Legit Reviews

What is involved in lapping a heatsink and how much help is it normally?

It can help alot. I lapped my Zalman and the CPU and got about 7C out of it. I think it was more the CPU than the heatsink though (it was really uneven.).
There are some professional lapping kits that have all the sandpaper and a sheet of glass for a sanding surface..
You can probably tell the heat sinks that need lapping. some you can drag a finger nail across and feel grooves and scratches.. some you can't really see or feel, it is just that they are uneven.

The finger nail drag test is a good for checking smoothness, use a machinest rule to check for flatness............ :D Even some of the best HSF aren't all that smooth or flat. I lapped my Thermalright and then polished it and got a few degrees C more out of it. I also lapped my VGA silencer when I first got it, couldn't tell how much better it made it cause I lapped it before the first install...............

yeah, it really wouldn't hurt anything to spend the $8 and get a professional lapping kit. Most anything this side of Polar-Flo waterblocks are sanded to a 600 grit finish. the lapping kits I have used and which are easy to get go up to 15 micron paper.
I used a sharpie and 99% rubbing alcohol, drew an "X" on the heatsink, and worked it every which way...

I normally go up to 2000 wet/dry paper, then use a fine metal polish after to get that super shine on it. Clean with 99% rubbing alcohol...........

I normally lap all my heat sinks.......... Except my new water blocks for my external project........ Polarflo anyone............... :twisted:

send those sinks over... I'll use them!

Yeah....Polar-flo. Tried to get a sample of their universal CPU block for a review. They were going to "let me" review them for $75 (but hey, they were going to pick up the shipping). I have heard they are the best blocks around, and I will end up just buying a set anyway. My next review will probably cover a few different radiators, their affects on prssure, as well as overall performance.

Where can I find the lapping kit?

Just do a google search............. Almost any of the better online shops carry them these days.................. :D Cheaper just to go the your local auto parts store and get the sand paper there.............. And just don't forget to get a scrap piece of glass somewhere...............

capper5016 wrote:Yeah....Polar-flo. Tried to get a sample of their universal CPU block for a review. They were going to "let me" review them for $75 (but hey, they were going to pick up the shipping). I have heard they are the best blocks around, and I will end up just buying a set anyway. My next review will probably cover a few different radiators, their affects on prssure, as well as overall performance.

I got lucky with my Polarflo blocks, I picked up a sponsor for my modding projects and they supplied the blocks. I was very very surprised and pleased to say the least...............

Bio i would stay away from rubbing alch and get some denatured from wallgreens or something like that, unless your getting 99% alch. Anything less leaves a film on your heat sink.

And just don't forget to get a scrap piece of glass somewhere

call me a newb... but what is this for??? a flat surface to sand on?

Yeah nooooob!!!! Alot of the new lapping kits come with a square of glass for a ultra flat sanding surface. I see where some people recommend to wet the sandpaper with the alcohol, then it sticks to the glass and makes sanding easier

I'm not a newb... whenever I want something lapped I send it to my buddies in Cali who have a machine that do just that...

hehe

Some of are just lucky I guess............... I know a few people with machine shops............and they always want lots of money to do stuff like lapping............. So I do it myself when it needs to be done.

I always use a drop of dish washing soap to keep things lubed....... That's what the pro auto body painters use........or so my brother tells me anyway............But it does keep the fine metal particals off the paper..............works for me anyway................ :D

I always use a drop of dish washing soap to keep things lubed.......

Someone insert "Mind-in-gutter" joke for that comment

LOL....I pretty much figured that was coming............ Hand cream works better on your hands to keep them from chapping while you're lapping your heat sink............

Thanks guys.