Methylated spirit for remove thermal paste?

[dauf]

hello..

i wanna ask...i just bought methylated spirit instead of rubbing alcohol...it is 95% alcohol...

can i use it to remove the thermal paste on my cpu? or is it dangerous?

or i should just use alcohol swab (contain 70% of isopropyl alcohol) ?

 

[SimonSplat]

I think that Meths will leave a slight deposit on the chip but I have used a small amount of aftershave to remove thermal paste before now without any bad things happening!

Cue being shot down by purists ;-)

 

[Guest]

Best bet is to use a proper TIM cleaner, very cheap, but to be fair, i have used meths before with no disastrous effect, just a small amount on a tissue, and dont let it get on any non metal parts at all!

 

[jsc]

That's the advantage of isopropyl alcohol. If you get some on the nonmetallic parts, it's no problem.

Rubbing alcohol may contain lanolin. That will leave a deposit. I use 98% isopropyl and some kind of lint-free rag. If I drank coffee, I'd use a piece of a clean coffee filter.

 

[MU_Engineer]

hello..

i wanna ask...i just bought methylated spirit instead of rubbing alcohol...it is 95% alcohol...

can i use it to remove the thermal paste on my cpu? or is it dangerous?

or i should just use alcohol swab (contain 70% of isopropyl alcohol) ?

I had to look up what "methylated spirit" was. It turns out it's just British for a non-potable, non-beverage-taxed 90% ethanol/10% methanol mixture, which we in the States call "denatured alcohol." That will work well for removing thermal paste as it is a non-polar (organic) solvent with a very low water content. Thermal paste is readily dissolved by most organic solvents but not water, so your 70% isopropyl alcohol/30% water swabs won't work very well due to the high water content.

Here are some other things I've used and have had good experience with:
1. Benzene derivatives: toluene, xylene, and mixtures of the two. The yellow cans of Goof-Off are a mixture of toluene and benzene and are my favorite for removing thermal grease. IMHO, it works the best out of anything I've tried but has a lot of fumes.

2. 91% isopropyl alcohol. This is readily available at drugstores (I think you call them chemists' shops or apothecary's shops over there in Britain) and is very inexpensive but also has a significant odor.

3. 100% ethanol, aka 200-proof or absolute ethanol (not Absolut, that's a vodka with IIRC 43% alcohol.) This works well and has a minimal odor but it is expensive due to beverage taxes and is hard to find outside of a laboratory or industrial setting.

Stuff I'd avoid:
1. Rubbing alcohol. Unless you specifically look for the 91% isopropyl alcohol, you'll get stuff that's 70% isopropyl alcohol, 30% water. It's darn near useless in removing thermal paste. You might as well just use a dry cloth.
2. Water.
3. Household cleaning solutions, most of which are >90% water.

 

[Guest]

WOW definately a best reply MU_Engineer case definately resolved

 

[dauf]

I had to look up what "methylated spirit" was. It turns out it's just British for a non-potable, non-beverage-taxed 90% ethanol/10% methanol mixture, which we in the States call "denatured alcohol." That will work well for removing thermal paste as it is a non-polar (organic) solvent with a very low water content. Thermal paste is readily dissolved by most organic solvents but not water, so your 70% isopropyl alcohol/30% water swabs won't work very well due to the high water content.

Here are some other things I've used and have had good experience with:
1. Benzene derivatives: toluene, xylene, and mixtures of the two. The yellow cans of Goof-Off are a mixture of toluene and benzene and are my favorite for removing thermal grease. IMHO, it works the best out of anything I've tried but has a lot of fumes.

2. 91% isopropyl alcohol. This is readily available at drugstores (I think you call them chemists' shops or apothecary's shops over there in Britain) and is very inexpensive but also has a significant odor.

3. 100% ethanol, aka 200-proof or absolute ethanol (not Absolut, that's a vodka with IIRC 43% alcohol.) This works well and has a minimal odor but it is expensive due to beverage taxes and is hard to find outside of a laboratory or industrial setting.

Stuff I'd avoid:
1. Rubbing alcohol. Unless you specifically look for the 91% isopropyl alcohol, you'll get stuff that's 70% isopropyl alcohol, 30% water. It's darn near useless in removing thermal paste. You might as well just use a dry cloth.
2. Water.
3. Household cleaning solutions, most of which are >90% water.

thanks!!! i'll go with the methylated spirit..later on i'll buy the arctic cleaner etc.
good info..