How To Scrap A Microwave Safely

There IS radioactivity in a microwave oven.....!

From what I read its Thorium, the same stuff thats in gas lantern mantles, so its not going to make you glow in the dark..

But its enough to set off the sensors at the scrapper if they can pick the radioactivity up
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Theres also Gold in some magnatrons, it helps make the emmiting end part more conductive and efficent.

Either way, its not enough to worry about. The ceramic beryllium part is though.

I get the relay from the board, on some boards theres a sub board that runs the LCD clock, they are sometimes gold plated .
Also the platter motors got copper in there.

What is Microwave Radiation? (with pictures)

Hehe....
Radioactive Materials Are Used In Our Daily Lives - Nu Energy

Thorium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/scrap...rowaves-2.html

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Originally Posted by ScrapmetalMania

Got to say I didn't get far in video due to that god awful music.... may just be me tho

M

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Its called volume control.

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Originally Posted by sledge

Nope.. Not 1! I won't touch the darn things.. I even have one yard that when you run across the scale they have nuke sensors. I was never certain if a microwave or two would set it off.. but since it is a 35 mile drive and it would be tossed into a vehicle if I am going there- would never want to even take the risk.

Some things out there I just have the philosophy of "It just ain't worth it" to me. Could be my own ignorance.. but I'm cool with not messing with microwaves!

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I man ouaght to do what he thinks is best.: John Wayne

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Originally Posted by sledge

Nope.. Not 1! I won't touch the darn things.. I even have one yard that when you run across the scale they have nuke sensors. I was never certain if a microwave or two would set it off.. but since it is a 35 mile drive and it would be tossed into a vehicle if I am going there- would never want to even take the risk.

Some things out there I just have the philosophy of "It just ain't worth it" to me. Could be my own ignorance.. but I'm cool with not messing with microwaves!

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Those are easy money for the time. All the motors and big transformer, circuit board, wires. I save the magnetrons till I have a few built up then break them all down at once.

i have had dozens in loads broken down to basic metals and never set the radiation sensors off. you dont need to worry there.

the berylium in them is a valid concern. but as stated prior, use your head and dont break and breath it. rubber gloves and a cheap mask if your paranoid. just washing your hands after handling can go a long way too.

the other concern not mentioned is mercury switches. while rare in mirowaves can be present. these again use rubber gloves and dont break them and your fine.

you get wire (usually copper but can be aluminum in high voltage locations) some sheet aluminum, a couple small pieces of copper, brass, a transformer ( check for aluminum windings...) a fan or two, electric motor or two... a low grade board or two and mostly shred.

broken down this far you will not have issues. many yards do not want the magnatron due to berylium. otherwise its all good money.

many people break the magnatrons down and toss them berylium and all in shred. i cant say i agree with this approach since most of that is shredded or melted releasing the toxic materials down stream to some poor worker that probably doesnt even know its there much less the risk.

mine go in a bucket and to hazardous waste disposal transfer station. not best solution but at least they are not killing someone or making someone down stream sick. have not found better solution yet so it works for now. i also make sure they are aware of exactly what is in the load when it goes for disposal. clears my concious a bit about having to dispose of it this way.

Don't ever scrap a microwave, it will melt down like a Chernobyl reactor.
I don't even know why they sell them things!

I don't do anything with the magnatrons but I break down everything else. Its a bummer that they're going more and more with Al windings in the transformers. Then again, half of the transformers seem to be those ones that don't break nicely at the seem line so all the Al windings should go to that pattern and just throw the whole thing in as Al breakage or shred (whatever one is higher in price).

Because I carry light steel in with a car, I enjoy beating the square frame down flat with the backside of my ax out in the backyard. I'm sure the neighbors get a laugh out of that but its a nice stress reliever to take some frustrations out from work :))

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Originally Posted by DakotaRog

I don't do anything with the magnatrons but I break down everything else. Its a bummer that they're going more and more with Al windings in the transformers. Then again, half of the transformers seem to be those ones that don't break nicely at the seem line so all the Al windings should go to that pattern and just throw the whole thing in as Al breakage or shred (whatever one is higher in price).

