How good is thermal epoxy?
 

Making a water cooling setup for a sidewinder for one of my boats. I had planned to use some al tube, cut out some of the fins on the sidewinder heatsink, and epoxy the tube to the heatsink. Looks like I can get 3-4 tube on there, I will either bend them to form a z like pattern or use some tubing to connect straight lengths. My main question is that will thermal epoxy work well enough to transfer the heat from the heatsink to the tubes. Since the tubes are found the epoxy will be 1/16" thick in some places. I am trying to work around removing the sidewinder heatsink, and looks are not really important.

I could also epoxy sides and a top to the exisiting heatsink fins, and just put a pair of fittings for input on output. That way water will be in direct contact with the heatsink.

Before you tell me that I should buy a boat esc, I have all kinds of car escs hanging around, so this is cheaper!

Honestly the stuff works great and almost feels like aheatsink in itself. I did the same thing on a cheap airplane ESC and the thermal epoxy worked great for not only water-proofing the esc, but also pulling heat from the ESC as well. It should work great in this application.

What did you use, and where did you find it? I had almost considered using jb weld, but I do not know if it conducts heat very well. I hate to buy this stuff in tiny syringes.. Larger quantities would be nice!

LOL I used 3M DP270. Its like $12 in those tiny syringes.... OSE has it. But you might be able to find a bulk deal somewheres else.

Also check out Artic Silver thermal epoxy, that is what I would use. You should be able to get it at newegg.

water whipped lithium grease for $12 a blenderfull