Frequently Asked Questions

    Question: Why should I buy from The Dust Patrol?
    Answer: Our Price, Our Guarantee & The Quality Of Our Products!


    Question:     Can I use the same brush on my 20D and my 5D

    Answer: Yes you can use a smaller brush on a larger sensor, but you cannot use a larger brush on a smaller sensor. The only disadvantage is that while using the #16 D-SLR Brush® on a full frame sensor you will have to make 2 passes to cover the entire sensor. 

    Question: What is the "brush method"?
    Answer: The brush method is a subcategory of the "dry method" for cleaning sensors. The dry method is when you clean your sensor without the use of a wet agent. Examples of this are the Rocket Blower, the Lens Pen and the brush method. Within the brush method there are 2 different approaches.  

    1. Static:  A static charge is placed on the bristles of the brush. The bristles are very gently swept across the sensor using the static charge to attract the dust. This is the method we use with the D-SLR Brush®.

    2. Anti-Static: The brush is used to remove the existing static charge from the sensor which in turn releases the hold on the dust that was held by static. The bristles of the brush are used like a conventional broom to sweep away the newly freed dust.

    Question: How is the static charge placed onto a brush with nylon bristles?
    Answer: It’s not rocket science nor magic, it is the natural property of nylon. Blowing air through the bristles makes the bristles rub against each other causing a static charge. 

    Question: Can I use canned air to generate the static charge on my brush?
    Answer: Yes you can but we don’t recommend any type of canned air as its propellants will surely contaminate your brush at one time or another causing you extra work.

       

    Question: Can I use an air compressor to generate the static charge on my brush?
    Answer: Yes you can but we don’t recommend it unless you have a filtration system that will remove ALL the moisture.

    Question: Why don't you offer the D-SLR Brush® with a spinning device?
    Answer:     The spinning device does work, but so does a simple hand or foot blower and you should already have one of these in your sensor cleaning arsenal. Plus, we haven't heard of a  blower launching your brush across the room.

    Question: Will the static charge from the D-SLR Brush® damage my sensor?
    Answer: Since nylon bristle brushes have been used in this manner for sometime now, there have not been any documented cases of this happening. 

    Question: Will the brush method work as the only method for cleaning my sensor?
    Answer: Sorry to say, but no. The brush method will only remove dust that is held on by static. Fortunately better than 90% of the dust that you will encounter is of this type and held on by static. Dust that is held on by moisture will require the wet method.

    Question: What is the "wet method"?
    Answer: This is the method in which you use a chemical to clean the sensor.       

    Question: Which wet method do you recommend?
    Answer: We recommend the Photographic Solutions’ Eclipse® and Sensor Swab® as this is the only method endorsed by any camera manufacturer.


    Question:     Can I use the ChamberSwab® to clean my sensor?

    Answer: Without a chemical on it, I highly don't recommend trying. There are a couple of companies out there selling kits with foam swabs and a chemical for cleaning the sensor, so it is possible, but not the best idea.