Removing TIM without rubbing alcohol

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Antha

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Oct 18, 2011
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I live in the UK, and over the past 3 days have made trips to various shops on the way to and from work, with no success in finding rubbing alcohol/isopropyl alcohol. My gf found some on amazon but told me that B&Q or Asda's DIY section would have it so it wasn't worth ordering, but this was not the case.

I don't have any pure acetone nail polish remover (I do have some NPR, but it has water, perfume and kernel oil on the ingredients list) either.

I've read some comments saying to use a blow dryer and lint-free cloth, but is that really safe? My CPU is still in my machine, and blow dryers generate static unless I'm mistaken.

I had to RMA some parts including my cooler and am going a little mad now that I can't finish my reassembly! I'd appreciate any help I can get; I don't want to go another weekend without my machine.
 
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ronintexas
I have been "schooled" on this now....LOL. I guess the English we speak is a different language....(not trying to put down anyone here :) )

In the US, we have Rubbing Alcohol (isopropyl alcohol), and in the UK there is "Surgical Spirit". HOWEVER - Surgical Spirit contains additives that Rubbing Alcohol does not have - namely castor oil and methyl salicylate which can create issues in cleaning the thermal paste off a CPU.

This was done to prevent people from drinking the alcohol according to most of what I read....WOW!

Anyway....Amazon.UK sells the good stuff: http://www.amazon.co.uk/500ml-Isopropyl-Alcohol-pure-ISOPROPANOL/dp/B00AMZ10SE
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Pinhedd

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I find it extremely hard to believe that you are unable to find rubbing alcohol. There are no less than five locations within a short walk of my house that carry it. It's a staple product at any pharmacy and will also be available at most grocery stores.

If for some strange reason it simply doesn't exist in your region you can use a non-lubricating electronic contact cleaner which can be found at most automotive shops.
 
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synphul

synphul

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Mar 11, 2011
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If I'm not mistaken, asda is 'walmart' in the uk. It should be located in the pharmacy section along with band aids and hydrogen peroxide. Another place it may be is the beauty aisle. I don't think I'd trust nail polish remover, I have a feeling it's pretty harsh compared to isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
 
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Antha

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Right, so, first of all - surgical spirits isn't rubbing alcohol, I already looked that up. I've already been to my local pharmacy too. So, thanks for the lovely sarcy tl;dr but if you'd actually looked into it you'd find there are several threads/comments out there stating not to use surgical spirits on your CPU.

I want to thank Synphul for trying to suggest what section I might find RA, but I went there first and can confirm that they had nothing of the sort around where the various cut/bruise treatments were.

@The first American poster, Walmart is Asda here and I checked their pharmacy section first, even asking the staff there. I also went to my local pharmacy as well as B&Q. It happens to be the case that there are no hardware stores near bus routes where I live.

I find it rude that someone posts telling me that they can't believe there isn't any near me; I live near a shopping centre with a large Asda, Boots, Sainsbury's & B&Q as well as a local pharmacy across the road from it, and I tried all of these stores. None of the staff had the slightest clue what this stuff is, and I scoured the shelves carefully along with help from staff/having them check inventories.

Maplin have RA in a spray can; I live near the sign that welcomes people to my town, and Maplin is at the opposite end of town, far from any bus routes.

I didn't post asking to be told that I didn't look properly, I asked whether there were alternatives. The thread is even titled "without rubbing alcohol."

 
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ronintexas

ronintexas

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Dec 10, 2012
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I have been "schooled" on this now....LOL. I guess the English we speak is a different language....(not trying to put down anyone here :) )

In the US, we have Rubbing Alcohol (isopropyl alcohol), and in the UK there is "Surgical Spirit". HOWEVER - Surgical Spirit contains additives that Rubbing Alcohol does not have - namely castor oil and methyl salicylate which can create issues in cleaning the thermal paste off a CPU.

This was done to prevent people from drinking the alcohol according to most of what I read....WOW!

Anyway....Amazon.UK sells the good stuff: http://www.amazon.co.uk/500ml-Isopropyl-Alcohol-pure-ISOPROPANOL/dp/B00AMZ10SE
 
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