Removing Thermal Epoxy

[alxlab]

If anyone need to remove thermal epoxy from a CPU like this:

I've discovered that soaking the chip in acetone overnight will soften the epoxy so it can be scrapped off like butter

This is way better then all the suggestions I've seen online like using a Dremel or spending hours scrapping.

 

[trag]

On the bright side, these solvents only cause cancer in California. Other locales, you're safe....

 

[YMK]

On the bright side, these solvents only cause cancer in California. Other locales, you're safe....

I'm afraid not. The human body generates and excretes acetone, so we're all doomed.

Acetone is my first choice for removing flux. Apple PCBs tolerate it well.

Alcohol is an inferior solvent, but is useful around plastics like ABS.