Lapping= Sore fingers

[catkicker]

Well with a unscheduled day off I decided to start lapping my water blocks that will go on my new build.

Just getting started, my fingers are sore already
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/1200/lappingprocesszc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Almost done, fingers are shot for the day. I have one more super fine grit and polishing compound. I'm not big on getting a mirror finish. As long as they are flat and have even surface and are free of gouges, pitts. I'm happy. I may stop here.
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/8105/lappingdonerv2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Of course those pics. of fresh lapped blocks with the mirror reflection of a quarter is pretty cool. From what I have read a mirror finish does not make any significant difference in performance...

[voigts]

If you are lapping new waterblocks you are making a mistake. It is going to be impossible to get those blocks as flat by hand as they come from the manufacturer.

[catkicker]

Nope not new. just well used. They had some scratches and pitts in them.

[natewildes]

That is a lot of waterblocks....2xCPU, NB, 2x VGA (with two different barb sizes?)? Must be a big build...

[catkicker]

actually the 2 gpu blocks will have 3/8's fittings they will go on a pair of 7800GT's. one of the blocks is a danger den Zchip, chipset block, If it fits with the SLI setup I may use it. The round heatsink is from a evercool VGA cooler that will go on the chipset if the Zchip block will not clear the VC's. I have 2 cpu blocks there, one has been modified so that a thermal sensor will have contact with the cpu for accurate temp. readings. I will test the modified block and the stock block to see how they compare as far as cooling. I will use MBM5 to check CPU temps with the 2 danger den cpu blocks.

[wun911]

Has anybody used an electric sander + fine sandpaper to lap a HSF instead of getting sore hands and fingers???

Wouldnt an electric sander be better for a more "flat finish"

[a1cnolan]

not in my experience with electric sanders. basically you have the ones that run a belt around like a conveyor. the thing that holds those in place is tension and it is near impossible to get even grind. the next rotates a pad in a cirular type motion. which mean that you will wear the center before the edges . then you have ones that kind of vibrate around...those are pretty good but not as good as lapping the old fashioned way. the best possible solution? that would be a surface grinder with a wheel on it for nonferrous metals.... you can get something righteously flat..on that but then youd want to buff it anyway

[catkicker]

No easy way that I have read about. All hand work. If the blocks are not in to bad of shape it's not to bad on the hands & fingers (NOT!) LMAO! anyways the lapping kit I bought has a polishing compound that can be applied with rotary tool at low speed with a piece of felt or by hand with the finest grade/grit paper you have my finest grit is 2000

[jamesavery22]

What are you using for a backboard for the sandpaper? A cutting board? All cutting boards Ive seen tend to warp over time, not to mention they bend. You should use a thick plate of glass, like a glass shelf.

[infinitevalence]

you really need to be using glass for a lapping surface... anything else will end up giving you rounded edges, which your liky to get anyway as there is no way to keep the presure on the blocks even when hand lapping.

[wun911]

How do you think they lap the heat sinks in the Zalman factory??? Do they have like millions of chinese workers with sand-paper??

There MUST be an easier way....

[Ecca]

Pretty soon you'll have so many blisters you won't beable to feel pain. :santa:

[XxNightfirexX]

How do you think they lap the heat sinks in the Zalman factory??? Do they have like millions of chinese workers with sand-paper??

There MUST be an easier way....

The problem is, that easier way they use is the very reason we get them with crappy finishes and have to hand lap them. The AC Freezer hsf I got back in the spring does a great job cooling, but it took me an hour+ to get the deep machining scratches out of it and put a good finish on it. Took the rest of the night for my hand to quit aching. I'm just thankful I cleaned the stock tim off to put on a layer of AS5, or I would have never seen how bad the finish was until I saw high temps and went investigating. I hope the better waterblock manufacturers do better jobs than hsf manufacturers.

[Sneaky]

lapping is tedious and your fingers start to lock up after a while... but here's the result when you do it extremely well


Ultra-120 base:
http://www.fragtek.com/sneaky/p3mid1/u120_6.jpg


Storm G5 base:
http://www.mac-owner.com/sneaky/g5_base.jpg


3.0E Prescott IHS:
http://www.mac-owner.com/sneaky/ihs/lapping_9.jpg


920 Presler IHS:
http://www.mac-owner.com/sneaky/ihs/920/9.jpg

http://www.mac-owner.com/sneaky/ihs/920/10.jpg

[catkicker]

Very nice. I kicked around the idea of lapping my IHS on my 165 opteron.

[XxNightfirexX]

Very nice lookin' there Sneaky. Can I send my lapping projects to you from now on?;) I don't have the patience to go all the way to mirror finish, just get it nice and smooth so there's no worries about the tim not being able to do its job right. Incidentally, I never considered lapping my ihs, does it really make much of a noticeable difference?

[catkicker]

I never considered lapping my ihs, does it really make much of a noticeable difference?

Not sure. Some say it can help othere say it's a waste of time and could be harmful. Some say it's just cheap tin and not worth it. The only thing most agree on is popping the top, removing the IHS for a slight gain. 1 to maybe 3 degrees depending on who you talk to.

[Sneaky]

giving the IHS a matching surface to the heatsink gives the best possible contact between the two surfaces


and yes, i do lapping for other people for a reasonable labor + supplies fee (pm me if interested)

[catkicker]

So you think it worth the effort to lapp a AMD IHS? If so any tips?

[96s10]

Heh I tried lapping my RBX. Didn't last very long, kinda gave up. :(