the circuit boards.:eeks Surface dust may be just that and some cases compressed air force the dust more internal and can make things worse off.

Last edited by djohn; May 4, 2009 at 01:16 AM.
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