How to apply thermal paste?

[dantonkin]

I was just wondering how best to apply thermal paste?

I've read various sources that you should apply it using a credit card type spatular and spread it over the cpu.

Should this be done using only a thin layer or thinkish layer?

Also seen a few sites saying that when applying the paste you should just sqeeze a rice size amount onto the middle of the cpu then put the HSF on top and twist?

Which would be the best way?

 

[dantonkin]

Cool, I've always just spread it using a piece of plastic.. I'll give it a go just using a blob of paste then applying the HSF.

Will dust actually affect performance of the HSF though?