Replaced my Giotto's Rocket Blower with a much better tool

For several years, I've used a large Giottos "Rocket" blower (actually, a couple of them) to blow dust out of cameras and some really delicate industrial optical systems (particle size analysers). I've always been fighting the problem of the "Rocket" blower sucking in airborne dust from the area and blowing that dust into the optics I've been trying to clean.

A couple of weeks ago, I ran across a reference to the Koh Global HEPA JET II blower somewhere in the forums here. I ordered one and got it yesterday. This is the perfect replacement to the "Rocket" blower when totally removing fine dust is the intended job. There is a check valve in the nozzle of the HEPA JET II, making it impossible for the blower to suck airborne dust back in through the nozzle. All air that comes into the rear port of the HEPA JET II is drawn through a very efficient but very fine filter system and the filter system should remove most of the fine dust that I've been frustrated with when using the Rocket Blower. The HEPA JET II squeeze bulb is almost exactly the same size as the large sized "Rocket" blower.

I'll still use my "Rocket" blowers for other tasks, but not for cleaning DSLR sensors and similar tasks.

This is not a paid review, by the way. It's purely my analysis of the product.

Looks interesting! Thank you for sharing . I may have to get one.

SkipD wrote in post #16258325
For several years, I've used a large Giottos "Rocket" blower (actually, a couple of them) to blow dust out of cameras and some really delicate industrial optical systems (particle size analysers). I've always been fighting the problem of the "Rocket" blower sucking in airborne dust from the area and blowing that dust into the optics I've been trying to clean.

A couple of weeks ago, I ran across a reference to the Koh Global HEPA JET II blower somewhere in the forums here. I ordered one and got it yesterday. This is the perfect replacement to the "Rocket" blower when totally removing fine dust is the intended job. There is a check valve in the nozzle of the HEPA JET II, making it impossible for the blower to suck airborne dust back in through the nozzle. All air that comes into the rear port of the HEPA JET II is drawn through a very efficient but very fine filter system and the filter system should remove most of the fine dust that I've been frustrated with when using the Rocket Blower. The HEPA JET II squeeze bulb is almost exactly the same size as the large sized "Rocket" blower.

I'll still use my "Rocket" blowers for other tasks, but not for cleaning DSLR sensors and similar tasks.

This is not a paid review, by the way. It's purely my analysis of the product.

This seems like a great product. It's too bad that I just bought a Giottos blower, but I can always let my kids play with it instead. The HEPA JET is a little pricey, but if it gets the job done, it would be worth it. The Canadian distributor is actually close to my house so I think I'll pay them a visit.

Thanks Skip!

I remember reading somewhere about someone who stuck an in-line fuel filter from a car to the back of his rocket blower to the same effect. Might be worth a try? (And certainly a whole lot less than £40!!!)

KSG Photography wrote in post #16258596
I remember reading somewhere about someone who stuck an in-line fuel filter from a car to the back of his rocket blower to the same effect. Might be worth a try? (And certainly a whole lot less than £40!!!)

The problem with that idea is that if you restrict the back end of a Rocket blower, most of the air to fill the bulb will come backward through the nozzle.

If you have a Rocket blower, try this little experiment:

• Put a finger tightly over the hole at the rear of the Rocket blower (the intake port).
  
• Squeeze the air out of the blower and hold the blower's bulb compressed.
  
• Place the tip of the nozzle near your ear (not pointed into your ear but close enough to hear the air movement).
  
• With your finger still tightly over blower's intake port, release the blower's bulb.
  
• You will hear air being sucked into the nozzle and the bulb will fill up almost as quickly as without your finger on the intake port.

Since I just opened my Giottos Rocket Blower 2 days ago, I'll have to pass for now. My low cost alternative will be to hold it away from the dusty lens when Inhaling. Nice to see the simple innovations coming along though. And to be reminded too!

BTW, I had gotten lots of dust on my 70-300L shooting in the woods of the Maryland RennFest; but when I went to clean the front element, it appeared to be pretty clean! (The body of the lens was dirty though). I think it is the effect of the Flourine coating they apply for that very purpose. Quite impressive.

Skip,

I liked your suggestion so much that I ordered one. My only problem so far is that I can't get a handle on when or if it will ship. I emailed them a couple times and haven't heard back.

What was your experience, if you ordered directly from KOH Global? I'm hoping they are on vacation or something. I would guess they are a small, home-based business, given their products. That's fine with me. I don't have a dire need. Still, I wouldn't mind one of my emails being returned.

BTW, I placed my order on 9/2 so not that long ago. I'm not freaking out.... just wondering.

I had to call a couple of times to find out when they were shipping mine. The fellow I talked to (I presume the owner of the business) is pleasant enough but appears to be over-busy.

Skip,

Thanks. I am guessing this is a second business for him and time would be an issue though if he answers the phone, perhaps not. I'll stop emailing and start making phone calls.

Thanks again for the heads up.

It looks good in theory, but I'm not totally convinced. All the dust that's already in the camera chamber is still going to be dislodged and blow around. I quit using blowers inside the camera. I just use an electrostatic brush and if needed, a wet cleaning.

An update: I got a reply to my second email from KOH Global. They were waiting for a part to come in and are shipping out my unit "ASAP".

I wanted to make sure I posted a follow-up in case anyone else is considering placing an order. Their communication could have been a bit better but they didn't lose my order or anything like that. In my view: no harm, no foul.

SkipD wrote in post #16258325
I've always been fighting the problem of the "Rocket" blower sucking in airborne dust from the area and blowing that dust into the optics I've been trying to clean.

Good point! I still use an ear syringe from the local drug store. (Rite-Aid @ $5.99). Just as another heads-up, in Hint #2 in my thread Some personal views on Sensor cleaning., I suggest, "What did I do then? I put the syringe back in the box, not in the bottom of a filthy camera case. Get the picture? When's the last time you cleaned your case out & vacuumed it? (Me, either!)."
If anything compresses the blower, it's going to suck up dust when the compression is released, right?

HINT #3 is something to think about, too. "Before you put that lens back on the camera, take a look at the rear element. Is it nice & clean too?"
There's no point in cleaning the sensor & then attaching a lens with dust on the rear surfaces.

Appreciate the recommendation, and hints about camera cleaning. My habits were learned when working with film. New media every time.

Oh for f' sakes! Why did anyone not link this BEFORE I built my Class 4 Clean-Room for lens and body cleaning! Certainly this is cheaper than the $130,000 I spent on this addition to the house!

/end sarcastic, rant.