cleaning copper

[pete]

looking for a good cleaner to clean inside my alphacool cpu and n-bridge blocks as they are tarnished inside. been using fluid xp for a year now,anybody have same prob or is this normal build-up

 

[llwyd]

take the block apart and leave the copper base covered in some tomato sauce for a few hours

 

[NoL]

As soon as you remove it though you need to wash it and be quick about it. Otherwise itll retarnish quickly.

 

[nathan]

lick the sauce off!

 

[pete]

will try,been on the hunt for brasso-bit extreme.will tomato sauce will give a go. i pass on licking it off though

 

[markkleb]

I heard vinegar is good too.

 

[JN]

I heard vinegar is good too.

I left my block overnight in vinegar and it turned the block green. Looked awful

 

[llwyd]

I left my block overnight in vinegar and it turned the block green. Looked awful

i think that happens in warmth, the acetic acid evaporates first, leaving the ions it has dissolved reform onto the metal, not too sure on that though :/

 

[markkleb]

I dont think ur supposed to leave it for a long time, I think you use it with a brush than rinse.

 

[NickS]

take the block apart and leave the copper base covered in some tomato sauce for a few hours

Tried it. Forget it. Use white vinegar, make sure the copper is submerged. MUCH better. Easier to clean too, just rinse.

 

[llwyd]

Tried it. Forget it. Use white vinegar, make sure the copper is submerged. MUCH better. Easier to clean too, just rinse.

was it HP tomato sauce or an american one?

 

[NoL]

Personally I clean by putting it in a pot of boiling water, when it comes out, flash to vinegar, dunk, remove, back to boiling water, then dry off.

 

[pete]

thanks for the t-sauce-worked fine.left overnight-rinsed-rebuild blocks.apparently cola wotks as well

 

[llwyd]

yea coke is pretty brutal though, i left a tooth that had fallen out in some coke over night and it came out about 20% smaller and luminous white lol. plus i can see it leaving sugar behind even after rinsing. glad it worked out

 

[markkleb]

Cool post, now I have another use for tomato sauce..

 

[MrToad]

White vinegar all the way ^^.

If you are feeling posh, then ultrasound cleaner :yumyum:

 

[pete]

had a look at the ultrasound, ur right very posh,could not justify the cost though,perhaps a sideline in cleaning blocks?

 

[Allsorts]

I left my block overnight in vinegar and it turned the block green. Looked awful

Sounds as if the block was left a bit too long in the vinegar. Vinegar (acetic acid is the active ingredient) might be great at dissolving the surface impurities causing the tarnish but it will also react with the copper!

acetic acid + copper ---> copper acetate (green coloured)

I just quickly clean with vinegar using a toothbrush then rinse a few times with deionised water. Oh, and if you're a perfectionist use 'distilled vinegar' or 'non brewed condiment' (the only ingredients on the label should be water & acetic acid) that way your not reintroducing contaminents. And keep the tomato sauce for your burgers & hotdogs :yumyum:

 

[Ham]

Ive used brasso on mine. Worked like a charm. Just needs to be cleaned out with distilied water after.