New uses for toothbrush (tool of the week?)

[studiot]

The photo shows a toothbrush balanced on a pot of thermal grease.

The head has been cut off (right), as has the tail to form a chisel shaped scraper (left) ideal for cleaning off old thermal compound without damage to components.

Since I said uses in the plural I will leave it up to imagination to devise other uses.

 

[NWPhotog]

Looks like a spudger not a cut down toothbrush.

 

[axem56]

That is actually used to peel citrus fruit.

 

[JosephLeo]

I just use a flat razor blade to take of thermal paste. That way I can see if there are any manufacturers defects in the heatsink itself and know where to apply just a touch extra thermal paste on again when it comes to re-application...well at least for processors with a built in heatspreader. The ones with an exposed die I take my time with a non-abrasive, lint free cloth and a toothpick.

 

[NWPhotog]

That is actually used to peel citrus fruit.

You're right. Similar to a spudger though!

 

[NYJimbo]

I have a set of dental tools and for applicators I use the various sizes of microbrush stuff

 

[Tweak]

What really works well and is pretty much always handy is

 

[JosephLeo]

What really works well and is pretty much always handy is

Any tool with a dual-use is precious and deserves a lot of attention and praise. If said tool can fit on my keychain then it deserves it's own category in the tool industry as a "Second only to Duct Tape Tool"

 

[Tweak]

Any tool with a dual-use is precious and deserves a lot of attention and praise. If said tool can fit on my keychain then it deserves it's own category in the tool industry as a "Second only to Duct Tape Tool"

Well there ya go, tim remover/beer opener (don't drink myself, so soda I guess) and you can brand it with your company name and logo as well which means an added use in advertising.

 

[JosephLeo]

Well there ya go, tim remover/beer opener (don't drink myself, so soda I guess) and you can brand it with your company name and logo as well which means an added use in advertising.

I feel a bottle opener with my branding on it will give the wrong image of my company. I'll attract the layed back person, but the conservative person, not-so-much.

I'm working on getting branded mousepads, usb drives, fridge magnets and pens. I can't think of much else though. The USB drives are insanely expensive though- after an entire day of searching through reputable sources I only found the cheapest to be $3 and change per unit for only 2GB of space

 

[Tweak]

I feel a bottle opener with my branding on it will give the wrong image of my company. I'll attract the layed back person, but the conservative person, not-so-much.

I'm working on getting branded mousepads, usb drives, fridge magnets and pens. I can't think of much else though. The USB drives are insanely expensive though- after an entire day of searching through reputable sources I only found the cheapest to be $3 and change per unit for only 2GB of space

Clients shouldn't really see you using this much anyways, I was really only joking about it from the start although it does work well, I actually use a 5.25" drive cover because it is plastic and does not leave scratches or cause any damage to the heat-sink surface, some of which are easily damaged. But you can use one or a harder squeegee of some sort without any issues with a client.

Besides the items mentioned you can also do key-rings (not bottle opener types), case badges, and pocket calendars or notepads even.

 

[atlanticjim]

I am surprised at so many of you using hard tools to remove thermal paste when you can liquify it and wipe it away. This stuff works like a charm.

 

[Rob]

I use acetone, no need to scrape - you can just wipe the goop off with a soft cloth.

 

[studiot]

I have seen acetone take the numbers off as well.

 

[NWPhotog]

I am surprised at so many of you using hard tools to remove thermal paste when you can liquify it and wipe it away. This stuff works like a charm.

Or an alcohol wipe perhaps?

 

[Rob]

I have seen acetone take the numbers off as well.

Off the CPU? Can't say I have, but then we don't use scrapers.

 

[Tweak]

Using alcohol is actually a bad idea unless it is denatured alcohol, basically the overpriced ArctiClean mentioned above...but using regular alcohol leaves behind residue although you won't or should see it, using the denatured solves the problem and is also useful, but as mentioned above some type of plastic is ideal and when wide enough does a quick job of it. Eventually you run out of the solution and forget to replenish, either way works really, just buying ArctiClean is such a waste for the amount in comparison to the alternative which is every bit as good.

 

[Comtech Solutions]

How about isopropyl 99% and a q-tip?

 

[NWPhotog]

How about isopropyl 99% and a q-tip?

Exactly. Been doing it for years with out issue. If you look at the wipes that come with some MBs they are Isopropyl Alcohol. I never imagined any one would use anything else.

 

[Tweak]

I am not saying you cannot use or that it is going to be a notable problem to use alcohol, what I am saying is doing so leaves behind a film whereas using the alternative does not, it isn't enough to matter to most but I am so very picky about some things I just wished to make this known for those that were not aware. I cannot recall where this information came from (too LONG ago) to provide a link but I feel it was then and is now true and using the highest % of pure alcohol is ideal, so 99% should be a good choice as well. Considering it is on a microscopic level we're talking I doubt it matters enough to worry though in the end so use whatever ya got....