How to clean your copper heat sinks

The_Neon_Cowboy · Aug 13, 2004, 11:24 PM

[color=red]How to clean your copper heat sinks [/color]
[color=red]and remove tarnish/corrosion…[/color]

[color=white][color=red][color=#000000][/color]
[color=white]First of all I’d like to say you do this at your own risk! Be careful and[/color]
[color=white]fallow [/color][color=white]my exact guidelines and you should be fine. I will explain what [/color]
[color=white]to do, what not [/color][color=white]to do, and why. [/color]

[color=white]When I say clean I mean remove the tarnish. If you have anything like [/color]
[color=white]heat [/color][color=white]sink compound etc on there you want to clean that off first [/color]
[color=white](WD40 or Alcohol works nice)...[/color]

[color=red]You’re going to need the fallowing:[/color]

[color=white]Copper heat sinks or water blocks that is tarnished / corroded. [/color]

[color=white](If badly corroded you should remove /clean off as much as [/color][color=white]you can [/color]
[color=white]before you [/color][color=white]think of trying this. Might be a good idea to remove any [/color]
[color=white]plastics for the time being, [/color][color=white]if there is plastic you can’t remove be sure [/color]
[color=white]to use less heat later on to avoid damage.)[/color]

[color=white]An ample size cooking pan [/color]

[color=white](not the best idea to use the best one you have)[/color]
[color=white]I used medium a sauce pan, non stick coated…[/color]

[color=white]Distilled white vinegar[/color]
[color=white]Water[/color]
[color=white]A basic hair drier or any wattage[/color]
[color=white]Copper polish (optional)[/color]
[color=white]Rubber gloves (optional)[/color]

[color=white]Try to use the smallest pan possible you don’t want to use a huge [/color]
[color=white]pan or this will take forever because you going to end up diluting the[/color]
[color=white]solution to much.[/color]

[color=white]First you want to fill the pan with enough water it’s going to more[/color]
[color=white]then cover your heat sink(s) when their added. You want to leave [/color]
[color=white]extra because some will evaporate good idea for the water to cover [/color]
[color=white]the heat sink plus 1”….[/color]

[color=white]Now you want to place the pan over heat (a stove works nicely). You[/color]
[color=white]want to get the water hot but not quite boiling (medium heat will [/color]
[color=white]suffice), [/color][color=white]do not boil. The heat will help speed up the process plus the[/color]
[color=white]water will help protect from an unwanted side effect of leaving [/color]
[color=white]copper in a purer solution too long. [/color]

[color=white]NOTE: It’s fairly safe to do this but you are working with something [/color]
[color=white]that’s a little acidic which can back fire on you if you did this wrong. If [/color]
[color=white]you went about this in the wrong way (not like in this short guide) [/color]
[color=white]you could have end up with a green, much corroded heat sink.[/color]

[color=white]After the water starts getting hot add 1 heaping table spoon of salt [/color]
[color=white]and stir it in. Then when you’re sure the water good and hot stir in 1 [/color]
[color=white]to 1-1/2 coups of the distilled vinegar.[/color]

[color=white]Next add your heat sinks that are in need of cleaning to the solution, [/color]
[color=white]carefully remember the water is HOT! If you’re really bored and like to[/color]
[color=white]watch the science work, don’t mind the strong vinegar smell, then [/color]
[color=white]set there and watch. In just a few moments the copper will begin to [/color]
[color=white]look shiny and new! You could leave it in there for long time (some [/color]
[color=white]say hours in worse cases) but this is rarely necessary usually about [/color]
[color=white]15 minutes is plenty of time... [/color]

[color=white]Now take the hot pan with your heat sinks still in it, Set it in the sink [/color]
[color=white]and run could water into the pan long enough to ensure things have [/color]
[color=white]cooled off. Now the time to put on those rubber gloves if you have [/color]
[color=white]them (oils in your skin don’t react well with copper and it speeds up [/color]
[color=white]the tarnishing process).Then remove your heat sinks from the pan [/color]
[color=white]and [/color][color=white]rinse your heat sinks thoroughly and dry.[/color]

[color=white]Copper again being a highly reactive metal doesn’t like water either. [/color]
[color=white]As apposed to just drip drying or trying wipe off as much liquid as [/color]
[color=white]you can then I like to fire up a hair dryer to get the job done fast. Set it [/color]
[color=white]some place like a paper towel or a dry cloth while you blow it dry. [/color]

