Removing Thermal Expoxy

[Braxus]

hey anyone here know how to remove dried thermal epoxy say from a heatsink saving chiseling away slowly? Hoping there is some chemical solution that'll break the dried gunk down for easy removal.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Got pics

What kind of sink, off what chip.? I'll try.


...Galvanized

 

[Braxus]

just a standard aluminum heatsink off a video card. Junking the vid card but using the heatsink for a project I have and need to find some way to remove the dried gunk.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

If it's just Paste it will clean off with alcohol but if it's real epoxy you will have to soak it in ACETONE=Yikes! for several days and the residue will be a sticy mess.

The best option for me, if I had to use an epoxied sink, would be to grind it off, then lap the sink=too much work.

Solution? Buy a new cheap sink for less than the cost & trouble of acetone.

Where? http://www.buyextras.com/ http://www.allelectronics.com/ http://www.bgmicro.com/ All these places sell sinks in many different sizes. Just cut to fit, if you have too.


...Galvanized

 

[stu1811]

Isopropyl will do wonders. Use >90 % alcohol.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: stu1811
Isopropyl will do wonders. Use >90 % alcohol.

Alkihol won't touch epoxy. I got 4 tubes of AS Alumina Epoxy I'll ship you for
free if you link pics that it will.


...Galvanized

 

[imported_goku]

Using rubbing alcohol (91% or higher), works excellent.

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, Thermal Epoxy is really a glue and is used to mount a heatsink on a device that has no attachments for a heatsink like a Video card, MB chipset etc. I have successfully removed the HS from a few Video cards by prying it off. May cause damage, but I've been lucky.
Good Luck, Jim

 

[pelikan]

Put it in the freezer for a few hours then pry it off.

 

[stu1811]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee

Originally posted by: stu1811
Isopropyl will do wonders. Use >90 % alcohol.

Alkihol won't touch epoxy. I got 4 tubes of AS Alumina Epoxy I'll ship you for
free if you link pics that it will.


...Galvanized

Oops i thought it said dried thermal paste not epoxy.