Because I carry light steel in with a car, I enjoy beating the square frame down flat with the backside of my ax out in the backyard. I'm sure the neighbors get a laugh out of that but its a nice stress reliever to take some frustrations out from work :))

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Are you checking both sets of windings? A lot of the time one will be Al and one copper.

Yeah, I've had those as well. Maybe I'm confused with double Al windings out of a single transformer :&

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many people break the magnatrons down and toss them beryllium and all in shred. i cant say i agree with this approach since most of that is shredded or melted releasing the toxic materials down stream to some poor worker that probably doesn't even know its there much less the risk.

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I split the magnatrons at the seam, remove the "tool" magnets and heavy copper wire and the beryllium goes to my county's hazardous waste recycling center, wrapped up and marked, of course.

Nice guide. I like this video.

Ya know, if you're feeling testy, could always mcguiver one into a DIY welder - I was gonna build one but wanted McDonalds more.

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Originally Posted by DakotaRog

Yeah, I've had those as well. Maybe I'm confused with double Al windings out of a single transformer :&

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It seems later model and 'grilling action' microwaves have Ali transformers.
Later model because its cheaper than Copper.
And 'grilling action' microwaves because they probably (?) can't use the higher wattages because using the griller & microwave at the same time will pull more power out of the wall socket than they are allowed too. (So they downwattage the microwave to less than 1/2 the socket out put (?))

And Invertor microwaves.... have a total of 100gms Copper... ugh!

ohh man microwaves are actually my favorite things to scrap, followed by projector tv's. I dont know about this capacitor danger though, I think it is a bit over stated. I am not a full time scrapper, in fact its more of a hobby I do with my free time. But I have done at least 50 microwaves, and after ten I just said F--- it I dont bother with that capacitor discharge, same thing with tv's. Nothing happens. Living in Florida though I get a lot of these things after they have already been rained on, so the elements have probably done it for me.

I always enjoy the magnets from the magnatron, but had no idea it had berlyium in it. I just throw it in with the rest of the ferrous metals. Back when I had an F-250, I lined the entire back part between the door and the bed with these magnatron magnets so no loose screws or nails would fall out into the streets. Works quite well, in fact you be surprised how much is actually falling out when you see how many screws they catch. But then again the truck was always my workshop as well since I have always lived in apartments after I moved out of the parents.

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I am not a full time scrapper, in fact its more of a hobby I do with my free time. But I have done at least 50 microwaves, and after ten I just said F--- it I dont bother with that capacitor discharge, same thing with tv's. Nothing happens.

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Compliments of TheHoss,, He's giving a warning.

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Well, this saturday i acquired another TV from a buddy down the street. I've torn apart many, probably, 85-90 TV's, so i'm used to it.

Before i got it, he plugged it in at his house to see if it worked. Of course, he didnt tell me this...

I tore off the back, got to snippin' wires. I had it on my tailgate. I reached across to snip a wire, and my arm brushed the skinny tube top. I felt just a small "burning" on my arm, looked down, my zipper on my wranglers met the tailgate, and BAM.

Lets just say this, ever been kicked "down there" by a body builder? No? Neither have i. But i now have a good idea what it feels like!

It shot me back a good 6 feet. I have a burn mark on the top of my head, where it tried to reach the fish hook on my hat. And a burn, um, a burn somewhere else...

Lesson of the day: TV's, they'll put yer **** in the dirt!

Full article at Scrap Metal Forum: http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/scrap...#ixzz3R52sNMTy

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Wile sure this is the way to do-it , But I gotta ..... dare I say laugh
and it's Just me , but I'm a monster .I use a claw hammer smash 2 screws to open case , then smack the transformer to crack the steel weld join
bust out the fan motor . Claw rips out the wires . then hammer the cover off to get the small plate motor .
if I'm the mood I use a screwdriver for the magnetron (Cu Bearing) 2 min 3 with magnetron
never a shock .

The beryllium I'm sure but you know I painted in the 80's 90's till now But 30 years ago had some paint products that
hit you like a truck . This beryllium wile I respect the warnings, but for me it's a walk in the park.