68
T ips f o r Tak i n g Apart
Ele c t ro n i c s
Safe Practices
for E-Waste
Disassembly
Taking apart old electronics yields many treasures and discoveries, but it does
present some dangers. Eye protection is always recommended. Often, while
prying objects that are stuck, flying objects are a risk. There’s an excellent
summary of safety considerations for electronic devices on the iFixit site.
Among the most important is making sure that anything being worked on is
unplugged and is never plugged in after being taken apart. We recommend
completely cutting off the power cords on devices such as old DVD players,
clock radios, and VCRs. Most safety concerns can be addressed by being
selective about what is provided to take apart.
DO NOT USE
Laser printers (carcinogenic toner)
Copy machines (toner)
Microwaves (radioactive component)
Cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs (deadly capacitor potential)
Paper shredders (many sharp blades)
Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs
OK TO USE
Computers, laptops, hard drives, servers
TVs and monitors: LCD, LED, plasma (no CRTs)
Routers, hubs, modems
Printers and scanners: inkjet, dot-matrix (no laser)
Mobile phones, tablets, pagers, PDAs, GPS devices
Telephones (rotary ones are gold mines!) and answering machines
Keyboards, mice, microphones
VCRs and DVD players
Cassette players and stereo tape decks
Webcams and digital cameras
Battery-powered children’s toys
Scanners
Loose components from any items above
Take-aparts that yield the greatest amount of potentially useful parts are those
that include many moving elements. Older printers are especially great for this,
as are VCRs, tape decks, and early CD and DVD players. Modern devices are
still interesting and present a good challenge, as they’re often very puzzle-like
to take apart, with many hidden taps and use of glue in place of obvious large
screws. Just be aware that these devices can also increasingly use security
screws or none at all.
A p p e n dix B
Appendix B
69
Even without a full range of tools, many take-aparts are possible using only
screwdrivers. Providing the correct sizes and types of drivers is important
to making disassembly more effective, minimizing stripped screw heads,
and reducing frustration. Most importantly, the right tool is the safest tool.
A young maker struggling with the wrong-sized screwdriver, for example,
is much more likely to slip or resort to potentially unsafe prying methods.
This list will help you get started with a wider range of tools for
take-apart success:
Screwdrivers, including a full range of Phillips and Torx (“star drive”) sizes
(Don’t forget the tiny ones!)
Security screwdriver bit sets, for screws especially common in modern,
smaller electronics devices
Magnetic parts bowls (These are fantastic to keep screws and small metal
bits all in one place.)
Wire cutters and wire strippers
Nut drivers in SAE and metric sizes
Clip leads and batteries, to test motors
Hacksaw
Needle-nose pliers
Adjustable crescent wrenches
Hammer, for when all else fails (Sometimes, you just have to smash
something to get it apart!)
Rotary cutter, such as a Dremel
Small handheld vacuum (Older electronics often have a lot of accumulated
dust in them.)
Photo: DIY Girls
Have fun, and remember that when it comes to making things, you can always
begin with un-making. Start by taking apart!
A p p e n dix B
Tools: Stars of
the Take-Apart