I've always felt that sucking is a better option than blowing i.e. a vacuum cleaner will not only remove the swarf but also collect it and prevent it being blown around, possibly in to eyes or other delicate parts. Furthermore, the compressed air itself is hazardous and if injected under skin is potentially very dangerous, leading to embolism, stroke etc. This is a distinct possibility when using air at factory pressures (8 bar or thereabouts) close to skin surfaces.

Advice therefore is a strong "don't do it". Use a brush if necessary but blowing swarf around is best avoided. The vacuum approach applies equally to clearing swarf (and any other solids) off machine surfaces and the floor.

I agree with the previous posts apart from not knowing where the swarf will go there is also the issue of other dust and dirt being blown into eyes of bystanders when this action is being taken. As a newly employed apprentice (an age ago now) compressed air was used to clean overalls which were covered in sugar dust and a number of staff complained of getting it in their eyes due to the cloud of dust generated.

glencoe,

Its only possible to "oxygenate" the fibres of coveralls if you are using enriched compressed air (i.e over atmospheric 21% O2) It doesnt happen with standard compressed air.

Phil