Lint free cloths ideas.

[q2418130103p]

Hi guys,

All my stuff for my new computer is coming today, and I realized that the only lint free cloth in this entire house, is a q-tip. Which may take a very long time to clean the bottom of a heatsink off with artic silver on it.

So I was wondering what other house hold things can be used as lint free cloths. I read something about using newspapers, but those seem kind of dirty already.

Does anybody have any suggestions?

Thanx,
Jay

[morriswindgate]

I use an electronics cleaner call "LPS" that you can purchase at Home Depot (Usually it is up front) that just melts the stuff off of the sink and cpu. It flashes off really quick and leaves no residue. Just hold the chip over some paper towels and bath the chip in it.

[q2418130103p]

Thats cool, but I dont have to remove a heat pad thing. I only need the cloth to take off the excess artic silver like it says in the artic silver instructions.

Jay

[q2418130103p]

Looking around on the mech, the general consensus seems to be one of these: coffe filter, wax paper, or an old t-shirt.

[morriswindgate]

If you are using Artic Silver you need to remove the Thermal Pad that came with the heat sink. As to the artic silver you only apply it to the small chip in the center of the CPU chip and a q-tip is all you need to remove the excess. If you put to much on or you are wanting to remove the Artic Silver in order to use the Thermal Pad (expect 3 to 7 degree higher temps) just wipe the Artic silver off with a paper towel and rubbing alcohol. You do not need lint free cloths.

[q2418130103p]

The heat sink I bought does not have a thermal pad on it. The only time I need the lint free cloth is after I rub in the artic silver with a plastic bag. Its just to get the extra artic silver off. They tell you to use a lint free cloth for it.

http://articsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm (Step 7)

[morriswindgate]

Just take a business card or thin piece of cardboard and use the corner to scrape it off.
I also suggest that you lower the Heatsink down with your hand to see that you have a good coverage pattern of the artic silver.
Just do the above, Artic silver does not run under heat like the white thermal paste.
Believe me, this is what I have done on 30 plus computers in the last year and a half. I have never used lint free cloths, just the cardboard. And all of these computers are working fine with no problems and no melted artic silver everywhere.

[q2418130103p]

hehe, thats good.

Im just gonna use a coffe filter, and for one big reason: I already got one from upstairs and now its in font of me :)

All of my stuff just came in, and I just installed the CPU, im just waiting for my box with the heatsink and fan to come in now (which should be an hour or so)

One more question though, you know when you have to rub the AS into the heat sink, and it says use a plastic glove, can I use a trashbag instead?

Thanx,
Jay

[Alaron]

Im not sure about using a black trash bag. Just use a plastic Ziplock bag. Put it over your hand and use your index finger to rub in the Arctic Silver.

[q2418130103p]

ok, thanx

I'm not sure if I have any, but I will check.

Thanx,
Jay

[morriswindgate]

PUT THE ARTIC SILVER ON THE CPU, NOT THE HEATSINK! And just put a small amount on the chip in the center. The one that is about 3/8 of an inch by 1 inch. If you put it on the bottom of the heatsink you will put too much and then it will melt and runn off, with possible damage to the bridges.

[theENiGMA]

Actually, the instructions say you are supposed to put some on the heatsink, but you are supposed to rub it in, and then wipe the heatsink off. This way you fill in any microscopic valleys on the heatsink surface.
-KEiTH

[mike breck]

I use cotton wool with the Alcohol.

Remember, just a "thin skim" of Artic Silver on the CPU core and base of the Heatsink. The key is, if you start with less, you can always add a little more - but if you start with too much, you end up with a mess going everywhere.

[q2418130103p]

Thanx for all the help, I put the heat sink on not to long ago.

The coffe filter worked fine, same with the zip lock bag.

I started off with the thin layer, and definatly had to add more, but I found the real problem was a non smoot credit card.

Thanx for the help,
Jay

[Furius92]

Putting a thin layer in the center of a P4 Northwood doesn't cover the entire heat spreader. I spread it over the entire thing, and then rubbed it down and took off excess with my hand inside of a plastic bag. As for a lint-free cloth, I used cheesecloth.

[glc]

I use a business card to spread out the AS on the core, and use a piece of Saran Wrap wrapped around my finger to rub it into the heatsink - and use a coffee filter for a lint-free cloth to remove the excess from the heatsink.

[Blakhart]

Umm err panties?

[mike breck]

Not while you're wearing them.

[Blakhart]

I only wear them on my head. They make nice do-rags.
Nothing wrong with using a old pair of draws to clean a cpu. Or a monitor.