Rocket Blower, DIY filter install 250221.

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Has anyone modified rocket blower (2 X Giottos in my case) to reduce/stop ingestion of dirt particles in the air being blown onto your camera equipment?

I have seen the new versions of rocket blowers which have small filters attached to the air intake.
This is my filter solution fabricated this afternoon in about half an hour that can be used on the blower without modifying the blower in any way and retains the ability to be stood on its end.

CAUTION, If you are not able or willing to do this, you best buy a rocket blower with filter for your own peace of mind.

A plastic pill container thoroughly cleaned, that has a cap with a maximum 32mm OD.
Carefully:-
Drill 10.5mm hole in the centre of the cap, then remove the base of the pill bottle with a sharp knife.
From the air intake side of the rocket blower remove the one way flapper valve, insert the one way valve into the cap, install back into the blower.
One_way_valve_in_cap_BCG.jpg
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Note the dust on the valve, now cleaned!

Cut a circle 36mm OD or sized to suit the bottle ID from a HEPA filter (used a vacuum cleaner 9mm thick) and 2 X 38mm X ~ 8mm thick rounds of open cell foam.
Foam_HEPA_rounds_BCG.jpg
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Place the HEAP filter section into the bottle section first followed by the 2 foam rounds, then screw into the cap.
HEPA_filter_BCG.jpg
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The filter installed.
Filter_installed_BCG.jpg
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Has anyone modified rocket blower (2 X Giottos in my case) to reduce/stop ingestion of dirt particles in the air being blown onto your camera equipment?

I have seen the new versions of rocket blowers which have small filters attached to the air intake.
This is my filter solution fabricated this afternoon in about half an hour that can be used on the blower without modifying the blower in any way and retains the ability to be stood on its end.

CAUTION, If you are not able or willing to do this, you best buy a rocket blower with filter for your own peace of mind.

A plastic pill container thoroughly cleaned, that has a cap with a maximum 32mm OD.
Carefully:-
Drill 10.5mm hole in the centre of the cap, then remove the base of the pill bottle with a sharp knife.
From the air intake side of the rocket blower remove the one way flapper valve, insert the one way valve into the cap, install back into the blower.
View attachment 14984
Note the dust on the valve, now cleaned!

Cut a circle 36mm OD or sized to suit the bottle ID from a HEPA filter (used a vacuum cleaner 9mm thick) and 2 X 38mm X ~ 8mm thick rounds of open cell foam.
View attachment 14985
Place the HEAP filter section into the bottle section first followed by the 2 foam rounds, then screw into the cap.
View attachment 14986

The filter installed.
View attachment 14987
Very impressive!😉👍👍👍
 
Looking at it and being someone who uses a "non rocket" blower, i.e. one without the wings to hold the filter, I actually think there is a more compact solution to it.
After most of us - at least here - should have an FFP 2 mask due to the pandemic, why not cutting out circular pieces of one of these filters and apply them to the inlet of the blower ball with a ring, a zip strap, a piece of sticky tape or such alike ?

If Ican breath though one of those the bowre should be able to do the same !?
 
@Woodpecker , you are correct, it could be smaller, I could remove more of the bottle length.
I have a few N95 masks that I could have used, but I have not worn or had directions to wear a mask during the pandemic, as where I live we have not had to.
For first responders /medical staff etc they have had to of course and still are using them.
Therefore I preferred to use a vacuum cleaner HEPA filter (I have plenty of spares) as I may need the N95's I have for my own use.
N95 masks and FFP2s remove at least 95% of particles, HEPA filters remove at least 99.97% of particles and can be found in lots of household items, mainly vacuum cleaner filters.
The addition of 2 open foam pre-filters removes large particles, as well as holding the HEPA filter in place and can be washed or replaced easily.

Anyway looking forward to how others may approach this subject.
 
Just a couple of thoughts.
Sewing Thimble fits on rocket.
Drill hole in end of thimble.
Place small piece of filter over rocket intake place thimble over.
Thimble is a size 10 USA. Size 11 might be just the right size

Or might be able to find a spray nozzle filter cylindrical that will fit over rocket intake
IMG_20210226_152954.jpg
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Sewing Thimble fits on rocket.
How is the thimble held onto the rocket blower intake?
If it is a push fit it will be knocked off easily.

My solution uses the rubber one way valve construction which holds the bottle cap onto the blower so it is not easily dislodged.
It might be possible to get the filter components into the bottle cap but there is not much room inside the cap once it has the rubber valve inserted.
 
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