Should I lap my heatsink?

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: scrawnypaleguy
Thanks for all the advice guys, I'm learning a lot...

Yep, good points -- all!

Now, to whom it may concern (ahem):

Look, when it comes right down to it, this is all academic, isn't it? Just a matter of opinion -- and I stated MY opinion.

I didn't interject somebody else's opinion (as if it were my own) into this thread -- some phantom authority -- someone that isn't even taking part in this discussion -- someone that can be questioned, and so forth. That's a dishonest debating tactic, but I'll give YOU the benefit. I don't *think* you were trying to be malicious, and neither am I!

After all, we're just having fun, right? How about 'we' keep it on that level, and not turn this into a pi**ing contest. Nobody wants that (or do they?)...

This is not a pissing contest. I know what I'm talking about. You, Howard and MadScientest do not have a clue. I really should not post to any question involving tooling because most here never got beyond Legos, when it comes to the proper fitting of parts.
I have worked for over 30 years as a highly skilled diesel mechanic doing injector overhaul as well as fitting extreme pressure, gasketless flanges. A pink granite lapping block sets in a cubby hole next to my bench. Plexiglass & polishing the base are for childern that read magazines with wide eyes

The last madman that rushed through this forum was Luckyboy1. Are you he, back as VinDSL?? Search his posts. You are close.


...Galvanized

 

[scrawnypaleguy]

There's no need to get upset. I'm just looking for advice before I go ahead and take several pieces of sandpaper to a brand new $35 heatsink. Everyone's opinion is welcomed, and using all your opinions I have decided what I'm going to do. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

 

[Howard]

I must have been wrong, but of course nobody ever tells me why.

 

[Zepper]

I don't see it as academic - academics are some of the worst morons around as they have only a tenuous connection with the real world. For example: Only among academics do you find people who still believe that socialism can work. Opinions are only worth the quality of the knowledge that backs them up. Another saying that I may have originated: "If you have nothing to say, don't say it." , might apply.
. You were wrong on both the mirror finish on a heatsink and on plating. What happens if the OP doesn't know your opinion on the subject isn't backed by any valid knowledge and actually goes by it? He ends up having to do more work to get back to a moderately shiny surface. A lot of harm is done in the world by mistakenly giving all opinions equal weight - when most shoud be dismissed out of hand. Or by relying on an authoritatively delivered opinion. ("Question authority!", is another useful saying.) For example, the opinion of a long-sitting Senator has no more value than a man on the street's unless the Senator has consistently demonstrated accurate knowledge in the field under discussion. Another saying is apropos: "Opinions are like farts. Everyone has them and most are the same - just hot, smelly gas."

When someone here has a serious question, some of us try to give useful advice based on knowledge and experience. I guess it's up to the questioner to determine who actually gives useful advice. A final quote that may be useful to all OPs out there (questoners): "Trust but verify."

.bh.

 

[Brahmzy]

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/4368/u12014pc.jpg
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2591/u12029eo.jpg

Some Ultra-120 Lap Pr0n

 

[Zepper]

Cut that shine back a notch and it'll work better.

.bh.

 

[scrawnypaleguy]

Wow that's like... too shiny. Is that photoshopped? It doesn't even look real!

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
You, Howard and MadScientest do not have a clue?

LoL! Thanks! I guess I?m in good company? :laugh:

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
The last madman that rushed through this forum was Luckyboy1. Are you he, back as VinDSL?

Sorry! Never heard of him/her? Sounds like a real ?toilet hugger?, from your description. I?ll take your word for it. No reason to look ?em up?

Look, GY, I?m not here to cause trouble! However, if all it takes to draw fire is telling ppl how I lap MY sinks, then I?m gonna like this place! As a matter of fact, I love you already! No kidding! I'm adding you to my ?Buddy List?, as soon as I?m done posting up here. That?ll make You, Howard and Zepper, if that shows you where I?m coming from?

Anyway, thanks for the (honest) comments! Nothing like a ?foot in the face?, first thing in the ?morning? to wake you up...

 

[MadScientist]

Originally posted by: scrawnypaleguy
Thanks for all the advice guys, I'm learning a lot. I'm going to lap this with what I have since it can't possibly be worse than the poor contact this thing is going to have if I just throw it on there. I'll post some updates when I'm done with everything.

