Hair Dryer or Rocket? (Page 2): addition to the thermals that protect the motor. When the thermals that protect the heating elements open you can simply blow into the barrel of the...

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

Db7423 wrote:

I defer to your expertise. I thought the thermal protector was to assure the heating element was getting enough air so that it would not overheat.

addition to the thermals that protect the motor. When the thermals that protect the heating elements open you can simply blow into the barrel of the dryer to cool them, usually you can hear a click and they will then work until they overheat again. Generally when you start having to do that youre in need of a replacement. In the case of the motor most will need to set for a while if the motor protection opens, if this happens chances are you need to clean the wire mesh grill to allow more air flow to the motor.

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Pepper wrote:

addition to the thermals that protect the motor. W... (show quote)

Thanks Pepper. Learn something everyday here. Today an unexpected free tutorial on thermal protectors for motors and heating elements. LOL I thought the motor was air cooled like the old VW's. Does make sense though that a motor on a hair dryer with all that hot air flowing around it would need a thermal switch to shut it down to cool especially if the airflow was restricted.

bunuweld Loc: Arizona

Pepper wrote:

addition to the thermals that protect the motor. W... (show quote)

So far I've got great ideas from the various posts. The coffee filter sounded very good until my enthusiasm was dampened by the overheating objection. This made me think of something less restrictive of air flow but particle-retaining, so I thought of human filters. I just Googled for that kind of filter and found that silk might be a good one. See link:

http://www.achooallergy.com/mask-silkcomfortmask.asp

Of course I am not about to spend 20$ to add to my decrepit hair dryer, but would just plain silk keep the overheating to a low enough level?

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

bunuweld wrote:

So far I've got great ideas from the various posts... (show quote)

That might work, if it overheats just let it cool down and it should be okay but I wouldn't do it again. Those thermals don't last long, again they're just not very robust.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

pigpen wrote:

I got a rocket. it cost $10. I'd be concerned of a hair dryer adding more dust than it eliminates.

Why risk it. Spend the money and get a rocket. Put it in your camera bag and you will always have it to use when you are out in the field. I use a Rocket and it has come in very handy.

winterrose Loc: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia

The nozzle velocity of the Rocket or the like would be many times greater than even the the highest setting of a hair dryer. Don't be fooled into thinking differently by the vast difference between the two regarding the volume of air delivery. May I suggest that you restrict the use of a hair dryer to......the drying of hair and in order to blow dust from your lenses and from the internals of your camera use the tool designed expressly for that purpose.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

winterrose wrote:

The nozzle velocity of the Rocket or the like would be many times greater than even the the highest setting of a hair dryer. Don't be fooled into thinking differently by the vast difference between the two regarding the volume of air delivery. May I suggest that you restrict the use of a hair dryer to......the drying of hair and in order to blow dust from your lenses and from the internals of your camera use the tool designed expressly for that purpose.

Very good advice. Advice that should be followed. :-)

bunuweld Loc: Arizona

winterrose wrote:

The nozzle velocity of the Rocket or the like would be many times greater than even the the highest setting of a hair dryer. Don't be fooled into thinking differently by the vast difference between the two regarding the volume of air delivery. May I suggest that you restrict the use of a hair dryer to......the drying of hair and in order to blow dust from your lenses and from the internals of your camera use the tool designed expressly for that purpose.

I brought up the question because of my own concern about using the device for the internals of the camera, and I have never used that way. We are in agreement on that.

I do own and have used a Rocket, especially handy for its portability. At home, the old hair blower does a far better job on my computer and keyboard than the Rocket. With common attachments for all hair blowers, one can concentrate the power of the air stream to a higher degree than most hands would achieve with the Rocket and, as with the Rocket, without introducing the chemicals packed in canned air.

By the way, I don't use a hair dryer for my hair. The one I have is one discarded by my wife because its heating mechanism no longer works. :)

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

pigpen wrote:

I got a rocket. it cost $10. I'd be concerned of a hair dryer adding more dust than it eliminates.

pipen, does the Rocket have a replaceable filter? Just wondering...

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

bunuweld wrote:

I brought up the question because of my own concer... (show quote)

Are you sure about that? You look pretty well coifed to me. I can count the hair on the top of my head. LOL

THEMRED7007

Pepper wrote:

Doesn't matter if he's running it cold or not the motor is what will overheat if you throw a filter beyond the wire mesh on it. The motors used in the typical hair dryers are not very robust.

How many HOURS do you plan to use it with the coffee filter in place ? Thermal break is so it doesn't overheat and catch fire.
If it breaks, buy another @ thrift shop for a few dollars...usually a good selection for cheap $.

winterrose Loc: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia

bunuweld wrote:

I brought up the question because of my own concer... (show quote)

Another consideration is that in the case of the Rocket the source of the injected air is from the tiny nozzle held in close proximity to where the air is directed so therefore the airflow is over the mirror/sensor etc thence flowing outward and away from the innards of the camera whereas air directed from a much larger nozzle which cannot fit inside the camera has a much greater probability of dislodging dust and dirt from the outside of the camera and introducing it.

pigpen

Papa Joe wrote:

pipen, does the Rocket have a replaceable filter? Just wondering...

Negative. It's really more of a valve than a "filter". I didn't mean to be misleading, however, it does help keep dirt out.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/259157-REG/Giottos_AA1900_Rocket_Air_Blower.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/259157-REG/Giottos_AA1900_Rocket_Air_Blower.html

bunuweld Loc: Arizona

winterrose wrote:

Another consideration is that in the case of the Rocket the source of the injected air is from the tiny nozzle held in close proximity to where the air is directed so therefore the airflow is over the mirror/sensor etc thence flowing outward and away from the innards of the camera whereas air directed from a much larger nozzle which cannot fit inside the camera has a much greater probability of dislodging dust and dirt from the outside of the camera and introducing it.

Those are good points and I had considered them. The old hair blower has a nozzle shaped almost like a rectangle of about 1.5 cm x 8.0cm. It would be easy make an addition with a rubber or silicone tube of the desired size to end with a more adequate nozzle. If I ever have a dust problem in the cameras interior I might try it.

There has been no need to do it simply because I don't have any cameras with dust problems and never change lenses outdoors. I'd rather take two cameras with different lenses than change lenses outside. At home, the changing is in a room that is reasonably dust-free, with a tile floor and no fans or other source of air currents. It has worked for me so far because I have never had a contaminated sensor.

The reason for my interest on an electrical-powered device is not to save money, but simply to have a more efficient tool if needed. So far I have had very helpful suggestions from the responses to my post.

CSI Dave Loc: Arizona

I have a rocket and it works very well. For home use (not as portable) I've had good luck with the datavac
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW
It has a powerful jet of air, way more than a hairdryer. It was recommended in shutterbug magazine, which is how I found it.