[color=white]Now you copper will be really shiny but since you dried it you’ll [/color]
[color=white]notice the finish has dulled slightly. (Optional) It might be a good idea[/color]
[color=white]to polish up the bottom and sides of your heat sink to a mirror finish.[/color]

[color=white]I’ve used this method more then once leaves my SLK-800U looking [/color]
[color=white]just like the day I bought it.[/color]

[color=#000000][color=white]There is also a way to make your own copper polish using this same [/color][/color]
[color=#000000][color=white]science [/color][/color][color=#000000][color=white](with the addition of flour and lemon juice) but you do have to [/color][/color]
[color=#000000][color=white]promptly wash and dry after using or you will have a chemical [/color][/color]
[color=#000000][color=white]reaction [/color][/color][color=#000000][color=white]with the water and oxygen in the air and will green / corrode. [/color][/color]
[color=#000000][color=white]I’m going [/color][/color][color=#000000][color=white]to with hold the recipe for that.[/color] [/color]

[/color]
ENJOY[/color]

pr0digal jenius · Aug 14, 2004, 12:00 AM

very nice....as for me and my aluminum parts...i'll stick to isopropyl alcohol and Q Tips

but seriously...yet another nice guide neon...you da man!

and on the topic of polishing metal - toothpaste works exceedigly well

Vampyromaniac · Aug 14, 2004, 02:36 AM

nice, Neon.
but it tastes better if you add olive oil and oregano

mainman · Aug 14, 2004, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vampyromaniac

nice, Neon.
but it tastes better if you add olive oil and oregano

Only you to make me laugh vampy...

BTW very nice guide bud, very good work!!

The_Neon_Cowboy · Aug 14, 2004, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pr0digal jenius

very nice....as for me and my aluminum parts...i'll stick to isopropyl alcohol and Q Tips

but seriously...yet another nice guide neon...you da man!

and on the topic of polishing metal - toothpaste works exceedigly well

yes but a tooth brush no matter how soft will scratch the metal/leave marks

not to mention if you knew what was in tooth paste would you wouldn't wan't to brush with it, lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vampyromaniac

nice, Neon.
but it tastes better if you add olive oil and oregano

thats not oregano

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainman

Only you to make me laugh vampy...

BTW very nice guide bud, very good work!!

thanks guys. Don't mind how I wrote it out it's quick and easy and with little to no risk....

The_Neon_Cowboy · Aug 22, 2004, 07:03 AM

Has anyone tried this yet?

Chaos · Aug 22, 2004, 08:42 AM

not yet, and if it's not oregano then what is it ????????

Zelig · Aug 22, 2004, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pr0digal jenius

very nice....as for me and my aluminum parts...i'll stick to isopropyl alcohol and Q Tips

I got annoyed enough doing that, that I installed filters on all my computers.

Nice guide Neon, I'll have to try it sometime, though my current heatsink doesn't really look like it needs it yet.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Aug 22, 2004, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaos

not yet, and if it's not oregano then what is it ????????

... what you've been smokeing .... bawhahaha

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zelig

I got annoyed enough doing that, that I installed filters on all my computers.

Nice guide Neon, I'll have to try it sometime, though my current heatsink doesn't really look like it needs it yet.

Well when it does you'll know what to do.

Eventually it will oxidize if it’s been coated it will take a lot longer. If it’s been coated you may need to bring the boil to help remove the coatings.

But, I don’t think anyone’s coating heat sinks that would greatly reduce its ability to dissipate heat…

pr0digal jenius · Aug 22, 2004, 07:33 PM

yea yea, i knwo neon....there's somethign wrong with polishing the silverware, jewelry, and your teeth all witht he same tube of goop.....but i've just come to accept it

mike2h · Aug 22, 2004, 07:54 PM

good useful guide neon. thx.

drakesteakn · Aug 22, 2004, 09:55 PM

going to try this tomorrow on 2 heatsinks that i got. they look bad.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Aug 27, 2004, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drakesteakn

going to try this tomorrow on 2 heatsinks that i got. they look bad.

let me know how it goes!

I still trying to get some one to try it.... and report back...
other wise it maked my efforts feel pointless to do stuff like
then when no one tries it ...

yeders · Sep 27, 2004, 11:12 PM

great guide.
yeah i tried it today...works like a charm.