Throw it on there before you lap it with the TIM it came with. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results, and if you still decide to lap it at least you'll have a reference point.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Zepper
I don't see it as academic... blah, blah, blah...

What happens if the OP doesn't know your opinion on the subject isn't backed by any valid knowledge and actually goes by it?

A lot of harm is done...

Sorry, Zepper! Didn't mean to ignore you, but I had to run...

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
...testing that indicated a 0.5~1.5C loss by polishing for a Kodak moment...

GY is a diesel mechanic. Tough jobs require tough guys, and I can tell he's no 'acedemic'. However, I don't dispute his quoted 'test results' -- do you?

I doubt 0.5~1.5C is going to cause "a lot of harm"!

Accordingly, I think I'll stick with mirror-finished HSFs... Thanks!

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: Zepper
I don't see it as academic... blah, blah, blah...

What happens if the OP doesn't know your opinion on the subject isn't backed by any valid knowledge and actually goes by it?

A lot of harm is done...

Sorry, Zepper! Didn't mean to ignore you, but I had to run...

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
...testing that indicated a 0.5~1.5C loss by polishing for a Kodak moment...

GY is a diesel mechanic. Tough jobs require tough guys, and I can tell he's no 'acedemic'. However, I don't dispute his quoted 'test results' -- do you?

I doubt 0.5~1.5C is going to cause "a lot of harm"!

Accordingly, I think I'll stick with mirror-finished HSFs... Thanks!

I'm quoting this nonsense so it can be linked at a later date...Thank you :laugh:


...Galvanized

 

[VinDSL]

Heh!

Forget the HSF! I want to know is if you can setup an injector pump out in the field.

I got a friend that claims he can drive 100 miles out into the Mohave Desert, at midnight, and get a rig running before dawn... :laugh:

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Real Journeyman diesel mobile mechanics, know the right questions to ask the operator,
are well tooled, have the proper repair manuals, are well stocked with the "right" parts,
diagnose the issue during the drive to site, have a fully charged cell phone and have established a rapport with technicians that can help him. Like techs from CAT, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Allison Transmission, electronics suppliers for comp monitoring parts,
suppliers of hydralic parts, ever good partsmen are not to be discounted.

Know it alls know nothing!! Learn to do it absolutely right, then take any short cut you think you can get away with.
That way you can always go back to the absolutely right way if the short cut is a dead end.


...Galvanized

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Know it alls know nothing!! Learn to do it absolutely right, then take any short cut you think you can get away with. That way you can always go back to the absolutely right way if the short cut is a dead end.

Yep, exactly!

And, you can convert a mirror finish HS into a ho-hum satin finish in about 30 seconds with a piece of wet/dry sandpaper -- no big deal!

Might as well take it for a 'test drive', yes?

 

[scrawnypaleguy]

Um, I lapped it and installed it, temps are better than my old SI-120, which makes it all worth it. In case anyone still cares in this thread, since it's quickly becoming an argument...

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: scrawnypaleguy
Um, I lapped it and installed it, temps are better than my old SI-120, which makes it all worth it. In case anyone still cares in this thread, since it's quickly becoming an argument...

Great! Thanks for listening...

Heh! Don't misunderstand, my friend! This isn't an argument... This is fun between "Buddies", i.e. a real live pi**ing contest, e.g. white male insecurity, run amuck! Let's run with the geezers for a while...

Okay, GY & Zepper & Howard (I think). I took your advice and defiled my Scythe "Mine" 3 (pronounced ME-nay) with 800-grit wet/dry sandpaper. I don't like it anyway! Better than putting a bullet in it, right? Hey, and no more infrared worries!!!

Perhaps destroying it's mirror-like finish will improve its' resale value on eBay, especially with geriatic malcontents and retired diesel mechanics, when I get my Tuniq Tower 120. It'll be a good selling point, right?

Here's a pic of my mod'ed Scythe "Mine" 3 (pronouned ME-nay)... PIC. How's it look?

I reassembed it using Scythe MX-1 thermal paste, 'cause you probably don't like AS5 either...

Let's see what this little puppy does now!!! I'll get back to you later with my 'test results'... :laugh:

 

[VinDSL]

Oh, BTW, sorry for the (lack of) quality of the pic. My wife has my Sony in her purse, and I wanted to get this thing back together...

