What do I need to vacuum clean my laptop?

Shutset · October 7, 2023

I am using a Thinkpad and recently installed a Transcend 2242 M.2 SSD which I fitted with a new heatsink.

The heatsink itself is actually a 2282 NVMe one which I sawed in half to fit the 2242 SSD then I

plugged it inside, booted it and installed a new Linux distro. It was working fine.

However, after watching a Youtube video on copper shims, I'm suddenly worried if I hadn't

cleaned my sawed-off heatsink enough and there might be a little bit of copper dust inside my laptop.

What I plan to do is remove the SSD and heatsink to give it a good wash but I wonder if there is a mini vacuum cleaner

suited for laptops (i.e. having non-ESD bristles) or if there is another way to suck possible dust out without having to completely take apart my laptop.

Thanks.

BlueChinchillaEatingDorito · October 7, 2023

1 hour ago, Shutset said:

I am using a Thinkpad and recently installed a Transcend 2242 M.2 SSD which I fitted with a new heatsink.

The heatsink itself is actually a 2282 NVMe one which I sawed in half to fit the 2242 SSD then I

plugged it inside, booted it and installed a new Linux distro. It was working fine.

However, after watching a Youtube video on copper shims, I'm suddenly worried if I hadn't

cleaned my sawed-off heatsink enough and there might be a little bit of copper dust inside my laptop.

What I plan to do is remove the SSD and heatsink to give it a good wash but I wonder if there is a mini vacuum cleaner

suited for laptops (i.e. having non-ESD bristles) or if there is another way to suck possible dust out without having to completely take apart my laptop.

Thanks.

You don't need heatsinks for SSDs in laptops, especially not for a mundane drive like that Transcend one. Nor is it a good idea since laptop manufacturers don't use heatsinks for SSDs so they don't build in clearance in the chassis for one. So if the heatsink is touching the bottom cover, it could very well be bending your SSD and/or the mainboard.

As for the vacuuming part, the safest bet is to take the laptop apart and inspect for copper flakes if you're concerned. If you're going to do it, do it fully and not halfway.