Clean your waterblock!

bigben2k · 12-12-2002, 04:19 PM

As featured on OC here

I'm bookmarking this, so if you're a noob, bookmark it too, 'cause now everyone knows!

In short, to clean a copper block, you can use ketchup, vinegar, salt, flour, toothpaste, ...

Personally, I don't think this is very thought out: We don't want acids to clean the inside of a waterblock, because it may cause pits in the copper, which would trap water, and lower the efficiency. However...

If we load up a rig with water, keep the pump running, THEN add the acid, it might change the pitting into scarring, which would be favorable to cooling (at a very small scale, but it's there).

The question then would be: how do you dump the acid without stopping the pump? We could neutralize the acid with baking soda. (now if you were a tinkerer as a kid, like me, you know what happens when vinegar is mixed with baking soda: it foams up!).

This is going to require more thought.

lukasz70 · 12-12-2002, 11:37 PM

all you need is COKE!!!

i' claned my block a few days ago using coca cola, dipped it in for a few minutes and it came out like new. as for the inside, u guess you would need to disconnect the hoses, and take the block off.

msv · 12-13-2002, 12:54 AM

I had to check this one in a dictionary: Rhubarb.
Again, like ketchup or lemons, it works with natural acids, and removes oxide from copper like magic.
Of course, it´s even easier to just leave the block in a bowl of Coke and rinse it afterwards, rhubarb takes a bit of elbow grease.
regards
Mikael S.

bigben2k · 12-13-2002, 12:34 PM

Maybe I wasn't clear enough...

If we let the acid sit still, this may happen (see pic).

If however the pump is running, then the acid should make long streaks (good), instead of pits (bad).

MadDogMe · 12-14-2002, 05:44 AM

It's such a small thing I doubt it'd make any measurable difference, would'nt it be better to have a non tarnished(pitted) surface than a tarnish(non pitted) surface performance wise?, I know a non tarnished non pitted one would be better but to what degree?, how much work for how much(little?) gain?...

The amount of water it would 'trap' is tiny no?, and would'nt the added surface area cancell any negatives out?...

bigben2k · 12-16-2002, 10:13 AM

I dunno... I'll have to test it sometime.

Brad · 12-17-2002, 02:01 AM

doesn't HNO3 have no reaction with copper? or is there another acid I'm thinking about?

something to do with copper being such a nonreactive metal, and HNO3 not chemically being able to do it

MadDogMe · 12-17-2002, 03:27 AM

It needs to react to clean it no?...

mrmoustache · 12-17-2002, 05:12 AM

it needs to react with whatever you're cleaning off of it to clean whatever you're cleaning off of it.

12-12-2002, 04:19 PM	#1
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	Clean your waterblock! As featured on OC here I'm bookmarking this, so if you're a noob, bookmark it too, 'cause now everyone knows! In short, to clean a copper block, you can use ketchup, vinegar, salt, flour, toothpaste, ... Personally, I don't think this is very thought out: We don't want acids to clean the inside of a waterblock, because it may cause pits in the copper, which would trap water, and lower the efficiency. However... If we load up a rig with water, keep the pump running, THEN add the acid, it might change the pitting into scarring, which would be favorable to cooling (at a very small scale, but it's there). The question then would be: how do you dump the acid without stopping the pump? We could neutralize the acid with baking soda. (now if you were a tinkerer as a kid, like me, you know what happens when vinegar is mixed with baking soda: it foams up!). This is going to require more thought. __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

12-12-2002, 11:37 PM	#2
lukasz70 Cooling Savant Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ontario. Canada Posts: 159	all you need is COKE!!! i' claned my block a few days ago using coca cola, dipped it in for a few minutes and it came out like new. as for the inside, u guess you would need to disconnect the hoses, and take the block off. __________________ Asus A7V266, AMD1600xp 1x 256ddr 2100 Crucial radeon 8500 64mb, Ati TV-Wonder PCI Maxtor Diamond Max Plus 9 7200rpm ata133 & 60 MAXTOR ata100@5400rpm 6xdvd, TDK dvd+RW SoundBlaster 5.1 w/ logitech Xtrusio DSR100 speakers Case: Enlight 7237

12-13-2002, 12:54 AM	#3
msv Cooling Savant Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 336	Natures way to clean copper I had to check this one in a dictionary: Rhubarb. Again, like ketchup or lemons, it works with natural acids, and removes oxide from copper like magic. Of course, it´s even easier to just leave the block in a bowl of Coke and rinse it afterwards, rhubarb takes a bit of elbow grease. regards Mikael S.

12-16-2002, 10:13 AM	#6
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	I dunno... I'll have to test it sometime. __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

12-17-2002, 02:01 AM	#7
Brad Thermophile Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Nuu Zeeelin Posts: 3,175	doesn't HNO3 have no reaction with copper? or is there another acid I'm thinking about? something to do with copper being such a nonreactive metal, and HNO3 not chemically being able to do it __________________ 2x P3 1100's at 1400, Abit VP6, 2x Corsair 256mb PC150 sticks, 20gb 'cuda ATA-III, 2x 40gb 'cuda ATA-IV in raid 0. 20" Trinitron. No fans 2x 2400+ at 2288mhz (16.0 x 143), Iwill MPX2, 2x Kingmax PC-3200 256mb sticks, 4x 20gb 60gxp in Raid 5 on a Promise SX6000. Asus Ti4200 320/630. Cooled by Water

12-14-2002, 05:44 AM	#5
MadDogMe Thermophile Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Just shut up ;) ... Posts: 1,068	It's such a small thing I doubt it'd make any measurable difference, would'nt it be better to have a non tarnished(pitted) surface than a tarnish(non pitted) surface performance wise?, I know a non tarnished non pitted one would be better but to what degree?, how much work for how much(little?) gain?... The amount of water it would 'trap' is tiny no?, and would'nt the added surface area cancell any negatives out?...

12-17-2002, 03:27 AM	#8
MadDogMe Thermophile Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Just shut up ;) ... Posts: 1,068	It needs to react to clean it no?...

12-17-2002, 05:12 AM	#9
mrmoustache Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: columbus, ohio Posts: 44	it needs to react with whatever you're cleaning off of it to clean whatever you're cleaning off of it.

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