removing heat sink compound?

[GnG8d]

I'm sure that this is not too difficult, but are there any recommended quicker/cleaner methods of removing the heat sink compound from a radio? It looks like they just slather this stuff on with a paint brush, but while I have this 2970 apart I am replacing all of the compound with more "precisely" placed Arctic Silver 5.

I'm guessing acetone or mineral spirits and a non/low lint cloth of some sort. It's some pretty tuff stuff to even wash off of your finger, and I'd rather not just push it around trying to remove it.

 

[Robb]

Dabbing it off with a dry cloth will do it. That compound stuff will get on everything! Pretty messy.

I clean the compound off the back of CB radios with alcohol. Then I run a piece of dry cloth on it and look for any spots where there may be a fiber residue. Sometimes there are metal burrs that will catch the cloth fiber, and this is a potential trouble spot. De-burring it carefully will ensure that the device insulators aren't going to be compromised by a burr sticking up. It will also insure a flat surface so that heat transfer is what it should be.

Using lapping compound on all contact surfaces might help too . . .

 

[eagle1911]

Isopropyl Alcohol has worked well for me in the past. 70% will work, but if you have 91% use that.

 

[GnG8d]

Works for me, I have a bottle of 70% sitting here already, thanks guys.