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AL heat sinks glued to processors

| Batteries, Capacitors, Heat Sinks
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    Scrap man started this thread.
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    AL heat sinks glued to processors

    Is there any easy way to separate an aluminum heat sink glued to a ceramic 486 processor? I've got a few laying around that just won't come apart. The stuff holding it together looks like some kind of pasty white stuff. I tried prying them off with a razor blade, but that didn't work. I was thinking soaking them in something, but does anyone have any suggestions as to what?

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    Maybe you could try some heat from a heat gun or torch.

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    Yeah, any little bit of heat should do the trick...I personally have processed thousands upon thousands of computers, and never had a heatsink I couldn't get off. Try something stronger than a blade...maybe flat screwdriver or scraper?

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    I have good luck with my pocket knife. Lay it on the work bench. Put blade in between the chip and heat sink and bear down on it. If that doesnt work carb cleaner.

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    Put the chip on its side and hit in between the two with a 1.5" chisel it will pop it right off no damage. A processor creates a fair amount of heat and heat sinks are great at dissipating it, heat might not work. I figured I could heat up the heat sinks with the copper "ingot" in the middle then punch it out, ya right.....Had to use sawzall.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ScrapYaHerd View Post
    Put the chip on its side and hit in between the two with a 1.5" chisel it will pop it right off no damage. A processor creates a fair amount of heat and heat sinks are great at dissipating it, heat might not work. I figured I could heat up the heat sinks with the copper "ingot" in the middle then punch it out, ya right.....Had to use sawzall.
    Actually, taking a tip from Jack the scrapper, I have found there is little that cant be accomplished with a hammer and a hatchet. Especially CU/AL heatsinks with the ingot in the center. A few good smacks and the ingot pops out

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    Quote Originally Posted by joebob49 View Post
    I have good luck with my pocket knife. Lay it on the work bench. Put blade in between the chip and heat sink and bear down on it. If that doesnt work carb cleaner.
    Usually it's just the heat sink "grease" that has gotten hot and dried out it's not really glue, but sometimes they are really stuck. That's where the smaller pocket screwdriver comes in handy, easier to get the thin blade in between. Just a couple of small taps should do it.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mechanic688 View Post
    Usually it's just the heat sink "grease" that has gotten hot and dried out it's not really glue, but sometimes they are really stuck. That's where the smaller pocket screwdriver comes in handy, easier to get the thin blade in between. Just a couple of small taps should do it.
    Or that lol. Im a redneck pocket knives and duct tape Kentucky fixalls.

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    don't pry with the blade, push with it

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    Quote Originally Posted by ScrapYaHerd View Post
    Put the chip on its side and hit in between the two with a 1.5" chisel it will pop it right off no damage. A processor creates a fair amount of heat and heat sinks are great at dissipating it, heat might not work. I figured I could heat up the heat sinks with the copper "ingot" in the middle then punch it out, ya right.....Had to use sawzall.
    Did you really seperate that copper core from the heat sink? Your cu/al prices must be loooooow lol

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    Quote Originally Posted by telecomthomas View Post
    Did you really seperate that copper core from the heat sink? Your cu/al prices must be loooooow lol
    That little nugget of copper sells for "foundry copper" at my yard. Definitely worth the 30 second it takes to separate it from the heat sink. I think I may try the whack it with a hatchet method though. Been doing it with the hacksaw cut and pry method.

    Bill

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    Quote Originally Posted by mrbillbus View Post
    That little nugget of copper sells for "foundry copper" at my yard. Definitely worth the 30 second it takes to separate it from the heat sink. I think I may try the whack it with a hatchet method though. Been doing it with the hacksaw cut and pry method.

    Bill
    My al/cu price is based on the ratio so its not worth my time to seperate.....Might get a few cents more overall breaking it down but I choose not to. Now if its more copper than aluminum we are talking a different story. Im talking about the circular one with a small copper core

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    Quote Originally Posted by telecomthomas View Post
    My al/cu price is based on the ratio so its not worth my time to seperate.....Might get a few cents more overall breaking it down but I choose not to. Now if its more copper than aluminum we are talking a different story. Im talking about the circular one with a small copper core
    Yes but after you do then you'll get clean price for the copper and alum. Otherwise the dirty price is cheap.

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    Quote Originally Posted by telecomthomas View Post
    My al/cu price is based on the ratio so its not worth my time to seperate.....Might get a few cents more overall breaking it down but I choose not to. Now if its more copper than aluminum we are talking a different story. Im talking about the circular one with a small copper core
    I get al/cu pricing (just like ac coils) 1.85 lb


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