is this nail polisher remover ok to use to remove thermal paste

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MatthewNguyenw

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Apr 13, 2015
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I need to remove some thermal paste from my heat sink. I used a tissue to wipe off most off the residue but there is still some left. I have a supermarketnail polish remover which is acetone free.
 
Solution
sirstinky
Use 99% isopropyl alcohol. It evaporates quickly if you spill it. Even if it's not acetone, it's still solvent-based. has to be to remove nitrocellulose in nail polish. Solvents aren't good for delicate electronics as mentioned above as they can leave behind residues.
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kwa-e

kwa-e

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Mar 1, 2015
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While you CAN use it to remove the leftover thermal paste I wouldn't really recommend using it to do so as it might contain components that may damage/ affect the components in your motherboard if it spills, Use Isopropyl Alcohol instead.
 
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sirstinky

sirstinky

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Aug 17, 2012
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Use 99% isopropyl alcohol. It evaporates quickly if you spill it. Even if it's not acetone, it's still solvent-based. has to be to remove nitrocellulose in nail polish. Solvents aren't good for delicate electronics as mentioned above as they can leave behind residues.
 
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Solution
sirstinky

sirstinky

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Aug 17, 2012
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Yes, it's at pharmacies or grocery stores (Fred Meyer, Sam's Club, CVS, Walgreens, Kroger, Wal-Mart). It will be in the health-beauty area. Or just ask for it and they will show you. It's really cheap, less than $2.00 where I live.
 
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kwa-e

kwa-e

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Yep, and you'll want something with at least a 70% concentration but 99% will work the best.
(Make sure the liquid is completely dry before applying thermal paste or it may not apply properly, 70% will dry a bit slower than 99% so keep that in mind)

And you'll want to clean the paste with something lint free like coffee filters or microfiber cloths, just apply the alcohol and rub, as residual fibers from tissue may affect thermal performance.
 
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madmatt30

madmatt30

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Jan 1, 2013
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Worrying too much mate IMO - I just scrape what I can off with the thin edge of a bank card - never used alcohol to clean at all unless the stuff is set.
If its left dull grey it'd good enough IMO - seals any imperfections for when you apply new compound.
 
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Pinhedd

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Aug 7, 2007
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A small amount of pressure is necessary to remove the thermal paste that has set into the microscopic grooves of the heat spreader. I recommend using Q-Tips if they are available.
 
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