what sort of Alcohol to use when removing old thermal heatsink compound?

[Detoyminador_]

silly question i know. when they say to use Alcohol to remove old thermal paste, what type of alcohol do they mean? ordinary or a special type? or can someone recommend a better substance to remove the paste.

 

[Fardringle]

Denatured alcohol will remove the paste without affecting the finish on the heatsink, and will easily wipe clean when you are done. (That's basically just regular rubbing alcohol..)

 

[Viper GTS]

Denatured alcohol & isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) are not the same thing. Denatured alcohol is MUCH more wicked than your OTC isopropyl alcohol.

Viper GTS

 

[DDad]

Personally, I've used both denatured & rubbing alcohol- little more "elbow grease" for rubbing alcohol IMO

It really doesn't make much difference IMO, just as long as you can't drink it! (that's a waste!)

 

[Viper GTS]

- little more "elbow grease" for rubbing alcohol IMO

Not terribly surprising, considering that rubbing alcohol is usually diluted to between 5 & 7% alcohol.

Viper GTS

 

[Mday]

i use 91% isopropyl. ;-)

 

[Eli]

Damn Viper, where do you get your isopropyl alcohol?

The "normal" over the counter stuff is 70% alcohol(hmm, or is it 75%?) by volume. That's like 150 proof. You can also get 99% isopropyl alcohol for a little more $$.


LOL, We use 200 proof denatured alcohol at work. I don't think it would harm the finish of a heatsink. I could try it sometime. Hell, xylene doesen't even take the finish off. And that's much more wicked than the alcohols.

I use carb cleaner. It has all kinds of nasty solvents in it, like toulene, and xylene, dont have the can so I cant lookene..

Heh..

 

[mikee]

I use goo gone and then finish off with isopropyl alcohol. Works like a charm. Others have suggested goo gone as well.

 

[Jocke]

Anything, as long as it's undrinkable! Using regular ethanol would be alcohol misuse!

 

[Eli]

Heh, we have some goo-gone. No point in using it, then alcohol, though. It leaves a nasty film that the alcohol just has to take off. Might as well just use the straight alcohol.

I like using the 99% isopropyl alcohol, because sometimes there can be water left over when it evaporates with the 70% stuff.