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PostPosted: Mon May 11, 2026 9:52 pm 

Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2026 12:29 pm
Posts: 17
Hey all,

My most recent score of boards has heat sinks glued/pasted directly on the largest main chip on the board.

I attempted to do my normal twist and pop method with vicegrips; well it pulled the chip off too!

2nd method was to use a hammer and small screwdriver. This method worked on the additional 3 I processed.


Does anyone have any more efficient methods? I feel dumb for asking these questions. And now I have a “downgraded” board that was not supposed to be “downgraded” as all I was trying to do was clean the heatsink off.

I guess this is the only way I learn but messing up.

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PostPosted: Tue May 12, 2026 9:14 am 

Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2021 7:46 am
Posts: 26
I use some heat, lp torch works great just don't go crazy with the heat.


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PostPosted: Tue May 12, 2026 9:36 am 

Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2026 12:29 pm
Posts: 17
Thank you! I believe I have a heat gun but I do not own a torch. I will see if I can order one on Amazon. Do you recall where you bought yours @lubin?

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PostPosted: Tue May 12, 2026 10:10 am 

Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2014 9:44 pm
Posts: 2160
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Try the heat gun first. If it sounds/feels/looks like the chip is coming up after heating with the gun, try being a little more aggressive with it and try again before going with a torch.

You can get the little blue or yellow tanks from Walmart or your choice of hardware store. I think my current torch head was a gift, probably from Amazon

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PostPosted: Tue May 12, 2026 11:11 am 
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Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2023 8:30 pm
Posts: 439
Location: Ohio
IMO you have 3 real options.
1, risk it and pop it off hoping you don't pull the chip off the board. I find twisting works best for the white stay puffed marshmallow man looking glue. you know the mushy kind.
2, use heat to loosen the glue. this is the best way to go.
3, freeze the board to make the glue brittle. this works best for the older type of glue used on 3dfx cards, the kind that is like a rock. I almost never seen it used elsewhere but its worth a try if heat does not work.


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PostPosted: Tue May 12, 2026 11:12 am 
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Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2015 6:57 pm
Posts: 10367
Location: Low DOS
I use a robogrip wrench and it takes care of 99% eg your vice grips.

I’ve done the same with a hammer and screwdriver.

Before resorting to heat I suggest torque.
Get one of those dirt cheap replaceable blade paint scrapers. The ones with a screw in the middle of the blade.
Remove the scree, recycle the scraper and blade.
The thick backing bracket fits into most chip sized sinks and allows you to use a wrench or hammer to torque the sink off.

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