Air Duster quality

I purchased a can of air duster from a retail outlet yesterday. I did not feel like paying $10 for a pack of 2 cans, or even more money for more cans, I only wanted one can, and felt that the cheapest can was the one i wanted.
I have noticed with this cheap can, the air coming out is often wet, although i am careful not to shake the can, and use it only in an upright position.
My question is, are the more expensive brands of compressed air actually better ? I was in the mindset that a can of compressed air is a can of compressed air - how different could they possibly be ? I have never had a can of air duster that sprays this wet. I have to use EXTREMELY short bursts - MUCH less than one second per burst or it comes out wet.
Are the more expensive brands actually better - less moisture expelled when used ?

 

Hi

I've noticed similar results with cheap versus expensive canned air. However, I don't think it's directly related to the price... most likely it's the particular cheap brand you found.

Regardless, canned air is NOT compressed air. In fact, canned air is chemicals that turn into a forced vapor when released. If it was simply compressed air, they wouldn't have adamant warnings not to inhale the contents! So, different brands probably use different mixtures and qualities of the chemicals. I'll bet that the name brand canned air uses higher grade chemicals, which results in less moisture.

 

I suspect you're correct. When this can is used up, I'll spring for a more expensive brand and see .
I got a can of XTREME KLEAN . It was the last can on the shelf, whereas the more expensive brands were fully stocked. Too bad I dont have a compressor or tank with a good dryer.
I'm responsible for keeping 4 or 5 computers clean, updated, and running.

Just noticed the tiny print on the back of the can. Fry's Electronics. That's where i bought it.

 

As mcsmc states, it is not air at all and the cans should not say "air". Sadly, since cans of spray paint are harder for juveniles to purchase, these cans of compressed dusting "gas" are often used by "huffers" trying to get high.

I use an air compressor which works great. BUT, as implied by FED UP, when used for cleaning, you MUST use an in-line moisture and particulate filter or risk spewing rusty, oily water on your electronics - not good!

I suspect that specific can of dusting gas is defective.

 

Not nitpicking, but sometimes the definition of "upright" can be the issue.

Unlike spray paint or bathroom cleaner (where you are trying to dispense a liquid), canned air has to be held as upright as humanly possible. If you spray a can of it upside down, you will dispense what looks like dry ice. I've found that (depending on the brand and how full the can is) tilting it even 30 degrees or so will sometimes result in a mix of clear gas and the "dry ice" mixture, especially when the can is full. Although you might have a defective can, this is something to keep in mind when using any brand.

As for the huffing thing, I believe Texas and other states are now enforcing age restrictions like those on spray paint. The Fry's in Houston has a sign on the aisle stating you must be 18 or older to buy "canned air". Anyone trying to use this for a high must have a different body chemistry than I do. Although I have never intentionally "huffed" a product, canned air doesn't give me a buzz or headache like spray paint or oil-based primers. :confused

 

Most canned dusting gas consists of difluoroethane which is a highly toxic refrigerant.

I note my cans from 3M do not have the word "air" printed anywhere on them. The product is called 3M Dust Remover, Compressed Gas Duster.

Also, I note it says in big HIGHLIGHTED UPPER CASE LETTERS:

I know for me, it is almost second nature to shake any can before using it - I have noticed it does indeed spray liquid more readily if I do. Fortunately, I bought a 3-pack of cans, so I just grab another and remember not to shake it.

 

Actually, I knew that the cans aren't simply compressed air. I was indeed aware that you can get high huffing it and all that stuff. I just didn't think there could be that much of a difference between brands. Being that this can was the last on the shelf, I believe it was the last one there because it didn't have the little red spray straw taped to the side, so I took the one off my old can, which I had yet to throw away, and that seemed to help. So this morning I can a good cleaning to my computer. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I keep the tower on a table, and this is a non-smoking house-although we do have two dogs that shed, I do clean out this unit probably every 4 months. I've only had it since May 2009. It is by far the best computer I have ever owned, a custom build from www.directron.com (if I'm allowed to plug them) . Those guys are great. They are a wholesaler that is actually local to me, and I can pick up my orders in person, and save shipping charges, plus It makes me feel better to know that there is a brick and mortar place to return things to if something goes wrong. I only had a problem with a keyboard on this computer, because I had spent so much on the computer itself, i went cheap on the keyboard, only to end up returning two, and they finally gave me a nice Saitek Eclipse (backlighted blue) keyboard for $19.99 because I had to make 3 trips, getting 2 bad (other brand) keyboards in a row. The weather was horrible, and I nicely asked if there was anyway they could compensate me for having to make 3 trips out in the heavy rain, so they gave me the eclipse at a great price and also a free MicroExpert NOVA made-for-laser mousepad. They didn't have to do those things, and I wouldn't have been angry if they hadn't. I'm just saying directron is a great alternative to newegg.
Wow I really got off track there, but it is all valid information, so i'll leave it .
:wave

 

There probably isn't. You might have just got a bad can - the little tube fell off inside or something due to rough handling during shipping or stocking the shelves.

 

The liquid only comes out wet if you tip the can to far!

 

I second the vote for Directron! :clap

Like you, I order online and pick up locally ($2.50 in ezTag toll fees beats the heck out of paying shipping and waiting up to a week for an item to arrive). They also have a one year in-store exchange RMA on most items (way better than contacting the mfr, paying shipping and waiting up to 8 weeks for the replacement). For those outside of Houston, the same one year RMA applies on most items ordered and shipped; you only have to pay to ship the item back to Directron.

Disclaimer: I am not an employee of Directron; just a happy customer who has spent over $20K on there on products for clients over the past year.