Alcohol for cleaning CPU

beauf wrote: »

Probably a bad idea but I usually use aftershave tbh. I used to use baby wipes but they don't have alcohol in then anymore afaik. Just dry them off afterwards. Never had a problem. Why 99% so it all evaporates? No residue I assume. Also use white spirit. Which is probably better.

That said I've never had a really expensive cpu or board I was super worried about.

Man after my own heart. Kitchen towel sprayed with window cleaner. Perfectly fine. (Don't spray it at the CPU, if that's not obvious)

I use 70% without issue.

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

Yeah I have been using Iso Alcohol since I built my 1st rig back when man was inventing fire and ZERO issues. I mean its not like you are pouring the stuff over components!!!

I dip cotton buds into the cap with some solution in it use one side when dirty flip it over and use the other and repeat if particularly grubby. Then use another DRY BUD to wipe off excess which there is very little to none and then good to go.

Any chemist should have 300ml bottle for about 5-8 De Niros.

I had a hard time a while back trying to get my hands on some..went to 3 different chemists..they said that "they dont stock it" because it was being "abused"...i managed to get some in a german online store at the time..the "abused" thing made me shiver..wtf were people drinking it?

GHOST MGG wrote: »

I had a hard time a while back trying to get my hands on some..went to 3 different chemists..they said that "they dont stock it" because it was being "abused"...i managed to get some in a german online store at the time..the "abused" thing made me shiver..wtf were people drinking it?

Yeah it's a common thing with chronic alcoholics, especially any of those who are supposed to be on a detox etc, they drink small bits of it because of the high alcohol percentage and the fact it's odourless. Absolutely destroys the pancreas and liver.

frozenfrozen wrote: »

there is a guy on ebay.ie that sells it I have most of a litre here of 99%

it's shipped from ireland and I had it within a couple of days.

You have to give full address with eircode and it has to be the same as billing details so I presume there's some sort of record kept for who is buying it

A litre of iso pro?...you planning on cleaning out the intel factory hehe:D

For cleaning PCBs, 90% plus.

For cleaning an IHS? Fócking dettol would do. Really doesnt matter.

madcabbage wrote: »

I've used surgical spirits myself when i couldn't source isopropyl locally.

I think thats the UK name for it - or sometimes also Rubbing Alcohol in USA. Same stuff - only sometimes its watered down - make sure to get high 90% and you can use it for recovering water damaged electronics (you can wash electronics no problem with alcohol to get the water out).

It should be available in Ireland as its the main ingredient to WHO's home made hand sanitiser
https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/Guide_to_Local_Production.pdf

I use it my IPA in a Dealz spray bottles - its really handy when you need get a sticker etc off.
https://www.dealz.ie/324423-travel-bottle-bottle-7-pack/

- I don't use the cap of the bottle, as many do, so as not to contaminate the whole bottle with oil or whatever I'm cleaning.


oh - and I dont think its very dangerous - but I would be trying avoid getting the neat stuff and leaving it on my hands or breathing in any fumes off it. Its also of course flammable - but evaporates in seconds and leaves nothing behind so the item being cleaned is not left flammable then of course anymore.


For cleaning heat sinks - I've got some stuff from the Artic Silver guys I use - it smells like lemon

SeanW wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I'm likely to re-do my CPU thermal contact soon and have a few technical cleanup jobs to do (keyboards, monitor etc.), so I'm interested in getting some isopropyl alcohol for that. Has anyone tried getting it in a chemist or hardware store or anything recently?

Where are you based? I've a good bit of it here in the drawer. Wexford based.

The Irish guy on ebay doesn't have any at the moment. Just checked there all he has is degreasers and distilled water. Not sure how it works importing from England. Dont know would they post it here it may be controlled?

I've used nail varnish remover without issue before if you're really stuck.

Isopropyl alcohol 1L (Foran brand) is available from either of the 2 main pharmaceutical wholesalers in the state. They offer next day delivery into any pharmacy. I have it for sale in my pharmacy, and I have a bottle at home for personal PCB use. It will likely cost you c€18 for 1L.

I bought a bottle on adverts.ie

Tin Man wrote: »

Anyone ever tried using the Boots surgical spirit?

https://www.boots.ie/boots-surgical-spirit-b-p-500ml-10075125

Ingredients
Active ingredients: Methyl Salicylate, Diethyl Phthalate, Castor Oil.
Other ingredients: Ethanol 90%. Methanol 5% w/w.

I'm looking to clean the thermal paste on a CPU and cooler.

(Well, I'm actually trying to fit a 320mm GPU into an ITX case for a friend. The case advertises that it can fit 320mm but the opening isn't 320mm wide. It has to go in at an angle which means removing f-ing everything that could get in the way and then rebuilding the PC around the GPU)

Contains castor oil - doesn't sound like an ingredient that would evaporate easily.