Being into mechanical things as well as musical things I'm highly skilled at using a high-pressure compressed air nozzle to blow the dust out of my Mac, a ritual I perform about every 6 mos. if I haven't been in there sooner to upgrade.

This is an operation that is not for the clumsy, however. It's real easy to damage delicate components (including yourself) if you don't know how to handle 130psi through a 1mm opening.

:c:

Originally posted by Tore member of Park:
I just have a few questions about keeping your DAW clean... Any tips?
First of all I understand that you should keep the area around it clean... ( it's a typical "male-thing" to vaccum every day...hmmm.. :d: )
But do you use filters on you case fans to avoid getting dust inside the case?

When talking about these things u can't call them DAW's. It's your ANUS, remember? so it should sound a bit more like this:
"I just have a few questions about keeping your ANUS clean... Any tips?
First of all I understand that you should keep the area around it clean... ( it's a typical "male-thing" to vaccum every day...hmmm.. :d: )
But do you use filters on you case fans to avoid getting dust inside the case?"

I live in Pahrump, Nevada. It's a little desert town which sits in a valley. This place is basically a big dust bowl. You have to dust your furniture every other day!
I have five desktop computers in-use in my house, three peecees and two Macs. I have to give them all a good cleaning once a month!
I have a little shop vac. I put the hose on the outlet and blow the dust out, then I put the hose on the intake, remove the heatsink fans, and suck the dust out of all of the heatsink fins. I clean the fans with Q-Tips and alcohol. Also, I don't use the metal sides on my cases, I use washable HVAC filters for sides. I just wash them in the sink and let them dry thoroughly. It takes me a couple of hours to do all five.

Thanks for the replies guys...
Eskimo... I know that I could have used that topic... but it was just a little bit too easy to make it like that. I'm afraid that I'll be banned by the moderator if I make jokes like that :D .
And SOS... I don't live in a desert town but I have two kids running around trowing pillows and just making it a very dust place. So your tips will be very useful to me.
Going to buy some filters now... and maybe build a cage for the kids. :D

I was told to never use a vacuum cleaner on a computer. Too much static electricity, could possibly damage the components. Not to contradict SMAWG, he has far more understanding of computers than I. I was told to use "canned air" to blow out the computer every month or so. Fats
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Tannoy, Dynaudio, Blue Sky, JBL, Earthworks, Westlake, NS 10's :D , Genelec, Hafler, KRK, and PMC
Those are good. …………………….. Pick one.
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Wow.......how to keep my ANUS clean................Water Enema(sp?) :D
Yes, vaccuum is not a good idea as it can cause static discharges...especially in high humidity areas! Canned air is THE best thing to do and do it where the dust doesn't settle back down inside it...I like to take it outside and do it or have a fan blowing it out towards a window!
Opus

whatever you do.. DON'T take your DAW to a car wash, or clean it with the hose, or in the shower, nor stick things in the dishwasher.
This is a no no!!
Every one knows blue smoke make a computer work. Keep the blue smoke inside!!

:D

SHIT!!! Why didn't you tell me that sooner Lorn?!!! lmao!! Guys at the car wash gave it an inside and underside wax job as well!! Should see it sparkle from miles away by now!! hee hee!
Oh by the way....I've gone to a local Acrylic shop here in town and having them custom make me a water reservoir out of a neon green edged acrylic that will replace my cracked water reservoir for my water cooling system!! So....it will be even more scarier than before...and E-Cue if you are reading this...it's got a Disco Mirror Ball in it now!! Thanks for that great suggestion!! I'll take pictures when it's done...which won't be until mid february or so...
Cheers
Opus :D

Opus,
Did the guys at the car wash provide an air freshener? Was it "New Computer Smell"? Ahh I love the smell of ozone in the morning! .... Fats
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Tannoy, Dynaudio, Blue Sky, JBL, Earthworks, Westlake, NS 10's :D , Genelec, Hafler, KRK, and PMC
Those are good. …………………….. Pick one.
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Hmmmm ... never heard or thought about the vacuum / static thing. Makes sense to me, though. I guess I should consider myself lucky that I haven't messed anything up in the years I've been doing it!
I really hate "Computer Cleaning Day". It's a real pain in the ANUS. The good thing is that once a month I have the opportunity to look inside all of the computers. I make sure all of the connections are kewl, and often get ideas for upgrades and improvements.
So, since I do this once a month to five puters, I better go out and buy a case of those compressed air cans! Maybe I should pick-up some of those pine tree air fresheners, too!
Jeez, do I feel stupid! :o