lap a PAL6035 or not?

[BigAir]

I have been considering lapping my PAL6035. However it has that built in copper plate on the bottom and I am wondering if it is O.K. to lap it or not? Is there a chance that I will sand right through the copper? What grit sand paper should I use? Or should I just leave it alone? Thanks!

[got_yogurt]

If its working well for now, why bother playing with it. If you could use some improvement, then you could try lapping it. Use fine sandpaper, and just be careful, im not an expert myself, so maybee some1 more expirienced can help.

[BigAir]

Thanks yogurt,
Actually, it is not hooked up yet because I waiting for my new 1.2 gig CPU to come. I an considering whether or not to do this before I put it all back together.

[Hoot]

The pictures I've seen of it make that copper insert look pretty well finished. It that the case with yours? If so, Dont lap it unless you want something to do with your free time. If you do lap it and it's already got a ggod finish, start out with 800 grit "wet-or-dry" Silicon Carbide paper. That's the grey stuff. An added bonus is that when you have got it as far as you want to go with the 800, flip over the sheet and put a few more minutes in on the paper side. It polishes almost as well as leather, but much more flat. Either way you go, clean that baby several times with a good flux remover or brake degreaser. Soak a spot on a better grade paper towel and rub hard. Firts pass, it'll come away with some grey residue on it, even with a pretty, new HSF. Change spots on the paper towel, resoak and repeat until it comes away as white as before you started. My Swiftech MC-462A had a beautiful, near mirror finish on the copper base and it took something like 5 or 6 scrubs until the paper tower came away clean. Lapping and HSF surface prep are one of the areas where there are many and varied opinions on exactly how to approach. Read some articles, get more replies and do it the way your think is appropriate anyway :-)

Hoot

[BigAir]

Great!
Thanks for the info! The hsf is pretty smooth, but you can make out the mill marks on it none the less. I will give it a try and see what I can do with it. I don't know how thich the copper is, but it should be thick enough to lap it. I will post how it goes. Thanks again!