As has been noted, this is a blower, not a vacuum...a powerful blower...a *very* powerful blower, especially for its size.
Canned air has always frustrated me. The velocity (i.e. blowing power) is anemic; you have to use it in quick spurts because otherwise, it frosts over; using the "pinpoint" nozzle attachment pretty much negates any pressure at all; it costs more $$ than it's worth.
Happily, I've worked at precision CNC machine shops for the better part of 25 years, and so have had easy access to compressed air. And, yes, I've used shop compressed air on sensitive electronics: for instance, my computers. Then again, the shop air has been run through driers, coolers, oil and mist separators, and has pressure regulators at Point-of-Use...in other words, there is extremely little to no contamination risk. I'd never recommend using compressed air for sensitive electronics without those precautions.
Now, having said all that, you might wonder why I've bought this nifty little gadget. Well, wonder no more! It was very much the same as "If the mountain won't come to Mohammed, Mohammed will go to the mountain." Although I had free and ready access to shop compressed air, I needed to bring my "need-to-clean" items to that. And let me tell you, dragging my 45 pound Aurora R4 back and forth to the shop quickly became exasperating. And there are things that simply cannot be taken to the compressed air source: home air vents, air conditioner fins and vents, etc. Sooo...
My friends, these other reviewers do not lie: this little--and I do mean little: it looks like an oil filter with nubby spout and an attached handle--is powerful. The moment you first pick it up you realize there's more than meets the eye as there's quite a bit of heft to this bad boy. And when you turn it *on*...
As others have noted, the moment you push the power button and the blower turns on, there's quite a noticeable torque, which immediately tells you that this is no toy. Within the first five minutes of my using it, I knew I'd never regret the price I'd paid.
Pros:
*Long power cord. 12-foot long, this should easily reach anywhere needed without requiring an extension cord.
*Powerful. For its size very powerful, and makes canned air ridiculous in comparison. Be warned! This will easily blow mice, and even keyboards, right off your desk should you point this at them without care.
*Very sturdy.
*Comes with usable and useful attachments: air-pin pointer, concentrator nozzle, air-flare nozzle and a four-piece micro/detailing tool kit.
Cons:
*Noisy! There's no getting around it: this is very noisy.
*Attachments. There is a "cheap" feel to the attachments, especially the detailing tool kit. It's also difficult (at least with mine) to work the adapters onto the spout and over the locking button. Having said that, they do function as they are intended, so this is more of a personal "meh" than a true con.
*Overheats easily. There are three things that contribute to overheating: 1) duty cycle, 2) airflow restriction, and 3) clogged filter. If you run the Metro ED500 DataVac "as-is" (i.e. no attachments) it does not easily overheat and can be run non-stop for quite a few minutes...as long as the filter is not clogged. Unfortunately, due to the design (which, IMO, does not leave any other option for the location) the air filter is located on the bottom of the DataVac, which makes it easy to pick up dust and dirt, and makes it just as easy to overlook that it has done so. Simply examining it before, during and after use will take care of that potential issue. The major issue causing overheating is the combination between #s 1 and 2: duty cycle and airflow restriction. Once you've attached any of the accessories, *especially* the micro cleaning ones, you have to pay very close attention to the duty cycle. You can't run it non-stop, but have to cycle between short run times and longer cooling-off times.
In summation, the pros definitely far outweigh the cons. If you're looking for an alternative to canned air, if you need something to help clean dust, debris, and dirt from power tools after using them, if you're looking for something that'll actually clean power supply fans and cooling fins instead of just spinning blades*, the Metro ED500 DataVac 500-Watt 120 volt 0.75-HP Electric Blower Duster is a marriage made in Heaven!
*Speaking of spinning blades, as has been noted elsewhere, if you're using it inside a computer case, make sure you put a finger or some other object to prevent the air from spinning the fan blades because it can damage your computer if the fan spins too fast. The fan motor can generate electricity that could damage components, and some people have reported it actually blowing fan blades off.
| Manufacturer | Metro Vacuum |
|---|---|
| Brand | METROVAC |
| Item Weight | 2.7 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 0.02 x 0.02 x 0.02 inches |
| Item model number | 117-117308 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color | Black |
| Material Type | Plastic |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Size | 10.7X 5.8X 4.3 |
| Manufacturer Part Number | ED500 |
