Results 1 to 14 of 14

AL heat sinks glued to processors

| Batteries, Capacitors, Heat Sinks
  1. #1
    Scrap man started this thread.
    Scrap man's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Nov 2010
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    657
    Thanks
    36
    Thanked 172 Times in 93 Posts

    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?
    There's nothing more fun and more effective than hitting something repeatedly with a sledgehammer


  2. #2
    Jonniebrass's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    1,007
    Thanks
    582
    Thanked 496 Times in 296 Posts
    Maybe you could try some heat from a heat gun or torch.

  3. #3
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Columbia, SC
    Posts
    31
    Thanks
    23
    Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts
    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?

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to CGsEnterprises for This Post:


  5. #4
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Kentucky
    Posts
    217
    Thanks
    160
    Thanked 197 Times in 68 Posts
    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.

  6. #5
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Central Florida
    Posts
    629
    Thanks
    117
    Thanked 211 Times in 144 Posts
    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.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to ScrapYaHerd for This Post:


  8. #6
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Aug 2012
    Location
    denver, co
    Posts
    20
    Thanks
    21
    Thanked 42 Times in 8 Posts
    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

  9. #7
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    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.
    P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
    If you enjoy your freedom, thank a vet.

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to Mechanic688 for This Post:


  11. #8
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Kentucky
    Posts
    217
    Thanks
    160
    Thanked 197 Times in 68 Posts
    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.

  12. #9
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    OK
    Posts
    5,731
    Thanks
    6,815
    Thanked 3,465 Times in 1,990 Posts
    don't pry with the blade, push with it

  13. #10
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2012
    Location
    South Florida
    Posts
    5
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    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

  14. #11
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    177
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked 153 Times in 70 Posts
    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

  15. #12
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2012
    Location
    South Florida
    Posts
    5
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    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

  16. #13
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    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.

  17. The Following User Says Thank You to Mechanic688 for This Post:


  18. #14
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2012
    Location
    South Florida
    Posts
    5
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    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



  19. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. alu looking copper heat sinks
      By EcoSafe in forum Scrap Metal Tips and Advice
      Replies: 24
      Last Post: 12-22-2012, 08:32 PM
    2. Newbie question...Heat Sinks?
      By missmargaret in forum Batteries, Capacitors, Heat Sinks
      Replies: 19
      Last Post: 09-11-2012, 07:55 PM
    3. 320 pounds of heat sinks....
      By Scrapcrazy in forum Batteries, Capacitors, Heat Sinks
      Replies: 24
      Last Post: 07-28-2012, 09:25 PM
    4. don't get cheated on comp heat sinks
      By EcoSafe in forum Scrap Metal Tips and Advice
      Replies: 29
      Last Post: 03-24-2012, 09:29 PM
    5. How to identify CPU heat sinks?
      By ilyaz in forum More than Scrap Value
      Replies: 5
      Last Post: 07-06-2011, 12:58 AM

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 2 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 2 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook