Some_Idiot2

Yesterday, I bought some 320 and 400 grit sandpaper to polish my old ATT Arctic Cool copper CPU heatsink, hoping for more thermal conductivity. I sanded the heatsink first, with 320 grit sandpaper, then with 400 grit sandpaper untill the heatsink was level, and clear of dents and imperfections. I then polished the heatsink to a near mirrior finish with a polishing wheel and some white diamond. My CPU idle temp dropped from around 23*C to 20*C!!

Lostnhell

That is a good change for just a little bit of manual labor.
CAn you write a FAQ on the steps and rtpes of sandpaper needed so that others can learn from your work?

SoaDMTGguy

Nice job! That’s kind of like lapping, except they use much finer sandpaper, and no polishing wheel. Your way sounds easier, would love to see a FAQ!

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Crash

thats pretty good for those Grits,

Some_Idiot2

Sure, I'll get some pics and start writing a FAQ. I was suprised at how smooth I got the heatsink with the 400 grit sandpaper, and after I used the polishing wheel, I was supprised that I could see my own reflection in the copper.

bigvaL

nice man a 3 C drop with lapping good job!, but thats some pretty heavy grit usually people go to 1500-3000 before they're finished

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Burn

Yeah, a polishing wheel's pretty cool. If I ever lap/polish a heatsink, that's what I'll be using.

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Some_Idiot2

The polishing wheel I used was about equal to 2000 grit sandpaper, but the white dimond filled in most of the miniscule pits and valleys that the sanding wheel and 400 grit sandpaper left behind, besides, the heatsink was pretty rough before I started.

edit:
I have no clue why I have 2 shortcuts to TES-CS

supramkivtt2jz

id love to see some pics of it if you dont mind. im always curious about things that can drop temps.

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The Duke

A do it at home method
1. sand the finish to a grit you are happy with ...6-800 works well
When sanding use this method
a. Work on a flat surface... like a formica counter top if you don't have a table saw or some flat firm metal surface to lay the sandpaper on. Hold the paper in place and stroke the HS as described below
b. You can use water or water with a few drops of dish soap to lube and wash out the material
c. Sand equally and not in a hurry! Count the strokes... say 10, then turn the HS a 1/2 trun and do it again, then turn it 1/4 turn and do it again, then turn it 1/2 turn and do it again. This method will equalize the evenness of the sanding.
Repeat untill you got a smooth surface.
2. Home Polishing
a. Go the the Auto Parts and get "Mothers" MAg Polish.
b. Polish it till it glows and it will if you use fine enough paper!
c. Clean HS well with denatured alcohol (or arisol electronics cleaner) to remove any residue!
3. Look at the handsom devil in the reflection