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Thread: Post Burning Man cleaning advice?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
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    Default Post Burning Man cleaning advice?

    Ok, so I've got a pair of lasers I built for BM back to me for cleaning and service.
    Hopefully it'll be the driver deck that's worst as the top was pretty well sealed.
    I heard they had some pretty fierce dust storms this year so I'm expecting they took in quite a lot through the unfiltered exhaust fans.

    Any advice on do's and dont's?

    Feeling the dust I can see that using any sort of fluid initially would be a no-no. I've got an airline which can be adjusted for pressure. I'm thinking a partial strip and blow out with airline whilst using a soft brush.
    Frikkin Lasers
    http://www.frikkinlasers.co.uk

    You are using Bonetti's defense against me, ah?

    I thought it fitting, considering the rocky terrain.

  2. #2
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    Nov 2014
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    I don't know if this is a good idea with optics but other parts i use a steam cleaner, that generally works out very well, even if it's rum and coke spilled into a power supply, but it seems to work well for pcb and other stuff, optics you would get water inside and cause major fogging. steam and a clean brush do work wonders with no solvents
    Remember Remember The 8th of November, When No One Stood, but Kneel, In Surrender
    In a popular government when the laws have ceased to be executed, as this can come only from the corruption of the republic, the state is already lost. Montesquieu

  3. #3
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    Jun 2010
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    I would try this:

    1. Low pressure blow out to move the bulk easy stuff.
    2. Coat all optics in First Contact.
    3. High pressure blow out, aided with a small soft paint brush and/cloth.
    4. Pull the first contact and repeat from step 2.
    This space for rent.

  4. #4
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    The playa dust is apparently very alkaline so I wanted to avoid making a solution of it if possible. I'm hoping I'm not going to have to tough optics but it'll be First Contact if I do I think.
    Frikkin Lasers
    http://www.frikkinlasers.co.uk

    You are using Bonetti's defense against me, ah?

    I thought it fitting, considering the rocky terrain.

  5. #5
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    Jun 2010
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    Australia
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    I don't think a few minutes in solution would be bad.
    This space for rent.

  6. #6
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    Nov 2014
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    the water from my well is probably worse that anything that can make, not having a steam cleaner would be a problem though, the one i use has hose to the hand piece, it's a lot better then the cheesy "shark brand" but i got it from a thrift store, and i have used it many times on power supplies, driver boards for lasers and a few other things and then blast it dry with compressed air.
    parts like inductors and potentiometers i do not hit with steam, if you item has these then i would not use a stream cleaner around them.

    Deionized water would be safe to use since it has basically no minerals in it that will leave a residue behind
    Remember Remember The 8th of November, When No One Stood, but Kneel, In Surrender
    In a popular government when the laws have ceased to be executed, as this can come only from the corruption of the republic, the state is already lost. Montesquieu

  7. #7
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    Default

    I've spoken with a few laserists who have taken equipment to "the burn". They all say the same thing: You have two categories of gear - stuff that has been to Burning man, and stuff that hasn't. Because once a projector is exposed to the Playa dust, it is never the same.

    Good luck with the cleaning!

    Adam

  8. #8
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    He he. How to best clean a Projector post burning man?

    Don't take it there!
    This space for rent.

  9. #9
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    To be fair, they were built specifically for the sound camp, so it wasn't really in their history to 'not' go to BM....
    Frikkin Lasers
    http://www.frikkinlasers.co.uk

    You are using Bonetti's defense against me, ah?

    I thought it fitting, considering the rocky terrain.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
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    Australia
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    Hermetically sealed is the answer. Cooling is a challenge but definitely doable.
    This space for rent.

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