How to remove the metal around a pinless CPU socket?

You might try using what is called a sand bath, it is a method used to de-solder components on a motherboard.

Get a pan, fill it with play sand, lay the board on top and the pan on a heating source. Do this in a well ventilated area as the solder contains mercury, and mercury vapor is poisonous.

You can also try etching solutions like feric chloride, or copper chloride which will also dissolve the solder, but will also create a metal solution that is considered hazardous waste.



In both cases, the painless CPU will come free, if it is solder holding it to the motherboard, if it is glue, the sand bath will heat the glue so it will come free, or you can also use sodium hydroxide, or lye. Lye will eat the organic material, the glue, and the CPU will then come free. But be very carefully using this process as well, as lye is extremely caustic, and can physically harm you if it comes into direct contact with your skin.

As always, use all safety precautions when dealing with etching solutions or lye. Gloves, face guard, a well ventilated area, etc would be appropriate.

Scott