What Compressed Air Gun Do You Use For Lenses And Film?

[Certain Exposures]

Hello,

I would like to stop spending money on cans of compressed air and worrying about the occasional spritz of condensation. I do not find the hand pump rubber air blowers with the red tips useful.

Are any electronic compressed air guns safe for use on lenses, camera parts, scanner glass surfaces, and film? If so, which one do you recommend based on your experience? I am looking at a few options.

Thank you.

 

[Michael Howard]

I use a small CO2 powered blower with a fine tip, uses standard CO2 canisters used in airguns, etc. Never had a condensation "spritz" from it. When I get home tonight, I'll try to remember to get a picture of it. Works perfectly.

 

[Alan Johnson]

I bought an "amazons choice" compressed air duster nearly 3 years ago and have used it for dusting negatives ever since with no problem. It recharges via USB. Name was PeroBuno.

 

[Brendan Quirk]

I use an air tank from the home improvement store. I charge it up with my shop compressor. In my previous darkroom (basement) I ran a line directly from the compressor. A simple air gun attachment is sufficient to clean negatives. The air tank, of course, can be used wherever.

The air blast is not as strong as with "dust off" type products; this can perhaps be an advantage.

I have never had a problem with moisture, despite not using a trap.

I will admit that this rig was actually purchased to run nail guns, and many would probably not want to buy a compressor.

 

[chuckroast]

Hello,

I would like to stop spending money on cans of compressed air and worrying about the occasional spritz of condensation. I do not find the hand pump rubber air blowers with the red tips useful.

Are any electronic compressed air guns safe for use on lenses, camera parts, scanner glass surfaces, and film? If so, which one do you recommend based on your experience? I am looking at a few options.

Thank you.

I NEVER use a compressor, at least the usual kind, for anything photographic. A certain amount of the internal oils contaminates the compressed air. A little oil in the air in your tires is no big deal but it's not a great plan for delicate camera and lens innards. So you want a compressor that is "oil free".

(An ideal source of cheap compressed air is a scuba tank and used regulator setup and an appropriate nozzle attached. However, most shops won't sell you one without a dive card on the assumption that you need to learn how to handle the 3000 psi found therein. But that air is VERY clean. The tanks have to undergo a visual inspection every year and a hydro-static deformation test every 5 years.)

 

[Pieter12]

In the darkroom I have a CO2 tank that was used for airbrushes. Dry, controlled air to clean negs. The biggest problem is finding a reasonable place to get it filled.

 

[blee1996]

I recently bought a HOTO AutoCare Air Duster & Vacuum. Lithium battery and USB charged, with many type of nozzles. It is very powerful, and I used it to vacuum clean the inside of an old Graflex 4x5 SLR. You can use it as a duster as well, just need to be careful not to blow away other things on the table.

 

[Certain Exposures]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I NEVER use a compressor, at least the usual kind, for anything photographic. A certain amount of the internal oils contaminates the compressed air. A little oil in the air in your tires is no big deal but it's not a great plan for delicate camera and lens innards. So you want a compressor that is "oil free".

I'll check which options suggested are 'oil free' besides a scuba tank.

 

[chuckroast]

I recently bought a HOTO AutoCare Air Duster & Vacuum. Lithium battery and USB charged, with many type of nozzles. It is very powerful, and I used it to vacuum clean the inside of an old Graflex 4x5 SLR. You can use it as a duster as well, just need to be careful not to blow away other things on the table.

Those can generate a lot static electricity which is a dust magnet.

There are specialty vacuums made for working on precision and electronics systems that avoid this.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Hello,

I would like to stop spending money on cans of compressed air and worrying about the occasional spritz of condensation. I do not find the hand pump rubber air blowers with the red tips useful.

Are any electronic compressed air guns safe for use on lenses, camera parts, scanner glass surfaces, and film? If so, which one do you recommend based on your experience? I am looking at a few options.

Thank you.

I stopped using compressed air 20 years ago and switched to a small compressor from Calumet. Never regretted the switch. They are safe, and there are no more cans to buy. I use it to clean all sorts of things. I also believe the compressor is a lot stronger than the cans. Initially, it takes a little wait until the compressor reservoir is pressurized, but that's no big deal; have I mentioned 'free compressed air'?