Documenting: My SDA-1c upgrades from start to finish
Comments
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That ESD vacuum sounds much better than blowing air out of a compressor, never realized or thought about what Jsats said with moisture & static. Makes sense.
Hope you don’t have a turntable and records stored in that room.
That would be a nightmare to clean lp’s. -
plastic_avatar wrote: »nooshinjohn wrote: »The best solution to the problem would have been to remove everything from the area being worked on. To not do so is simply stupid, and rather moronic.
The rooms affected were removed from the work area. They started work without sealing what they should have, and the venting they did vented in the wrong direction. It was a mistake while the boss was not on site.
I get that reading comprehension is affected by all the pent-up online rage some folks have, but ffs... you could be helpful instead of further cementing yourself as one of the forum's preeminent tools.
If you REMOVED your electronics from where you had them, their mistake would not have mattered. It was your mistake to assume that contractors care about your stuff more than you do. They may have not done things right, but you are the one that failed to take adequate precautions.The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
^ Well what the hell’s he supposed to do, clear out his whole house for a just in case someone’s a jabroni?
If the job were done right he wouldn’t have to endure this hardship.
Come on people…. -
Hoover Dam. That sucks.plastic_avatar wrote: »Thank you for the ideas, @msg
I wondered about putting an air mover in the room, vented outside, and using a leaf blower to stir up as much loose dust as I can to be vented into the world.
Air compressor outside, for the stereo, printers, and all the exposed electronics on shelves is a good idea. I'm guessing I have to wait until May to do it =(Is it paint dust from sanding or demo or something, and not overspray?
It's a combo of concrete dust from sawing and jackhammering our foundation, plus paint/mold ground off of the block walls.
It's thick, powdery, and inside everything. It ruined 10 rolls of filament because it's like it's magnetized and stubborn to remove by wiping and compressed air in a can, and it's legitimately in nooks and crannies like you wouldn't believe.
Oooh, that Air Mover idea sounds good for mass reduction. Worth a shot.
I know this likely goes without saying - but earplugs/muffs, respirator, and close fitting goggles, while you're doing that, right?
As if "magnetized"-y...
I wonder if it's static. If so, you could do a quick test if you can get your hands on a Milty Zerostat used to de-stat vinyl records. You wouldn't want to use it on a broad scale - there are better tools for that - but it could help you determine whether it static or not. Hit your filament with it and then try to air dust it, and see if it comes off more easily. Or if that's just ruined-ruined, try it on something else that you're finding to be resistant to removal.
Side note: It seems many people don't sunderstand how you work a Zerostat properly. It's not supposed to click. You're supposed to pull and release the lever slowly. If it clicks, you're moving too fast.
From your comments about it being thick and powdery - this definitely sounds a lot more serious than a piece of gear loaded with dust under the cover.
From your original post, I thought maybe the contractors had barrier up, and then it failed at some point while they were working.
Either way, I can appreciate your state and concern. Even if there is some compensation or plan to rectify, I sure AF wouldn't want anyone disgrunted working anywhere near any sensitive or fragile gear, tools, or materials.
As for compressors - you seem pretty handy, so I'm presuming you already have a compressor, but if not, you can get a small portable one from Home Depot. I purchased a couple of those at previous jobs for cleaning out computers, laptops, servers and networking gear. Just don't go max pressure, and definitely consider the inline moisture filter. I forget where I got mine. Either Harbor Freight, or Chinazon. The ones I got have beads that change color (supposedly) when moisture-saturated.I disabled signatures. -
John, always a wealth of information, but on this I must respectfully disagree, citing personal experience over years of the practice - I've used plain old air compressors for years to air dust all kinds of computing and electonics gear. None of it suffered damage, and all continued to serve long after manufacturer "end of life".Air compressors will spray moisture and lubricating oil. Not recommended for electronics. At least not without a de-ionizing dryer installed in-line. ESD standards dictate those for a minimum. You'll also need a grounded air line as compressed air can build up a static charge. There's a reason that you don't see electronics repair techs using air compressors.
Maybe it's the type of compressor. I think I read once that pump vs. piston compressors, and that on or the other may inject oil into the air path. I've definitely read about this in cases of botched vehicle paint work.
