[Elecraft] K3: Brush or Blow Dust?

[Jay Bromley]

Hi Stewart and Don,

I have also had good luck with an air hose or air in a can, but on the fan 
motors be sure jamb a screwdriver into the blades as to not over speed the 
motor and ruin the bearings.  Also don't forget to take the screwdriver back 
out, hi.

The main thing I have seen is guys with an air hose is using too much 
pressure or bearing down with an air gun.  One guy got so aggressive he blew 
off part of an SMT variable capacitor!

All one has to do is keep the air about a foot or so away from what you are 
trying to clean.  Common sense like with anything else, you can get close up 
with locked down fans, not so close on things like pots, variable caps, etc. 
When the dust starts flying  that is close enough.

Also some air tanks seem to have more moisture than others, if they have a 
water catch or a drain, but sure to do the proper maintenance before hand. 
If it is cold outside I usually let the equipment warm up to room 
temperature for a few hours before I power it back up.

73 de w5jay/jay..

> Stewart,
>
> In the past, I have understood that when ICs are mounted on the boards,
> the static susceptibility is greatly reduced, so air-cleaning of
> assembled boards is generally OK.  That may not be true of any single
> board since it may have unconnected inputs at the pins, but should be
> true for complete assemblies of boards.
>
> I have taken the air hose to many old computers and have had no
> identified problems.
> I have never had to do the same to any ham gear that I have encountered
> because there is just not that much dust accumulation.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR