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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: AndrewZorn on Wed, 09 December 2009, 15:03:09

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: AndrewZorn on Wed, 09 December 2009, 15:03:09

It might be a stupid question, but I keep forgetting to ask, so here it is...

I feel like the most common method of quick-cleaning a keyboard is to spray compressed air between the keys.  A lot of junk comes out!  But I can't imagine why this is actually done...

If you think about the way the keycaps are shaped, and the way the switches are elevated off the plate or casing, aren't the internals normally out of harm's way of dust/dirt/food/etc?  When you start blowing it all around, turning the keyboard sideways or upside down when you do (to aid in the stuff falling out) are you not actually giving the junk a chance to get into these usually-unreachable places?

Maybe every time I think about this, it's because I'm imagining a Cherry switch, high and mighty above all the crap down below.  Then air blowing all the stuff around, and it landing on/near the stem.  In the case of a tilted or upside-down board, all the stuff landing on the inside of the keycap... then once righted, down into the switch itself.  

Even rubber domes have design that makes it look like it is impossible for dust to get in under normal conditions.

I'm asking because I don't want dust to get into places I cannot get it out of, but can I really avoid ever doing this, taking off all the keycaps every time?

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 09 December 2009, 15:07:50

That's a good point; I have never really thought about that, but I guess you're right.  I clean my keyboards quite often (with a feather duster), so I lower the chances of stuff getting below the keys.  That said, I don't use a feather duster, so anything that does get below the keycaps stays. People have mentioned that they have had dust get into blue Cherrys preventing them from clicking.

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: _js_ on Wed, 09 December 2009, 15:24:42

I tend to agree, but I am far from any kind of expert on the subject.  But, FWIW, I would personally NOT spray my boards with compressed air.  First of all, sometimes you get liquid out of those cans, and that leaves a residue which I doubt is conductive.  Second, as you point out, you're just blowing dust and crap into places where it shouldn't be.  If it falls in from outside, it is naturally inbetween keyswitches, right?  When you blow it, you are going to blow it into them.

I would think that properly cleaning a keyboard involves pulling all the key caps and doing something more thorough and a lot more delicate and directed than a blast of compressed gasses.

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: microsoft windows on Wed, 09 December 2009, 16:22:09

If you really want a clean keyboard, it's good to remove all the keys and vacuum out the inside. A metal patch for a PCI slot makes a great key puller that does not damage key caps.

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: AndrewZorn on Wed, 09 December 2009, 16:41:07

Quote from: ripster;140675

You guys worry too much.  Take the keyboard, hold it over the garbage can, and shake upside down.  Repeat until the garbage can is filled up.

junk falls into keycaps
(keyboard back on desk)
junk falls onto stem
(you type something)
junk falls into switch

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: AndrewZorn on Wed, 09 December 2009, 16:59:30

would still happen

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: nanu on Wed, 09 December 2009, 17:23:39

My latest philosophy on cleaning keyboards is to not care too much.

Between removed-keycap cleanings I use an acid brush for debris between rows.
It is not very effective but removes some dry particles that don't fall out via shakin'.
The thin metal edges also have a high chance of scratching your keys if you're clumsy.

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: microsoft windows on Wed, 09 December 2009, 17:27:42

Quote from: ripster;140702

Show Image

(http://www.lifeinkl.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/p1080694.jpg)

[/IMG]

The cruddy rubber dome is getting a nice new home! :-)

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Wed, 09 December 2009, 17:30:55

How about using a shop air compressor to get all the dust out?  That air moves so fast it doesn't have any time go anywhere else but out.

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: microsoft windows on Wed, 09 December 2009, 17:32:15

Those do the job well.

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: bitflipper on Wed, 09 December 2009, 18:32:39

Please take it outside to blow it out with canned air! And don't get any on you.

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Wed, 09 December 2009, 18:37:36

That needs more than a can of compressed air.

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: MFGorilla on Wed, 09 December 2009, 18:39:30

maybe two cans.

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: bitflipper on Wed, 09 December 2009, 18:50:02

Quote from: Computer-Lab in Basement;140755

That needs more than a can of compressed air.

Yeah, the power supply fan failed for some reason.

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Wed, 09 December 2009, 19:03:34

This is more of what I was thinking of:

10HP Air compressor.

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41b8RNO2FSL._SS500_.jpg)

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: ironcoder on Thu, 10 December 2009, 05:10:45

Shop vac with a good brush. Make sure all the key caps are stowed and their tray tables are in an upright position.

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: GenEric35 on Thu, 10 December 2009, 10:07:54

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/1/CompressorsAirTools/Compressors/PRDOVR~0991125P/Campbell%2BHausfeld%2BCompressor%2BKit%2B%2526%2BNailer.jsp

and they are cheap too, 99$ cdn,

even comes with a nail gun for the Quake nostalgic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgJNmZTutxo&feature=related Excellent

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: GenEric35 on Thu, 10 December 2009, 10:09:45

Quote from: Computer-Lab in Basement;140763

This is more of what I was thinking of:

10HP Air compressor.

yea, and electrical compressor are good too, got mine as a gift last year, someone in my familly upgraded his and gave me the small one, it has 10 years of hobby usage and still works like new

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: HaaTa on Thu, 10 December 2009, 19:47:05

Quote from: GenEric35;140920

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/1/CompressorsAirTools/Compressors/PRDOVR~0991125P/Campbell%2BHausfeld%2BCompressor%2BKit%2B%2526%2BNailer.jsp

Ooo Canadian Tire (Canadian Name: Crappy Tire).
I miss not having one of those around, I needed a pair of cheap winter gloves yesterday, I have no idea where to even look in Japan.
Its just like not having Timmy's or Robins (Tim Hortons and Robin's Donuts). The doughnuts at Robin's have been better ever since Timmy's started using factories to produce their.

Damn that definitely just proved the Canadian section in the Wikipedia article about Doughnuts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doughnut)

Quote

Per capita, Canadians consume the most donuts in the world, and Canada also has the most donut stores per capita.

There are at least 4 Tim Hortons on my university campus back in Waterloo.

Good thing I found a good bakery on my way to work.
BTW Melon Pan from grocery and convenience stores are crap, amazing from good bakeries.

[Note to self: do not eat bread/pasteries near keyboard]

Title: Canned air sprayed between keys
Post by: mmgoose on Thu, 10 December 2009, 20:51:21

if it's a keyboard you really couldn't care less about other than discouraging all sorts of critters dining in the all you can eat filth buffet then canned air is a good idea. but in my experience although most of the dust just kinda swirls around, the sticky crud attracts some and gets jammed in the nooks and crannies tighter than before.

if it's really a bother, remove the top half first.