removing thermal paste

Minibiker · 13 Apr 2019 at 14:17

hi all

got a used CPU that has thermal paste still on.. How can I remove it? I dont have any alcohol to use and cant find anything based to use

koooowweeee · 13 Apr 2019 at 14:36

I use toilet roll. Always used that on all my GPUs and CPUs never had a problem

andy_mk3 · 13 Apr 2019 at 14:48

Nail varnish remover works too if you or the mrs have any.

Minibiker · 13 Apr 2019 at 15:11

koooowweeee said:
I use toilet roll. Always used that on all my GPUs and CPUs never had a problem

will it take it off if it's to dry

andy_mk3 said:
Nail varnish remover works too if you or the mrs have any.

The Missus got some somewhere she says, but going through her wardrobe could take forever

koooowweeee · 13 Apr 2019 at 15:20

Minibiker said:
will it take it off if it's to dry

The Missus got some somewhere she says, but going through her wardrobe could take forever

I just give it a good scrub with it. Always comes off. Use some vodka on it or cotton wool.

keenan · 13 Apr 2019 at 15:26

Just wipe it off with whatever.. I pretty much use whatever is closest to me..

..that's why my dog has a faint tinge of metalic to her..

Seriously though, just use toilet roll!

Minibiker · 13 Apr 2019 at 16:57

managed to just use some cotton buds and it came up nicely... Cheers guys

MaXxBoulton · 13 Apr 2019 at 19:45

use a tea towel, then mum hits me lol

Double07 · 14 Apr 2019 at 13:04

cotton bud dipped in acetone (nail varnish remover) and it comes up lovely. Also helps when you get superglue stuck to your fingers too

hornetstinger · 14 Apr 2019 at 13:39

Invent a time machine go back in time to before it had thermal paste on it.

Skynet5 · 14 Apr 2019 at 17:51

Yeah. Kitchen roll works. The tougher stuff.

Isopropanol is better, and needed for more delicate jobs...GPUs etc.

It's cheap..and a lot easier if you have it though...2 wipes and I'm done

MaXxBoulton · 14 Apr 2019 at 20:52

lnoton said:
2 wipes and I'm done

one sheet is plenty

an0nym0us · 15 Apr 2019 at 11:29

I've always used isopropyl alcohol wipes.

Just make sure they don't leave any fluff behind, which they normally don't.

And do NOT use anything with bleach in it.

MaXxBoulton · 15 Apr 2019 at 11:30

an0nym0us said:
And do NOT use anything with bleach in it.

why?

synixx · 15 Apr 2019 at 13:01

hornetstinger said:
Invent a time machine go back in time to before it had thermal paste on it.

I was going to second just wiping it off, or using isopropyl alcohol if you have any but this is a better suggestion!

an0nym0us · 15 Apr 2019 at 13:35

MaXxBoulton said:
why?

I've never dared to use bleach wipes on a CPU IHS, but I cleaned a metal bin before with a bleach wipe and it permanently damaged the surface of the bin.

MaXxBoulton · 15 Apr 2019 at 14:08

an0nym0us said:
I've never dared to use bleach wipes on a CPU IHS, but I cleaned a metal bin before with a bleach wipe and it permanently damaged the surface of the bin.

i dont know about if you didn't remove the bleach, but there should be no problem cleaning a CPu with just about anything

an0nym0us · 15 Apr 2019 at 14:32

MaXxBoulton said:
i dont know about if you didn't remove the bleach, but there should be no problem cleaning a CPu with just about anything

Thanks for the info. I'd still personally stick to avoiding using corrosive substances on metals though.

Akagi · 15 Apr 2019 at 14:37

I use cheap vodka and bog roll.

MaXxBoulton · 15 Apr 2019 at 14:40

Acme said:
I use cheap vodka and bog roll.

Bog roll for cpu and vodka for you