Specifications
STAHM3.0 product link (affiliate)
Modes: 2 (high and low airflow settings)
Power: 550W
Voltage: 110V/120V (60Hz)
Cord: 11ft (3m)
Package includes: Large opening nozzle, flat opening nozzle, pin-pointer nozzle, brush nozzle, 3 brushes, 2 sponge filters
Model codes/names:
- Compu Cleaner / Compucleaner
- STAHM3.0
- Starhome duster
- Compressed Air 3.0
Why such a product?
Simple answer – It saves money because disposable air cans are costly and require constant restocking. It is also substantially more powerful than air cans.
One of the biggest challenges for electronics users is dealing with dust. Cleaning sensitive electronic devices is tough, particularly in systems with air cooling. Vacuum cleaners are inefficient for this task; they can’t reach enclosed spots and can even damage PCBs, transistors, capacitors, and other components due to their strong suction pressure.
Air compressors offer a good solution, but they are bulky and expensive.
An electric air blower is an excellent option for PC/MAC technicians, repair specialists, and anyone who needs to clean appliances of dust from time to time.
Price
With the current price of $39.99, equivalent to a six-pack of disposable compressed air cans, this product is very hard to beat. The price is its main selling point.
Power
It has two speed settings: high and low airflow. Even on low, it is more powerful than air cans. On high, the power can become too intense for some applications, where sensitive components might bend or be ripped off. While it’s not as powerful as a compressor, the power provided is more than sufficient to achieve its main goal—cleaning appliances of dust.
Another thing worth mentioning is that it won’t blow leaves out of your backyard. The design concentrates the airflow into a small spot for cleaning, but it’s not effective over long distances.
Noise and Thermals
STAHM3.0 product link operates relatively loudly, but not too much. It is quieter than a typical household vacuum. Shrill hissing noises may occur when blowing through radiators, depending on their shape. For some sensitive people or animals, the shrill may be ultra-high, but this is due to the properties of air movement, not the specific noise of this product.
Thermals could be considered a downside. The device gets hot over time, and the airflow heats up as well. After about 4-5 minutes of use, the motor warms up substantially.
While we haven’t stress tested it, there is a suspicion that the thermal limit could be reached relatively quickly when using this appliance continuously on the high setting.
Components quality
For the given price, the internal components are surprisingly high-quality. The soldering is well done, the plastic molds fit together seamlessly with zero backlash, the motor is heavy with no visible production defects.
Dust Filter
STAHM3.0 works in a way that it sucks in the surrounding air to subsequently throw it into the appliance you are cleaning from dust. This means that if the ambient air is dusty, that dust could be blown directly into the item you’re cleaning. This differs from compressed air cans, which contain pure air by default.
There is a filter in place to prevent this, but to accommodate high airflow, the filter has coarse granularity and does not filter 100% of the air intake. While this has never been an issue for us, it could be a concern for users who require completely clean air. However, we can’t think of a practical use case where this would be a problem. People who need 100% air purity, like maybe medical professionals, typically have dedicated equipment and wouldn’t consider using the STAHM3.0 in the first place.
Nozzles
The nozzles work as airflow modifiers. The wide-area nozzle provides a soft airflow that covers a large area, while the narrow nozzle delivers high-pressure airflow to a very small area. It’s also worth noting that the narrow nozzle causes the motor to heat up more quickly due to the increased pressure. Also the narrow nozzle may damage sensitive components due to the high air pressure so extra caution is needed.
Ergonomics & Design
The product looks nice, is easy to hold and use, doesn’t take up much space. All the major boxes are ticked. The cable isn’t particularly long at 11ft (3m), but can be easily extended with any standard extension cord.
Voltage
The appliance uses 110V/120V, to use it with 220V grids a step down power converter is required.
PROs
- Price and cost efficiency
- High power
- Reliability
- Doesn’t take up much space
CONs
- Thermals
- Does not filter 100% of dust intake from the surrounding air
So is it worth it?
Yes. The product has proven to be a reliable, cost-efficient solution. While it has a few construction-related drawbacks, the benefits far outweigh them. It gets the job done, it doesn’t cost a fortune and it does not require constant refills.
This review was not sponsored by any vendors. Some of the links in our video descriptions are affiliate, which means at no extra cost to you, we will make a small commission if you click them and make a purchase. As Amazon Associates we earn from qualifying purchases. These help us to create more content for you. Thank you for your support!