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    Is there any way to fix bent/dented heatpipes?

    Discussion in 'Notebook Cosmetic Modifications and Custom Builds' started by niffcreature, Feb 14, 2011.

  1. niffcreature

    niffcreature ex computer dyke

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    If you've ever tried to do certain things messing with heatsinks, I'm sure you've had the experience of bending a heatpipe too much so it basically 'kinks'. Its pretty impossible to get the heatpipe back in working condition once this happens.

    Does anyone know a way to effectively work out a dent/kink in a copper heatpipe?
     
    niffcreature, Feb 14, 2011
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  2. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Heat it up a lot :p

    When I was taking my heatsink apart I had my heatgun set to 600C to make sure the solder melted. Anyway I notice all of the dents and kinks I put into the heatpipe(from another mod attempt) just poped out. The whole heatpipe got "fat". I was getting worried that it would burst.
     
    moral hazard, Feb 14, 2011
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  3. Thisisalamp

    Thisisalamp Notebook Deity

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    Well, you could hammer it with the precision tack hammer (small hammers). I use that hammer a lot with heatsinks for PSUs for my University; light and has a small surface area for small dents.
     
    Thisisalamp, Feb 18, 2011
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  4. RainMotorsports

    RainMotorsports Formerly ClutchX2

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    My question would be I thought the heatpipes were hollow and vacuum sealed. If you were to get a crack in it would it not transfer heat less efficiently?
     
    RainMotorsports, Feb 18, 2011
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  5. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Yes that is right. Cracks, kinks, bends and dents ruin the heatsink and it doesn't do it's job after that. I've dented a spare heatsink from my notebook really well, after that it was pretty useless.
     
    moral hazard, Feb 18, 2011
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  6. kuksul08

    kuksul08 Notebook Consultant

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    I had one fail without any visual damage at all. The heatsink would be blazingly hot, fan running full blast, blowing out cold air. They are quite delicate.
     
    kuksul08, Jul 31, 2011
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  7. niffcreature

    niffcreature ex computer dyke

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    Well I'm sure some of them are.

    You all forget how many more variables they are with the manufacturing of something like a sealed copper pipe.
    I think for the most part they aren't easy to mess up, I've definitely used some badly kinked ones which worked almost as good as they used to after I unkinked them.
     
    niffcreature, Aug 3, 2011
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