How To Scrap A Microwave Safely - Page 2

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
.
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.

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

Thorium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

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

Its called volume control.

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!

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

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

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

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

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.

Originally Posted by DakotaRog

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

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.