Any Tips for Removing Epoxy?

rcnuk

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Apr 1, 2007
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159
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Utah, USA
I have a couple of older mag mods and would like to update them to P4s. The emitters are pretty much "potted" and the epoxy is like a rock. Any ideas or tips for removing this stuff before I take a hammer and chisel to the heat sink?
 

Sway

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Aug 25, 2003
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North Carolina
Nail polish remover with acetone will soften Artic Alumina epoxy if you let it soak for a day or so. You may want to try and find some 100% acetone at a beauty supply or hardware store it may work a little quicker. I have soaked a few in nail polish remover and it worked OK but it will also pit aluminum, most of it can be polished out with some steel wool.

If it's a single emitter that you don't plan on trying to use again just grab it with some pliers and rip it off piece by piece and use a small scrape or jewelers screw driver to clean up the residue. Not a very elegant solution but you do end up saving one of the two parts :grin2:

Later
Kelly
 
Last edited:

ErickThakrar

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Apr 11, 2004
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New Mexico
If you can do it without compromising other components, try heat. A heat gun or stick it in the oven for a bit at 150-180. That will soften the epoxy and make it lose adhesion.
 

cy

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Dec 20, 2003
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lux, some oven cleaners are highly alkaline and will attack aluminum
 

Der Wichtel

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Mar 12, 2007
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Germany
I always put mine into the fridge. Then the epoxy becomes very crumbly an you can remove the epoxy with your fingers or a little screwdriver easily
 
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