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Removing cigarette tar

E

Eiolon

Gawd
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
928
My parents are smokers and being the IT guy in the family I have privilege of fixing their PC problems. I open their case to find the fans and heatsink caked in tar. There is some forming over the motherboard. The fans I can replace but I was wondering if there was anything I can use to remove it from the motherboard?

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No offense to your fam, but I refuse to work on stuff that has been deliberately damaged. I'd tell them they need to buy a new one or find someone else to work on their nasty shit.
 
try spraying a vinegar + water solution on it and let it sit for 5mins, then spray it down with an air compressor. a lot. and let it dry for a few hours near a heater.
 
q-tips and rubbing alcohol. bathroom cleaner for the case.
 
I hope they are paying you triple the snicker-doodles to do this job. ;)
 
My dad helps me out with car repairs. He's saved me thousands over the years in labor. I told them they aren't not doing their computer any favors and they understand. So I'm just going to replace their fans and clean as much up as I can.
 
Good boy Eiolon.

Try the last few things, they should do the trick. If that doesn't work, there is always the dishwasher... :p

Hope it works. Let us know.
 
What the hell is wrong with you guys?

They are his pearents and he MUST help them in anything !

Now about thread, try distilled water and then dry out with fan or something
 
Warrior said:
Good boy Eiolon.

Try the last few things, they should do the trick. If that doesn't work, there is always the dishwasher... :p

Hope it works. Let us know.
Click to expand...


Ive run motherboards through the dishwasher...they do come out looking brand new....

Ive done 3 so far and each one is still running today...:)
 
Yup yup. I was actually serious too, with a joking attitude. I've heard it works great. I dont see why it wouldn't... Just make sure it's dry....
 
Use a vinegar based cleaning solution, as already mentioned.
This will dissolve the tar.
Use earbuds or similar to clean awkward places.
 
Crosshairs said:
Ive run motherboards through the dishwasher...they do come out looking brand new....

Ive done 3 so far and each one is still running today...:)
Click to expand...

This.

Only I've only done it to one motherboard. Same situation as the OP only it was my cousin's PC.
 
I have extremely hard water where I live. I think anything more than one run through a dishwasher would produce a lot of unwanted mineral deposits. Especially on the cpu pins.
 
Yeah I didn't think about that. I wouldn't do it here because I think the water is hard here. Judging by the fact that soap doesn't really "suds" when I am taking a shower. AFAIK, that's caused from hard water. Back home though, water was much softer.
 
Isopropyl alcohol should work but don't breathe the fumes and wear gloves,. use a q-tip to apply it to the board it should remove the gunk or maybe somebody can suggest something better.

wouldn't putting it in a dishwasher cause the motherboard to delaminate?
 
dangerouseddy said:
Isopropyl alcohol should work but don't breathe the fumes and wear gloves,. use a q-tip to apply it to the board it should remove the gunk or maybe somebody can suggest something better.

wouldn't putting it in a dishwasher cause the motherboard to delaminate?
Click to expand...
I'd worry much, much more about metal contacts corroding, such as those in the CPU socket.

I wouldn't wipe the board because I've heard of people tearing off tiny surface mount parts. I'd hold the motherboard vertical or at an angle and spray it with alcohol. Have a white paper towel catch the drips, and when the drips become clear, the tar is probably gone.
 
Get some contact cleaner, a tooth brush and some coffee filters. A little elbow grease and it will come off pretty good.
 
I once had a motherboard that had coffee spilled all over it.

I put 70% isopropyl in it and spray it down till it ran clean.

I let it dry out for a day, and then put a system together with it.

It worked just fine.

As for that cigarette tar, I would think that isopropyl sprayed on it should free it up.

I probably wouldn't trust that power supply. It probably has all kinds of crap inside it.
 
I need to quit smoking. I only smoke about 5 a day, but man do I love those 5 cigs.
 
Get a couple cans of CRC Contact Cleaner and some of their spray Iso Alc.. It's fast drying and safe for plastic. I've used it to clean expensive tar gunked audio gear with great success. I assume your taking the PC apart, you can hang up all the parts you want to clean, spray them clean, follow with the Iso then air.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/21489084?...33582510&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=19880599990&veh=sem

http://www.zorotools.com/g/00053425/k-G3347687?utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google_Shopping_Feed&kw={keyword}&gclid=CIHKl6rsnLwCFa1lOgodCmcAPQ
 
Nothing, never, new pc parts

Hmmmmm MAYBE simple green and soak the whole mobo in it and leave it
 
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