Ideal for: IT professionals, PC builders, photographers, film developers, DIY hobbyists, and many more!
If you work with technology, photography, or any field that requires dust removal, chances are that at some point you have used one of those canned dusters, that contain compressed gas, and can be purchased at almost any large retailer and/or office supply store for around $4-5 a can. While scanning photographs to create digital backups, I probably went through about 6 of those cans, removing dust from the negatives before scanning them. If I had known about it at the time, I would have instead bought the Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac Electric Duster, and saved myself money, time, and lessened my negative impact on the environment. The Metro Vacuum ED500 (which is not a vacuum, but a blower) is an electronic alternative to traditional canned gas dusters; instead of using harmful compressed gasses in metal canisters that can’t be refilled, it uses a powerful electric motor to expel regular air (the same that you breathe) at a high rate of speed, removing dust faster, more efficiently, and with more power than traditional compressed gas canisters. Below is a table comparing the Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac Electric Duster against traditional gas canisters.
Metro Vacuum Comparison Table:
| Traditional Gas Canisters | Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac Electric Duster | |
|---|---|---|
| What does it use? | Uses: Harmful gases (bad for environment and health if inhaled) | Uses: Regular air from environment (plentiful and, of course, perfectly safe) |
| How long will it last? | Very short amount of time. Cans are single use, non-refillable, and the compressed gas loses pressure after very little use. | Runs off electricity, never requires recharging or refilling, and will last as long as its motor lasts (which is covered by a five year warranty. Steel body is extremely durable. |
| Cost? | About $5 per can. | Not cheap, but considering how long it lasts, if you use more than 10 cans of compressed gas over the course of your life, this unit can pay for itself. |
| Power? | Initially good, but loses power as compressed gas runs out. Stream of gas is not consistent. | VERY POWERFUL! Has a 500 watt motor (3/4 HP), and the stream of air it produces is consistently strong, no matter how much you use it. |
| Portability? | Since they contained highly compressed harmful gases, they are somewhat dangerous to transport, and some transportation services might ban them from being carried. | Very portable. Power cord easily wraps up for transportation, and when off, the unit does not contain compressed air of any kind, so completely safe for transportation. Great for the IT professional on the go. |
| Attachments? | Only one option – a very narrow straw. | Includes three different attachments, as well as a micro-cleaning tool kit. Great for getting into different sized nooks and crannies and directing air flow exactly where you want it. |
I could just say “The Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac is a million times better than traditional canned gas dusters” (alright, I did just say that), or I could leave it to you to decide; look at the above table and see how many attributes the ED500 wins on over the traditional gas dusters (hint: all of them). Go look at the Amazon page, where it has over 1,200 reviews and an average of 4.5 stars. Or Staples, with 4.5 stars. Or Newegg, where it has an average of 5 stars. OK, I think you get the point.
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