<<There is no way I would blow compressed air in there. If it didn't knock something out of whack it would at least distribute the dust throughout the works. >> I would not "give it a blast" for routine cleaning: for that I use a minivac. But the dust that found it's way to the mirror negotiated a tortuous path to get there. It was STUCK. I actually gave the mirror a full power blast from half an inch and it didn't shift it. I might completely disassemble the scanner as in the link I posted *after* I already have the replacement. Nikon 4000 dpi of Minolta 5400 dpi? Mmmm... there's a choice to make ;o) Bob
