How to get pre-applied thermal compound off?

[Grendel99]

I got another heatsink and it has this damn pre-applied thermal compound on it. It looks like a flattened piece of gum. I wanna know whats the easiest and best way to get it off? I tried using rubbing alcohol, but that just made it harder (the compound got harder). I used a plastic spoon to try and scrap it off, which did good for the most part. But I still have a thin layer on it. Is that good enough? Can I go ahead and apply my thermal paste on top of that? Or does it need to be almost spotless?

Any suggestions will be most appreciated.
Thanks,
G99

 

[shiner]

I use rubbing alcohol. I have heard that some others use WD-40 but somehow I think that would be a BAD idea.

 

[Grendel99]

I used WD-40 and it worked great. Took it right off without much elbow grease 😀. Then I got the WD-40 off with some rubbing alcohol.

 

[kat22]

i`ve used denatured alcohl dosent seem to leave any resadue

 

[birddog]

I use a razor blade & carfully scrape it off. This usually takes 99% of it off.

 

[nickburns]

yeah, i heard thats its easy to use a razor to take most of it off and clean the rest up with alcohol

 

[ingenue007]

mmmmm lick it off.

i used rubbing alcohol. took ages to get it off

 

[Shaftatplanetquake]

wd40 is fine, but I would NEVER use a razor blade.. I would probly scratch it- which would be bad....