Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
05-11-2014, 05:35 AM   #16
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
JimJohnson's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,771
QuoteOriginally posted by kdf9511 Quote
I went by Bedford Camera today and picked up a blower. They looked at my sensor with the loupe and hit it with the blower and a lot of the dust was removed. She said if I blow it out a few more times it should be dust free. I was glad to hear that as they charge $99.00 for a sensor cleaning.
At $99, in addition to materials and labor, you are likely play into a self-insurance cookie jar for the employee who screws up by not following training. That or new toys for the shop owner.

How most blowers work is via a pair of one-way valves. Intake is at the opposite end of the squeeze bulb from the exhaust. Air is sucked in at one end and ejected at the other end. Between dust in the air and natural degradation of the bulb, you can accumulate particulates in the bulb - therefore three hints:

A- use the blower in as dust-free environment as possible.
B- give a bulb a couple good squeezes away from the camera before using it on the camera
C- put a filter on the bulb intake. I suggest a couple layers of coffee filter material. Many people have this material sitting in their kitchen cupboard. On Rocket brand blowers, the intake valve is extended from the bulb. I cut a rectangle of filter, fold it and attach it over the intake with a twist tie.

HEPA material would be better, but the coffee filter is inexpensive and seems to work well. You want to avoid material that won't allow for any airflow or will pass its own lint along with the air.

A final note. Any filter is going to slow down air flow into the bulb, but this will not in any way reduce the efficiency of the blower. The volume and pressure of the bulb's exhaust will be the same once the bulb is filled.

05-11-2014, 06:30 AM   #17
Pentaxian
Oldbayrunner's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,661
QuoteOriginally posted by JimJohnson Quote
C- put a filter on the bulb intake. I suggest a couple layers of coffee filter material. Many people have this material sitting in their kitchen cupboard. On Rocket brand blowers, the intake valve is extended from the bulb. I cut a rectangle of filter, fold it and attach it over the intake with a twist tie.
RE: C.. In a majority of blowers air is sucked in from both the front and rear allowing a rapid fill of air in the bulb and the valve in the rear closes off to allow more air pressure out of the front nozzle. By putting a filter over the rear intake you are causing the front intake to suck in more air, which in essence would potentially suck in more dust through it if it was not filtered also. So for your idea to work efficiently you would need to filter both ends, unfortunately that would render the blower rather ineffective. I tried your suggetion on my Giottos Rocket Blower and another I own with the same results on both. However I find your ideas A & B very sound IMO.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
dust, fiber, fiber optic cleaners, kit, pentax help, sensor
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 Carbon Fiber Tripod Legs at B&H for $249.88 Foma2 Pentax Price Watch 9 03-13-2014 03:54 PM
Dolica Carbon Fiber 60" Traveler Tripod for $199 + tax BabyTeaLeaf Pentax Price Watch 11 02-27-2014 01:55 PM
For Sale - Sold: Price Drop-Lensbaby Control Freak with soft optic alanjoke Sold Items 9 09-15-2012 06:06 AM
Visible Dust Sensor Cleaners MrPetkus Pentax K-5 & K-5 II 6 04-24-2012 10:31 AM
Pro Optic lenses NaClH2O Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 7 09-18-2010 03:47 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:36 PM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top