As fate would have it, I actually took that pic with a (ahem) Kodak...

 

[MadScientist]

I found this article at overclockers.com. Some more food for thought.
"Why Heatsink Polishing Might be a Bad Idea"

 

[scrawnypaleguy]

So since everything is installed now, I thought that you guys would be mad if I didn't post a pic or two. Here's a couple:

pic 1
pic 2
pic 3

Also took the opportunity to install a new vf900 on my x800xl, since the bearings on my old vf700 were beginning to wear out and make too much noise (even at 5v).

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: scrawnypaleguy
I thought that you guys would be mad if I didn't post a pic or two...

Sweet! You got white cathodes in there?

 

[scrawnypaleguy]

Yup, I think colors like blue and green and stuff are too ricey. White is more tasteful, in my opinion. Voodoo PC's does theirs with white too, that's what my rig is modeled after.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: scrawnypaleguy
Yup, I think colors like blue and green and stuff are too ricey. White is more tasteful, in my opinion...

Got to agree! However, my choice of rides is a Honda CiViC, so... I'm stuck between worlds! :laugh:

Anyway, I've been thinking about white caths underneath my Opti-1203, between the case and the floor. That looks really nice too!

I'd furnish a pic, to show you what I'm talking about, but the Mountain Mods site is down right now...

*edit*

Heh! Found the pic on Google Images: Purdy Pics

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: Zepper
You don't want a "mirror finish" on a heatsink...

Heh! Yes, I do...

The more 'mirror-like' the surface, the less the imperfections. Less pits and scratches mean better heat transfer with less thermal compound. It's a win-win-win situation, IMHO!

... I see your point, but I don't believe that lapping heatsinks to a mirror finish really benefits. If it did, why wouldn't all of the companies that strive to have the best heatsinks lap theirs to begin with?

Originally posted by: scrawnypaleguy
I heard you weren't supposed to change directions while lapping. Aren't you just supposed to go one way the whole time?

This is mostly true. Whenever you are sanding anything, you are really just replacing the tiny ridges with smaller ridges. If you change directions, you hold the potential to put deeper ridges in spots as you cross over the old ones.

I say "mostly" because it's safe to change directions AFTER you've finished going in one direction. The main point is that you don't want to just plop it down and try to go as fast as you can moving it any which way.

Controlled strokes in one direction will show much better results than doing it any other way. When you change grits, do the same pattern, but the opposite direction. (IE, start north to south, change grits and do south to north.)

Be certain you aren't pressing really hard, either. You want to let the sand paper do the work. Press hard and you can leave gashes in the thing. You have to understand that most heatsinks have copper bases, and copper is a VERY maleable element, so it will respond harshly to excessive pressure.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: Zepper
You don't want a "mirror finish" on a heatsink...

Heh! Yes, I do...

The more 'mirror-like' the surface, the less the imperfections. Less pits and scratches mean better heat transfer with less thermal compound. It's a win-win-win situation, IMHO!

... I see your point, but I don't believe that lapping heatsinks to a mirror finish really benefits. If it did, why wouldn't all of the companies that strive to have the best heatsinks lap theirs to begin with?

Originally posted by: scrawnypaleguy
I heard you weren't supposed to change directions while lapping. Aren't you just supposed to go one way the whole time?

This is mostly true. Whenever you are sanding anything, you are really just replacing the tiny ridges with smaller ridges. If you change directions, you hold the potential to put deeper ridges in spots as you cross over the old ones.

I say "mostly" because it's safe to change directions AFTER you've finished going in one direction. The main point is that you don't want to just plop it down and try to go as fast as you can moving it any which way.

Controlled strokes in one direction will show much better results than doing it any other way. When you change grits, do the same pattern, but the opposite direction. (IE, start north to south, change grits and do south to north.)

Be certain you aren't pressing really hard, either. You want to let the sand paper do the work. Press hard and you can leave gashes in the thing. You have to understand that most heatsinks have copper bases, and copper is a VERY maleable element, so it will respond harshly to excessive pressure.

You have NO idea what you are talking about

...Galvanized

 

[scrawnypaleguy]

Galvanized, how old are you? Grow up, man. You don't have to be rude to everyone who doesn't do things precisely the way you do.