Any recycleable (for DIYer) in dead Microwave???

[sandbasser]

Hi -

Our microwave died (no magic smoke-everything appears to work-just not heating food).

It was made by Sharp.

Are there any parts usable in diy audio inside???

Anything dangerous inside???

Thanks,

[john blackburn]

There are low power spot welders using microwave parts out there.

How-to: Build your own spot welder - Hack a Day

Could be handy for casework or light weight bits and pieces.

John

[Steerpike]

Originally Posted by sandbasser

Hi -
Are there any parts usable in diy audio inside???
Anything dangerous inside???

Dangerous, yes certainly! The transformer generates about 2kV.

The door 'screen' is nice perforated metal, good for making amplifier ventilation covers.

The cooling fan for cooling your amp?

The magnetron has two nice torroidal magnets... no audio use, but nice toys.
The turntable motor is also a nice toy

[tomtt]

the h/v cap.

h/v diode.

wire.

[sandbasser]

I'm going to save the linky to Hack A Day for later... And, I guess I'll update my Will and give it a go...

Thanks,

[Ed LaFontaine]

You knew you wanted to tear it apart before you asked.

Go ahead.

[dangus]

Transformer, as previously suggested. If you have two, wire 'em back to back and you have an isolation transformer (saw that tip in a magazine, IIRC).

The timer brain could be used to control something (if it functions). PC board exposure is an obvious one, but maybe you have other applications. Night light or sound to lull a rugrat to sleep? Or just use it as a digital clock.

The turntable might be useful for something.

Make a halloween display with something unpleasant rotating on the turntable (severed head? toy rats?). Make darned sure the magnetron can't possibly come back to life.

And of, course, the old rural standby: target practice out at an abandoned gravel pit. Or drop it off something high. Or fling it at a bridge abutment at speed.

[CBS240]

Make darned sure the magnetron can't possibly come back to life.

Yes, that part can be quite dangerous without shielding, microwaves exposed to the testicals will do no good for their function. The HV transformer will carry much more current than a typical flyback transformer in a CRT circuit and can be deadly. (not that a flyback transfo can't be deadly) Other than that, you might find use for the parts so scrap away.

Although target practice isn't a bad idea.


Once I had a large microwave, very old, that could boil a cold cup of water in about 30-40 sec. It was powered the 220VAC line and would dim the lights. It was a the real thing until the protective coating over the metal inside began to flake off and it caught fire and blew up. Damn shame, they don't make them like that anymore. I was always a bit leary of standing right next to it during operation though.

[jerryo]

The transformer has a useful mass of magnet wire on bobbins which although is difficult to access can be done.
You need to attack the "E" core laminations with a masonary bolster and hammer as they are normally welded together. The welds can be split and the bobbins eventually removed.
Good for making inductors as one winding is of sufficient diameter to give low resistance

[mikeford]

Microwave is seriously deadly, high voltage at current levels that don't just shock, they put you down. Not saying I would not poke around or scavenge a bit, but I decided on the last one, a fancy model with a keypad and display, that nothing in it was worth the risk. Too many other options for parts.