How do you clean your PCBs and Arcade Interiors??

rainman154

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Like some of yours, the inside of some of my games is dusty. How do you guys clean it? Canned Air, like for a computer keyboard?
I want to get the dust off my PCB and power supply.
What do you suggest?
Does cleaning it help?
 
I usually just use the shop vac. If theres layers of dust, I use the exhaust to blow it off, then vacumm the cab. Electronic contact cleaner is good to have for components.
 
when I am cleaning up really dirty monitor chassis' I spray on some degreaser let it soak for a bit, then rinse it off with water.

Then I let it sit for like a week. I will put it in my truck if it's sunny to get it some more heat. Or during the summer here, there is plenty of that.

I was thinking of getting an air compressor ($99 at harbor freight right now) that is like 20 cans of air. It would be worth it I think.
 
I use one of these
Electrovert%20Aquastorm%20100%20PCB%20Washer.JPG


Seriously
 
Shop vac & compressed air for the hard to reach spots. I also like to use a little Simple Green to get that ever so minty clean smell.
 
LOL.....

What is that???

It's a PCB washer of coarse. They work great for washing PCBs. He he
Actually I used to use one all the time but as dirty as some of these chassis and boards can be I have just resorted to hot water, dish soap and a long bristled brush. Dry with a compressor regulated to 25 psi and you're good to go.
 
I use to use this, now I use it to cool my computer

leafblowercomputer.jpg


but for real, I like that little brush thing that comes with the shop vac, soft but can get gunk off
 
wait...so water is good? ;-)
Yeah, I was wondering if those DUST OFF cans were any good? I was going to buy a can of it and spray air on the PCB. Just wanted to make sure I wouldn't mess it up.
 
The compressed air cans are "aite". They tend to move the dirt a little bit and tend to only knock off dust bunnies. On some things they are completely useless. Such as 30+ year old monitor chassis. It definitely isn't gonna knock that crap off.

For general cleaning of everything: shop vac and if you have an air compressor, that can work better than those air cans. What my main problem is is stained wood. I guess there is nothing you can do about those little puddles of coke that have soaked in on the inside exposed wood. A little soap and water doesn't seem to hurt the wood, but...pay attention to my use of the word "little". I don't wanna be responsible if you decide to car wash your cabinet.

PCBs I've done the bathtub method...but every time this topic comes up, everyone and their Mom jumps in about this being either totally fine or completely idiotic. The only boards I've "ruined" giving them a bath were boards where my little hand drawn chip map got destroyed and I couldn't figure out which rom went where.
 
a handy thing is if you use a blow gun with an air compressor to get the baked on dust. i usually use a shop vac to vacuum off the loose stuff, and for the bare wood areas i use a brush attachment to get the area of dust.
 
Like some of yours, the inside of some of my games is dusty. How do you guys clean it? Canned Air, like for a computer keyboard?
I want to get the dust off my PCB and power supply.
What do you suggest?
Does cleaning it help?

If it's close to by garage I use my compressor and blow gun. If not, I use a paint brush and vacuum cleaner.
 
Simple green (or this crap from the dollar store called "Awesome" - smells like oven cleaner but it's a liquid)
water (for rinsing)
time (for drying)
--- the above formula is especially effective on those grungy monitor chassis and such)
A PCB has to be pretty nasty before I go this far with it but monitors and cabinets... no worries.
Haven't killed anything yet.
 
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