I have seen moisture, as well, after extended use, typically, which was when I began using inline driers for these cleanup jobs.
I disabled signatures. -
Honestly, it's easily preventable.
If the dust got distributed through the house via the duct systems, some plastic cling wrap and magnetic vent covers would have worked wonders.
They are essentially just sheets of magnetic paper that you would use to print stuff on to make, like, fridge magnets or a magnetic sign for a car/truck.
They are all over Amazon.
https://a.co/d/3Aryi3M
I've used them with great success when I had the floors sanded. I covered the vents in the kitchen and bathroom with cling wrap and then used the magnetic covers to hold the cling wrap in place. Clean up was a breeze and no dust on anything in the other rooms that weren't being sanded.
However, if you have dust all over your house via the ductwork then, it'd be prudent before you start trying to clean everything else to have a ductwork cleaning company clean your ductwork. Especially if there is mold in the particulates that have settled everywhere.Expert Moron Extraordinaire
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you! -
Contractors bid to work in a designated area. In an occupied home you have a responsibility to keep as much dust and debris out of the non work area. This is standard practice. To argue otherwise is bizarre.- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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And they don't know that concrete dust travels when operating saws and jackhammers and grinding walls? They can't help a homeowner out by informing them that there could be a problem and a solution needs to be arrived at?
Concrete dust doesn't travel as much as drywall mud sanding dust but I shudder to think what would happen if drywallers didn't drape off the work room. I know from personal experience that the stuff goes everywhere being lightweight flour like dust.
Seems to me that the boss is not claiming that his rookie? employee didn't make a mistake.George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
"From your original post, I thought maybe the contractors had barrier up, and then it failed at some point while they were working."
The quickest explanation is:
The area was *supposed* to be sealed off and the air diverted outside. It looked like it was going to happen. They botched it, didn't finish sealing off a few places, and diverted air into the wrong area. The boss should've overseen that part. I caught it too late once I got back in.
In addition to making sure everything is done right from now on, I want to be sure I can come up with a good cleaning plan that a) I can do for the items I don't want them to touch and b) is reasonable for them to do to get the rest cleaned.
Yadda, yadda, yadda.
After the fact, I sealed off vents upstairs where ductwork might pick up dust from further work and put electrostatic filters in the vents I left open.
And yes, my 'playing' albums and Luxman PD-272 and basic workhorse Ariston Q Deck are in that room =[
And this, and that, and the other things.
The audio equipment I had slated for giveaway to needy stereophiles was exposed (EQs, turntables, receivers). I'm going to tell recipients that part of their learning journey is cleaning the stuff I give them [laughs].
Luckily, the expensive albums I've got slated for sale to help make it through searching for a new job this year are in the least dusty area of the 1st floor. If I had those in the other room, I'd have to choose violence.The Thrifty Setups in Mah House Big thrifty stereo in the basement w/ my custom SDA-1C (built with help from kind forum members) * Beautiful 1966 MCM GE console upgraded w/ Bluetooth, Dual turntable, and Paradigm speakers in family room * Swanky 1980 Realistic system and great TEAC eq with dancing colored lights in the living room * custom 5B on a system for my Dad * Ye Olde college stereo in the garage -
I have a room full of vintage stereo equipment and most of the units had about 50 years worth of crud inside when I purchased them. My approach to cleaning was to use a good quality paint brush in one hand to loosen the dust/dirt, while at the same time holding a shop vac with the other hand "very close" to the area. Make sure to install a good quality bag in the vac, rated for drywall dust. I'd rather extract the dust with a vac than potentially blowing it deeper in the unit with compressed air. I will admit that I have on occasion used the compressed air cans (along with the shop vac) to gently blow out areas that I couldn't get to with the paint brush.
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Amateurs...the dishwasher is best.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
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Nope
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That sucks, I'm doing a bathroom at my house and since it's so cold I'm cutting the marble in the garage. It's driving me insane since the dust is settling on all the cars and I can't wash them even with heated water in -6
I can't imagine that happening indoors..... -
@Striker2237 [nods sadly]
AUGH. That's rough. Rock dust ain't no joke on car paint (says I, after a lot of experience with gravel...).
