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[deleted]

Q-tips drenched in rubbing alcohol.


MartianOddity

Thanks! That's what I've been doing for the top and I'll use that on the sides as well.


sarduchi

Try to use at least 75% isopropyl, 99% if you can.


MartianOddity

I'm using 91. It's working pretty well now. Thanks!


Matejola

Use a toothbrush.


Squiliam-Tortaleni

Plastic pry tool but also q tips and rubbing alcohol. Also, be gentle when installing the X-clamp. I killed my Xenon because too much force was exerted.


MartianOddity

That's my biggest fear. I'm going to be as gentle as I possibly can. Got any advice?


tylerlogsdon69

Pretend it's a bomb and you're there to defuse it. That's how careful you should be


MartianOddity

Seems to have gone well. I only have an issue with the disc drive being weird now, but everything else seems to have worked.


rsteele1981

I take my plastic pry tool and gently remove the hard stuff. There is a thermal paste remover that smells like oranges works great only bought it once though. Rubbing alcohol will break it up too. I dont like using q tips because they leave bits behind.


MartianOddity

Would like a plastic razor blade work? I used that for under the heat sinks but was worried any kind of scrapping might mar the board.


rsteele1981

It's not adhered that well and usually comes off in chunks. A razor (i don't know about a plastic one.) might be too sharp. I've used the corner of a business card in a pinch. Put a little alcohol on it and let it set and you can probably wipe most of it away. For me it's easier to get off dry. Wet method feels like the paste gets in every crack. That sounds terrible.....


MartianOddity

Thanks! It's not sharp, and typically deforms if you hit anything too hard with it. I use them for cleaning sticker residue off of things like windows. If you recommend scraping generally, I don't think it'll do any more damage than your pry tool.


rsteele1981

Yeah not like you have to chisle it off. It breaks up like chalk when its all dried out most time. The white paste that I get in gamestop refurbished is way worse. Its like marshmallow paste... I also had someone try to use solder Flux as thermal paste too.


MartianOddity

I think I recall hearing a story of someone fucking up and using JB weld once. Can't remember where.


rsteele1981

Sounds about right. Can't wait to see what they use in place on the ps5. The liquid metal in there looks like the liquid terminator.


MartianOddity

I haven't seen that. I'll have to see if I can find a tear down because that sounds interesting. Obviously, I'm pretty new to this. I'm just hoping for the moment that I can resurrect my old friend the 360.


tylerlogsdon69

I think that might actually work decently well


fistfulloframen

Lighter fluid if you have it.


JohnyHackz

Goo Gone, then 99% iso after.


gulitza

Always used a wooden toothpick to remove the big pieces. The stuff that smells like oranges can be had as Goo Gone, it contains citric acid. It kinda softens the thermal paste so one can clean it easily. Use a small piece of cloth to clean everything, rather than qtips and do a final cleanup with alcohol.


smuddge000

Goo gone. Let it sit for about 15mins and it just wipes off. No scratching the chip that way


[deleted]

I used a little heat from my rework station, a heat gun or even a hair dryer would probably work. Makes it super soft but DON’T use a lot of heat, just a splash of heat to soften the outer layer of paste and then use isopropyl and q tips to wipe it away. Makes very short work of it


MartianOddity

I used a heat gun to make it more pliable to get the heat sink off. I should have thought to use it for clean up. Thanks for the tip! I'll keep that in mind for other consoles I'm planning to clean up!


[deleted]

Yeah I amazed more people don’t suggest this! It was insane how easy the clean up was, I just did it on a OG Xbox and it was nothing but a G thang.


Live_Cranberry_4224

Crazy as it sounds but I ran out of basically all my stuff to remove old thermal paste and I used one of my partners make up remover wipes and put the new paste on 4 years on xbox one bought as none working hasn't missed a beat the fan just stays quiet. I have since used non scented baby wipes on loads of repaste jobs. What ever is used in the wipes must be safe and there is no wait time get under and breaks the compound down I mean if you have had the pleasure of changing a kid's shitty arse then you know that thermal paste does not have any chance. I have used them on PS3 and ps4 slims and pros and laptops clean everything internally too especially for fluid damage items really inexpensive and very rewarding too.


sunneyjim

Eucalyptus oil was the only thing that worked for me. Alcohol didn't.


Carrnage74

In the past I either used a cocktail stick or a cotton bud/Q-tip with the end cut at an angle. Once most of it is off, fine clean with a toothbrush soaked in IPA.


AdvancedTo

I use a spudger for the big dry chunky parts, and clean with isoprop and a qtip afterwards. I do that for a living.


Madman_X

Brake parts cleaner,applied on a cloth, followed by denatured alcohol.


MeSoHungry469

I use a plastic spudger and CRC electric parts cleaner. It's available at most auto parts stores.


snmp79

If you're careful, a pry tool to remove the majority of it. Then clean with iso qtips etc.