Silicone compound removal?

[Zero Cool]

I have a big box of transistors I pulled out of an amp that had a broken chassis. the was dropped and the chassis is shot, boards broken but the parts are still good.

Is there an easy way to clean silicone heatsink compound off parts? i have always just used paper towels and wiped the stuff off but it gets everywhere and all over my hands and generally makes a big mess.

Is there a solvent that parts could be soaked in or sprayed on or???

I have a large ultrasonic cleaner, but haven't tried that yet. not sure that would do much of anything....

[ostripper]

Isopropyl alcohol 80 % + dissolves most of it , just a little wiping to loosen real "caked on" compound.
OS

[destroyer X]

will remove them very easy.... even thinner can do the job.

My prefered ones are Kerozene and WD40 any thin oil you have in spray.

This alcohol may work fine too...i have never use it for this purpose.... even diesel oil will be helpfull.

Any petrol based solvent, the ones to clean paint brush...those ones works fine.... there are many brands and types in my country...i think in your country you may have three times more options.

Use a soft paint brush to help you to remove...if something is hard to remove (dry), them use a piece of wood to scratch the surface to remove the hard grease dry.

regards,

Carlos

[Michael Chua]

Ronsonol.

[PH104]

just went through this myself.

Soak in undiluted Simple Green, a toothbrush will loosen up really caked-on stuff, rinse in water.

[ostripper]

Ronsonol. ahhhh.

http://www.idealtruevalue.com/servlet/the-16682/Detail

Lighter fluid - Naphtha
A more expensive alternative , more flammable (no in room)
..but is a
better solvent.

[amc184]

I second the isopropyl alcohol. I have a bottle for cleaning flux residue, but it works well cleaning silicone compound as well.

[Zero Cool]

I have a can of naptha and ronsonal and simple green in my shop. I will give that a shot...

[Zero Cool]

I had a can of Flux Remover (aerosol alcohol) that all the pressure leaked out of that I was willing to cut open and dump into a small container. I soaked the transistors in the alcohol for a few minutes and used an old toothbrush and all the old silicon came right off. NICE! made quick n easy work of cleaning all those transistors off!

Thanks. I had no idea it was that easy to clean off! I will experiment with simple green and naptha on the next batch and see if one is better then the other but the alcohol worked great!



Zc

[Filby]

Eucalyptus oil, been using it for years...all natural, good for cleaning lots of things..try it.