How to clean a heatsink, ASII (lint free cloth?)

[BaconTastesGood]

I'm trying to clean my Thermalright SK6 which has an old thermal tape on it that's all chewy and bubble gum like. I've scraped off what I can with a credit card, but there's still a lot of residue left. Should rubbing alcohol fix that?

Also, the ASII docs say that you should use a "lint free" cloth. They're hyperanal on their site about not getting contaminants on the die or heatsink. What do people use for their "lint free" cloth? I'm guessing a paper towel won't cut it.

 

[DoobieOnline]

A clean white tshirt works great. To get the remains of that TIM off the heatsink, try some dishwashing liquid (not automatic dishwasher soap) and a plastic potscrubber. Follow that up with some isopropyl alcohol and wipe it down with the tshirt. You should be good to go.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

I use a WD40 type lube to get rid of the AS, then alcohol to clean that up...alcohol by itself really don't help getting the AS, but lube works great...blah blah blah, lube leaves residue blah blah blah. It's never affected my temps...

 

[ErikS]

Another solution that works well for removing that stuff is "Goo-Gone" - yeah, I know probably leaves a residue, what doesn't?

 

[FlowerMan]

<< They're hyperanal on their site about not getting contaminants on the die or heatsink. >>



Nevin is "hyperanal" about having his customers apply his thermal compound correctly because he wants you to get the best results. Even a tiny fingerprint can be detrimental to good thermal transfer. Removing the parafin-based thermal pads that are stock on most HSF's requires scraping it off first, then using a strong solvent to remove the remains. I would not recommend WD-40, since it leaves quite a bit of residue behind that is not cleanable by IPA alone. I suggest Xylene (key part of Goof Off). It does not leave behind a strong residue, and can be cleaned up by IPA. Nevin even suggests using xylene to clean your ram chips before applying ASTE. Manufacturing of ram chips often involves an oil being applied to the surface of the chips. Xylene is the best way to remove that.

However, the way I like to do it is to lap it. Pure mechanical method for removing whatever you dislike Not only does it clean, it also makes for a smoother surface to transfer heat.

 

[BaconTastesGood]

So where does one go to buy Goo Gone?

 

[FlowerMan]

Umm... your local all-purpose store? Target has it, Home Depot has it, Do-it center, Lowes, OSh's, etc... (see the relationships? hardware improvement stores...)

 

[ErikS]

Thanks for the info Flowerman, I never knew Xylene was the primary ingredient (of course I could probably have read the label - lol - naaahhh). I just know it removes damn near anything, much to my dismay at times.

FYI one of the things WD-40 leaves behind is wax for waterproofing (a watch/clock maker told me he spends quite a bit of time "fixing" things gummed up by this product), I don't imagine this conducts heat very well.

 

[Sorgon2]

Memorex makes lint-free cloths to clean CDs. I found some at Walgreens of all places. Good Luck!

 

[Nevin]

Actually I recommend Goof Off, not Goo Gone.

Goof Off is xylene based. Goo Gone is citrus oil based. Their names can be confusing.

Another good one is STP Carb Spray Cleaner. It contains xylene, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and isopropanol. Like the Goof Off, it is very aggressive so test it on a corner of anything plastic you intend to clean before you use it on the entire surface. Always spray it on the cleaning cloth, not on the part you are cleaning.

Do a final cleaning with high purity ispropyl alcohol.

And I?m not anal! I?M NOT! I?M NOT! I?M NOT!



Nevin House
Arctic Silver , Inc.

 

[FlowerMan]

LOL, thanks Nevin I totally forgot... posting between my class breaks, right after my Philosophy:Ethics test

Xylene has a bad habit of removing your epidermis, so please wear gloves

 

[Nevin]

I just checked my epidermis in a mirror. It would be best to remove it!

Nevin