Question: Where do you ppl get your VERY fine sandpaper for lapping???

[Jackywebdesign]

I'm going to lap a heatsink, but when I went to Menards, Home Depot, etc., they only had up to 600, and I was looking for something like 1500 for finishing the job. So pls help me out here, thx.:)

[Randy]

You can find 3m ultra fine sandpaper 1000 to 2000 grit anywhere autobody supplies are sold. It's what they they use in body shops to color sand and buff the paint jobs.

[William]

i have also heard a paint store has them too. Rainbow Paints is a chain of paint stores. Haven't looked there, but people have said they have it too.

[FishDog3]

I get it at OSH and home depot

[Da Whip]

Any automotive painters supply shop will carry wet/dry paper. I have even seen it at Ace hardware. Good luck.

[Van]

I bought my 1200 grit at OSH

[zoopa_man]

Try hobby shops too. I got mine form a store full of model airplanes and the like.

[Gabertooth]

I found it at Home Depot, but remember when you lapping, be sure sand on a flat surface and not to go too deep into the chip. Happy lapping.

-Gabertooth

[AMDGuy]

Jackywebdesign (Jul 08, 2001 12:46 a.m.):
I'm going to lap a heatsink, but when I went to Menards, Home Depot, etc., they only had up to 600, and I was looking for something like 1500 for finishing the job. So pls help me out here, thx.:)

I picked up 3000 grit wet dry at Sherwin Williams.

[Blue Jester_2112]

They carry up to 2000 grit in the automotive section at Walmart.

[Frost Byte]

What is lapping?

[Blue Jester_2112]

Lapping is sanding down the bottom of the heatsink to remove imperfections so that it is perfectly flat giving you better contact between the heatsink and the chip. The more contact, the better the heat transfer will be between the chip and HS. I'm not sure but there is probably an article or two on the process under the tips section on the front page.

[el]

http://www.sherwin-automotive.com/products/show_product.cfm?product=29212&cat=11

found this on the site but I think it is overkill! somebody cool could order it and send everyone a piece in regular snail mail!

[el]

store locator for sherwin williams!

http://www.sherwin-automotive.com/company/store_locator.cfm

[Pitspawn]

I read somewhere that anything greater than 600 rated sandpaper actually DECREASES the thermal transfer efficiency. This was because the metal is so smooth that the microscopic gaps that the thermal compound normally fills are not filled. Can someone refer this link in this thread?

[CSaddict]

Any Autozone or Advance auto NAPA or any other retail auto parts store will carry the paper you need. I know i managed an auto parts store for 5 long years. ASE certified!

[dozier768]

Pitspawn (Jul 10, 2001 05:51 p.m.):
I read somewhere that anything greater than 600 rated sandpaper actually DECREASES the thermal transfer efficiency. This was because the metal is so smooth that the microscopic gaps that the thermal compound normally fills are not filled. Can someone refer this link in this thread?

i agree i wouldn't go over 800 a microfinish is better than a mirror finish , this is why hotrodders dont shine their cranks like they did in the 60's, the heat transfer from the bearings through the oil to the crank shaft is more efficient with a micro finish . i would imagine that this would be similar because you have more surface area with a micro pitted surface.

[MisterQ]

Got some "Ultrafine" sandpaper at K-Mart in the one isle hardware section