Solved thermal paste removal. aftermarket cpu cooler

[demongorgan]

Hi guys, for the last two days I've been running around shops trying to get some rubbing alcohol but nowhere stocks it. I've tried every chemist, normal shops (boots, Wilkinson's, sainsburys ect) and no joy. The only place that has it is a printers but they refuse to give me some of their stock. The only thing there is, is a citrus based cleaning agent from maplins, but those guys are trying to charge me £20 for a little spray bottle.

All I have avalible is acetone free nail varnish remover. It says its active ingredient is Isopropyl Alcohol. Can I use this? I did buy the qtips though... Lol

 

[Britton30]

Odd you can't buy isopropyl alcohol, it works well. Fingernail polish remover will work as long as it is the non-oily type.

Are those shops pharmacies?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Chemist is the British term for pharmacy. Odd they wouldn't have rubbing alcohol.

Non-acetone nail remover will most likely have lanolin (oil derived from wool) in it.

Push come to shove, you may have order it. Try looking here. You can also find products specifically made for cleaning off TIM (Thermal Interface Material aka thermal paste) here.

 

[HAVOC]

See if you can find/order ArctiClean. Best stuff I've used.

 

[demongorgan]

I just bit the bullet and paid out a premium of £14.99 for a 500ml bottle at maplins....

I did try boots again but the lady snorted whilst looking down at me and said... "Humph we don't sell alcohol here.."

Problem solved I guess..

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

See if you can find/order ArctiClean. Best stuff I've used.

It's in the second link I posted.

 

[Layback Bear]

It's hard for me to understand why you can't find isopropyl alcohol in England.
You could try a auto parts store and look for a spray that is used to clean car and truck disc brakes. It leaves no residue. Use it with a coffee filter to wipe with.

3M High Power Brake Cleaner

 

[madcratebuilder]

Jeez! Don't sell alcohol? It would have been cheaper to buy a bottle of Vodka. I buy quart cans of denatured alcohol at $4. Isopropyl alcohol is a 50/50 mix of water and denatured alcohol.

 

[ganjiry]

This is where i get mine from in the uk Shiny Hardware Limited
SHL 1 Litre (1000ml) Isopropanol 99.9% (IPA), CHILD PROOF CAP £3.93 + VAT Shiny Hardware Limited

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Jeez! Don't sell alcohol? It would have been cheaper to buy a bottle of Vodka. I buy quart cans of denatured alcohol at $4. Isopropyl alcohol is a 50/50 mix of water and denatured alcohol.

Keep in mind the OP is in England, not the U.S.

Isopropyl alcohol is not diluted denatured alcohol (see here for the difference). Most rubbing alcohol used here in the U.S. is 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% water. The disinfectant wipes normally used for injection sites and taking blood samples are usually the 70% mix (I keep a box on hand for cleaning scratches and small cuts). Wally World does sell 91% Isopropyl, marketed as a disinfectant (I have a bottle I got just to use for cleaning off TIM).

 

[Lava King]

Seems rather odd, not being able to find isopropyl alcohol.

If you're of age, perhaps you could get the UK equivalent of Everclear. It's pretty much just pure ethanol, no added flavors, colors or preservatives.


You can use it to clean your CPU and celebrate your success!

 

[madcratebuilder]

Seems rather odd, not being able to find isopropyl alcohol.

If you're of age, perhaps you could get the UK equivalent of Everclear. It's pretty much just pure ethanol, no added flavors, colors or preservatives.


You can use it to clean your CPU and celebrate your success!

This is the winner.

 

[Layback Bear]

Everclear. We call it gasoline and it taste about the same.