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Canned Air

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:03 am
by stash
On occasion I use canned air (Dust Off) to blow dust, lint and stuff off my handguns. It seems like every five or so squirts of air I will get some kind of moisture out of the nozzle and on the gun. I don't know if this is water or something else but whatever it is I don't like it squirting on my guns. Anyone here have any suggestions on canned air that does not do this?

Thanks, Stan

Re: Canned Air

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:18 am
by G.C.Montgomery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1,1-Difluoroethane also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-134a

DON'T TILL THE CAN! It should say this on the warning label. The chemicals above are the common ingredients in most canned air products I've used. Under high pressure, they are in a liquid state. But just like other refridgerants, if you drop the pressure they return to a gas state. In refridgeration systems, you'll find this stuff in a closed loop with an evaporator coil over which we blow air before sending the gas back through a compressor and condenser to become a liquid again. It's often called air conditioning. ;-)

Generally, these chemicals won't harm steel because it just doesn't get THAT cold and there are no other reactions taking place. The problem is it a VOC or volatile organic compound and it's been known to roast brain cells when inhaled. At worst, it usually causes discoloration of some porous surfaces. If you are goofy enough to spray the stuff on your skin directly, it causes a burn/blister that's pretty much identical to frostbite.

Re: Canned Air

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:36 am
by Wildscar
G.C.Montgomery wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1,1-Difluoroethane also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-134a

DON'T TILL THE CAN! It should say this on the warning label. The chemicals above are the common ingredients in most canned air products I've used. Under high pressure, they are in a liquid state. But just like other refridgerants, if you drop the pressure they return to a gas state. In refridgeration systems, you'll find this stuff in a closed loop with an evaporator coil over which we blow air before sending the gas back through a compressor and condenser to become a liquid again. It's often called air conditioning. ;-)

Generally, these chemicals won't harm steel because it just doesn't get THAT cold and there are no other reactions taking place. The problem is it a VOC or volatile organic compound and it's been known to roast brain cells when inhaled. At worst, it usually causes discoloration of some porous surfaces. If you are goofy enough to spray the stuff on your skin directly, it causes a burn/blister that's pretty much identical to frostbite.
So basically he's saying your ok but dont spray it on your skin. :thumbs2:

Re: Canned Air

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:37 am
by HighVelocity
I use it all the time. to dust off everything from my keyboard to guns. Never had a problem but I dont over do it.

Re: Canned Air

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:05 am
by stash
Thanks for the info guys.

Stan

Re: Canned Air

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:03 am
by BradGroux
Just don't tilt the can and you're fine, tilt the weapon while keeping the can upright... the only time you'll get condensation is from using the can at an odd angle.