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isopropyl alchohol, where would i get it from?
- Thread starter locutus12
- Start date
Soldato
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2005
- Posts
- 5,941
A certain local electronics store perhaps!!
Man of Honour
most pharmacies will be able to provide it, its quite cheap it costs me £1 per 50ml which will last ages
Soldato
If you're using it to clean up heatsinks and remove heatsink compound Nail Polish remover is also very effective
Associate
ajgoodfellow said:
Sorry but no, it very definitely isn't... The reason being that although acetone is a potent solvent, in nail polish remover they add extra oils (to protect the nails) which remain after the acetone has evaporated. Further, acetone is capable of dissolving other things - the sealant of the IHS and circuitboard finishes are examples. Stay with alcohol instead...
Associate
I've always used nail polish remover (not my own I might add). But after reading that post I think I'll go out and buy some proper alcohol for next time!
Soldato
Me too!
Soldato
I used some white spirit last time.
I used a rough towel to make sure I had rubbed most of it off afterwards and I have had no temperature issues.
I used a rough towel to make sure I had rubbed most of it off afterwards and I have had no temperature issues.
Soldato
White spirit is oil based paraffin, yuk. Meths would be better at a pinch. But buy some IA its very cheap and lasts for ages, 500ml bottles at a certain auction site for a few quid.
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Soldato
Lighter fluid here - very effective and no residue.
Hav
Hav
Associate
Mr Muscle Orange Wipes do a great job, been using em for ages on the advice of a mate, they may leave oils on the surface of the chip but it doesn't seem to cause any issues and cleans the goop off real well! 
Soldato
Oh dear. Anything with an oil base is the last thing to use, it will leave residue and it will reduce the cooling ability of the heatsink. Think of it like adhesives. "The oil remaining fills in the microscopic valleys of the metal and significantly reduces the effectiveness of any subsequently applied thermal compound". Oil clings to metal, rub all you like it won't come off, sometimes the only way to get it off is to acid etch. If you want the maximum cooling effect use a TIM cleaner or IPA
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Associate
You guys have been very lucky so far if your using things like white spirit and nail polish remover to clean heatsink residues off as they are organic solvents.
The use of IPA is just as bad, the only difference is that as an organic solvent it is miscible with water.
I use a citrus based fluid which is effective, less likely to damage surrounding components (should you spill it) and not electrically conductive.
What would really worry me even more if you guys were using DCM
Regards
Phil
The use of IPA is just as bad, the only difference is that as an organic solvent it is miscible with water.
I use a citrus based fluid which is effective, less likely to damage surrounding components (should you spill it) and not electrically conductive.
What would really worry me even more if you guys were using DCM
Regards
Phil
Soldato
Dichloromethane, paint stripper, probably not a good idea. MEK (PVC pipe solvent) wouldn't be to clever either.
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This is what Artic Silver say about removing AS5:
Removal Instructions (From Hardware)
1. Arctic Silver thermal compound can easily be removed from hardware using the proper cleaners and tools. For general clean-up, a cloth or paper towel will work well. Intricate cleaning can be accomplished with Q-tip swabs. An old toothbrush can often get the compound out of crevices that other tools cannot reach.
The recommended cleaners are:
CPU Core:
Use high-purity isopropyl alcohol or acetone and a bit of careful rubbing.
Do not use nail polish remover as it contains fragrance oils and other contaminants.
(If you use acetone, do a final cleaning with isopropyl alcohol.)
Heatsink:
Use xylene based products (Goof Off, some carburetor cleaners and many brake cleaners.), mineral spiritsm or high-purity isopropyl alcohol.
Remember:
Once you have applied a thermal grease or melted a thermal pad onto a heatsink, it is impossible to remove all of the grease or pad from the microscopic valleys in the heatsink using standard cleaning chemicals and paper or fabric towels. Any subsequent thermal material will be applied over the remnants of the original material.
Never use any oil or petroleum based cleaners (WD-40, citrus oil based grease removers and many automotive degreasers) on the base of a heatsink. The oil, which is engineered to not evaporate, will fill in the microscopic valleys in the metal and significantly reduce the effectiveness of any subsequently applied thermal compound.
CPU Ceramic:
Use any of the following cleaners.
Any dish detergent. (Dawn, Lux, Palmolive, Etc.)
Do not use soap for an automatic dishwasher to clean a CPU.
WD-40, citrus based cleaners.
Xylene based products. (Goof Off, some carburetor cleaners and many brake cleaners.)
Mineral spirits. (Be careful to keep the mineral spirits away from the core.)
Once the majority of the compound has been removed from the ceramic, small patches remaining on the ceramic can be 'erased' with a soft eraser.
2. If you use any of the suggested products to remove Arctic Silver thermal compound from the CPU ceramic or heatsink base, always do a final cleaning with isopropyl alcohol to remove any residue from the cleaner.
I personally wouldn't use acetone as it is an agresive solvent and does tend to disolve at lot of plastics!
Removal Instructions (From Hardware)
1. Arctic Silver thermal compound can easily be removed from hardware using the proper cleaners and tools. For general clean-up, a cloth or paper towel will work well. Intricate cleaning can be accomplished with Q-tip swabs. An old toothbrush can often get the compound out of crevices that other tools cannot reach.
The recommended cleaners are:
CPU Core:
Use high-purity isopropyl alcohol or acetone and a bit of careful rubbing.
Do not use nail polish remover as it contains fragrance oils and other contaminants.
(If you use acetone, do a final cleaning with isopropyl alcohol.)
Heatsink:
Use xylene based products (Goof Off, some carburetor cleaners and many brake cleaners.), mineral spiritsm or high-purity isopropyl alcohol.
Remember:
Once you have applied a thermal grease or melted a thermal pad onto a heatsink, it is impossible to remove all of the grease or pad from the microscopic valleys in the heatsink using standard cleaning chemicals and paper or fabric towels. Any subsequent thermal material will be applied over the remnants of the original material.
Never use any oil or petroleum based cleaners (WD-40, citrus oil based grease removers and many automotive degreasers) on the base of a heatsink. The oil, which is engineered to not evaporate, will fill in the microscopic valleys in the metal and significantly reduce the effectiveness of any subsequently applied thermal compound.
CPU Ceramic:
Use any of the following cleaners.
Any dish detergent. (Dawn, Lux, Palmolive, Etc.)
Do not use soap for an automatic dishwasher to clean a CPU.
WD-40, citrus based cleaners.
Xylene based products. (Goof Off, some carburetor cleaners and many brake cleaners.)
Mineral spirits. (Be careful to keep the mineral spirits away from the core.)
Once the majority of the compound has been removed from the ceramic, small patches remaining on the ceramic can be 'erased' with a soft eraser.
2. If you use any of the suggested products to remove Arctic Silver thermal compound from the CPU ceramic or heatsink base, always do a final cleaning with isopropyl alcohol to remove any residue from the cleaner.
I personally wouldn't use acetone as it is an agresive solvent and does tend to disolve at lot of plastics!
Soldato
I use Arctic Silver's own brand cleaner, it comes in two bottles, one to clean and one to purify, probably isn't any better but it makes me feel like a scientist so i've stuck with it.
so i've stuck with it.
