The shred pile isn't really about the steel at all

**Mechanic688** · 02-10-2014, 12:49 AM

Originally Posted by taterjuice

So what do you do with the magnetron ? Pics would be make this thread much better. What exactly makes the magnetron hazardous.

watch out for that beryllium. It's either white or pink.

Megatron Health Hazard (Wikipedia)
====================
Some magnetrons have beryllium oxide (beryllia) ceramic insulators, which are dangerous if crushed and inhaled, or otherwise ingested. Single or chronic exposure can lead to berylliosis, an incurable lung condition. In addition, beryllia is listed as a confirmed human carcinogen by the IARC; therefore, broken ceramic insulators or magnetrons should not be directly handled.

You can also search for "Berrylium Oxide Hazzards" on Youtube for an eye opening overview about how toxic it really is.

Full article at Scrap Metal Forum: http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/disma...#ixzz2stZwBaDA Very nice writeup by
eesakiwi in there also.

**doyousmellit** · 02-10-2014, 09:19 AM

I throw everything but the magnetron, transformer, wires by or in my dumpster. I tried taking a shell to another less uptight yard here and they said the same thing. It apparently sets off the "radiation detector" at the refinery. Hmmmm... either these folks cantgetright or I'm missing something. As for that b word stuff, I can understand that being it kindof like removing a mercury switch but they won't take any part of a microwave if they see it they put it back in the truck.

**MetalEarthRecycling** · 02-10-2014, 10:43 AM

OP "so when you get $0.08/lb for white goods, they yard is getting the full value off of all the metals even the copper and stainless"

There is only 2 yards in my town that have a shredder, so this isnt true for every yard. Most of the yards buy it and dont break down white goods, but resale them to the bigger yards with the shredder. So they only make a few cents more per pound. I see yards here breaking down some higher paying items, but most dont even waste the time breaking down white goods.

Magnetrons can be sold for electric motor grade price at my yard, but yours may be different and not even except them.

**Ran440** · 02-10-2014, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by taterjuice

So what do you do with the magnetron ? Pics would be make this thread much better. What exactly makes the magnetron hazardous.

Do not disturb the pink and purple stuff on the ends. It's fine until you hit it with a hammer and create dust. It busts up like ceramic.

BTW I only scrap out half of the microwaves I get. The other half get repaired and sold from $25 to $35.
I save all glass trays, turn table motors, micro switches and magnetrons for the repairs.

**ScrapYardBob** · 02-22-2014, 08:33 PM

Small scrap yards with no shredder also known as feeder yards usually will buy microwaves. Yards with shredders usually do not buy microwaves because the steel mills will reject loads of shreds that contain too many microwave parts due to setting off their radiation detectors. Our yard has a super shredder and an eddy current we sell directly to the steel mill and do not buy microwaves at all but will buy the outside shell if broken down.