Summary

A comb to straighten fins on air conditioning condensers

My auto mechanic serviced my A/C recently and said the condenser needed cleaning due to road debris, impact bending, and dirt and bugs clogging the fins.

Figuring I could do it, I searched for tips and instructions and came across these "combs". They are available online for ~$10, but I've never seen one in a B&M store.

So, I wondered if they are made of plastic.. and the commercial ones I saw online do have plastic teeth, so I figured I'd give it a try.

Condenser fins are spaced by the inch, perhaps 12, 15, 17, 20, etc. per inch. A comb usually comes as a set, or is adjustable to fit the popular spacings.

My car's condenser (and this comb) is 12 fins per inch.

0.20mm Z-Res.
6 grams, 30 minutes

Printed on edge, layers are strong.
Removing support from between the thin teeth is the toughest part. These thin nylon teeth withstood my bending, pulling and prying.

NOTE: nylon is way too soft. Print ABS, flat so there's no support between teeth.

I was sceptical but after a quick try this thing sorta works, but straightening and clearing a large area of paper-thin metal fins is a painstaking process. I figure spending a couple hours on my condenser, which is dirty and beat up. It's not magic but it is better than nothing.