I'm conjuring an action plan for the different groups of 'things' in the room that need cleaned (based on the suggestions here and from other friends). It may involve a fair amount of 'burning it to the ground', but I think I can salvage the most expensive things.The Thrifty Setups in Mah House Big thrifty stereo in the basement w/ my custom SDA-1C (built with help from kind forum members) * Beautiful 1966 MCM GE console upgraded w/ Bluetooth, Dual turntable, and Paradigm speakers in family room * Swanky 1980 Realistic system and great TEAC eq with dancing colored lights in the living room * custom 5B on a system for my Dad * Ye Olde college stereo in the garage -
That’s good to hear.
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plastic_avatar wrote: »@Striker2237 [nods sadly]
AUGH. That's rough. Rock dust ain't no joke on car paint (says I, after a lot of experience with gravel...).
I'm conjuring an action plan for the different groups of 'things' in the room that need cleaned (based on the suggestions here and from other friends). It may involve a fair amount of 'burning it to the ground', but I think I can salvage the most expensive things.
I can't imagine dealing with it inside, my indoors cars are all ceramic coated/paint corrected so it will just wash off.
In your case the printers alone are a nightmare.....let us know how the process goes. I was really enjoying your thread since I'm beginning my mod journey on my 1Cs -
Air compressors will spray moisture and lubricating oil. Not recommended for electronics. At least not without a de-ionizing dryer installed in-line. ESD standards dictate those for a minimum. You'll also need a grounded air line as compressed air can build up a static charge. There's a reason that you don't see electronics repair techs using air compressors.
Those reasons are why "canned air" exists. It's dry, static free and non-conductive, made specifically for electronics.
https://www.officesupply.com/technology/computer-accessories/cleaning-maintenance/air-dusters/cleaning-duster/p788559.html?ref=pla&scid=scbplp788559&sc_intid=788559&msclkid=c3ab209179a1166b7280471ebb74f062
Using a leaf blower is a sure fire way to damage something. Unless you have a significant way to create enough displacement, kicking up a cloud of dust just to evacuate it with a simple air transfer is harder than you think and there will still be particles that are light enough to get kicked up by the massive amount of air a leaf blower will displace quickly but too heavy to remain suspended in air long enough for an evacuation system or air scrubber to be able to extract. In other words, it won't work.
Your best bet is to invest in an ESD Anti-Static Vacuum Cleaner meant for cleaning electronics.
https://www.northerntool.com/products/metrovac-datavac-esd-safe-anti-static-pro-series-vacuum-blower-120-volts-4-5-amps-70-cfm-model-117-117513-mdv-1esd-104687?srsltid=AfmBOoo6APxF1ZYPPgsSTiZXg3DMWhhidZtz30If8b7EwF_iZU1vW7byjG8&gQT=1
This is your best bet because not only will it prevent the vacuum itself from frying sensitive electronics with the static fields it generates but masonry dust can and will build up a static charge in the vacuum line and an ESD vacuum will have a grounded lead to dissipate that charge through the grounding system instead of your sensitive electronics. The vacuum will remove all of the dust without introducing static electricity or moisture.
If you're doing all these "mods" to electronics, you should have one of those anyway.
Always something new to learn!! I did not know that type of vacuum cleaner existed. The price is reasonable. Thanks!
Lots of good stuff going on this thread with the hotdogs, concrete dust, etc.
"Sometimes you have to look to the past to understand where you are going in the future"
Harry / Marietta GA -
Striker2237 wrote: »That sucks, I'm doing a bathroom at my house and since it's so cold I'm cutting the marble in the garage. It's driving me insane since the dust is settling on all the cars and I can't wash them even with heated water in -6
I can't imagine that happening indoors.....
I had to cut tile in my garage, I built a clear plastic tent in my garage around my work area, with a fan, and a tube to help with ventilation while I was cutting, covered the cars with car covers.
Worked just fine, when I was done with our bathrooms, I cleaned the garage and cars really good..
https://youtu.be/LBysew5VYyw?feature=shared
