not to sound dumb, but how do u lap an HSF? [Archive]

Yodums

02-09-02, 01:10 PM

Taken from my previous post on how to lap, but pictures arent really important. But if you want heres how to image. While lapping you should see the uneven layers being sanded the most then you see all the layers wear down and eventually sand everything.

Lapping is a pretty long process if done right you should shave off 3-5 degrees more if your not even using Arctic Silver. Although you should only lap the heatsink, dont get the idea to lap the core as many people shave nothing and killed their cores.

Lapping - Sanding down a layer into the alluminum to make a flat contact within the core and to reduce the use of thermal compound by abit.

What you need:

Glass - Size of a laptop keyboard.
Waterproof Sandpaper: 180grit, 200grit, 400grit, 600grit, 800grit, 1000grit, 1500grit and 2000grit.

You must need glass because it is 100% flat and you need to make it flat thus that surface is the best option to lap on. Waterproof sandpaper is needed because your going to be lapping the sandpaper being wet not dry to prevent scratches to the heatsink while the process as you want to take off the big sanding grinds that the manufacture leave as well. - My cousin has Volcano 6cu+ and he didn't do a very good job and he switched from Silicone Thermal Paste to ASII and he noticed 4 degrees within the first day and he had another day to see it drop again as Arctic Silver II settles in 48 hours.

Onto the lapping:

Get a bucket of water clean off the glass if its dirty. Removing the fan from your fan and the clips if its possible. If the clips aren't possible to remove get a small piece of string (I think flossing string and tie them up so they don't come in contact with the sandpaper once your lapping. You don't want your fan to be in there as you'll be wetting the heatsink and sandpaper so often 30secs to prevent heavy scratches in the heatsink.

Tip: This process is pretty long 2 hours or more should be spent if you watch TV then this would be a great time to do it

Now put the glass down with probably a towel down to support it. Then put the sandpaper on the glass from the bucket (Assuming it is wet). Now get the heatsink out of the bucket and put it on the sandpaper now its pretty straight forward from here, push the heatsink back and fourth (Up and down direction). You shouldn't be applying pressure to the heatsink as it can result into you pushing the heatsink into uneven areas. Where the heatsink will move back and fourth by itself and grind itself.

You must wet the heatsink and sandpaper probably every 30seconds. As I said to prevent scratches

Now then the start is very important you don't move to the next grit (Which supposidly is 400grit), until you sand down the first layer completely flat or else it would be useless to move on.

The 180 grit should sand down the first layer in about 1hour. Now the next grits are pretty easy. Using the same method each of the 400 grit and above should take 15mins each. The 1000, 1500 and 2000 should take 30mins each as it is a finish. Your lap should end up with a mirror finish where you see yourself.

Get isoprophyl clean the core and heatsink before applying the thermal compound. Especially the heatsink since metal maybe still on it.

You must let this thing dry get a family fan or a table fan and put it on top of it for like 2 hours before putting it on a chip or something just make sure it is 100% dry before putting it on.

If you aren't using ASII a local vendor should already supply it go and get it. Then to use as minimal as you can get a blade. Squeeze the ASII very gently onto the heatsink and then take the blade and take very little by little and then fill the core then rub the heatsink with a clear bag in figure 8's and up and down, side to side that way the ASII goes into all the minor scratches.

Take a lint-free cloth and wipe the bottom of the heatsink gently until its mirror again then the ASII should still be in the holes. Now you assemble your heatsink on which you already know.

Just make sure you don't move to 400 grit until you finish the first one. Make sure you wet it every 30secs. Make sure you clean off the metal at the end. Make sure you use the least possible thermal compound.

Sorry for the long thread :D

Good Luck

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