Hazards
Scrapping is mostly safe. A short list of things are not, and they are not obvious by looking at them. Beryllium oxide ceramic looks like ordinary white ceramic. A CRT unplugged for a year can still kill you. A magnetron is worth about two dollars and can give you an incurable lung disease.
The rule that covers most of it: never grind, sand, torch, shred or burn anything you cannot positively identify. Cold cutting and controlled heat are almost always fine.
fatal☣ Beryllium oxide (BeO)RF power transistor caps and substrates · microwave magnetron ceramic insulators ·…fatal⚡ Stored high voltageCRTs · microwave oven HV capacitors · PSU bulk capacitors · flyback transformers · any…fatal💥 CRT implosion, leaded glass, phosphorAny cathode ray tube — TVs, monitors, oscilloscopes, arcade cabinetsserious☠ Lead — dust more than fumeAll pre-2006 solder · leaded glass · old plating and some old soldersserious🔥 Lithium battery firePhone and laptop boards · tablets · tools · vapes · key fobs · CMOS coin cells on…serious🔥 Tantalum capacitor ignitionTantalum capacitors during removal or bulk processingcaution💣 Electrolytic capacitor ruptureAluminium electrolytics during hot-air workserious🌡 MercuryTilt switches (thermostats, old appliances, vending and pinball) · mercury-wetted relays…serious☠ CadmiumAgCdO relay and contactor contacts · cadmium-plated hardware and connector shells on…serious🛢 PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)Anything manufactured 1929–1979: oil-filled capacitors, transformers, voltage…serious🧱 AsbestosPre-1980 radios, TVs, amplifiers and appliances: chassis heat shields behind output…serious💨 Fumes, ventilation and open flameAny hot work on circuit boards, conformal coating, epoxy, PVC or plastic housingscaution🪚 Fibreglass and board dustCutting, shearing or sawing circuit boards, especially trimming gold fingerscaution☣ Beryllium copperConnector springs, battery contacts, RF finger stock, EMI gaskets, spring probes, relay…caution🩹 Glass and sharpsGlass HDD platters · CRT glass · solar panel glass · vacuum tubes · bare optical fibreserious🔆 Invisible laser radiationFibre transceivers, EDFA pump lasers, live fibre portscaution🧲 Neodymium magnetsHDD actuator magnet stacks, speaker assemblies, motorscaution🧪 PVC and plasticsCard bodies, cable jacket, housingsserious⚗ Home acid refiningAcid peroxide (HCl + H₂O₂), nitric acid, aqua regiafatal💥 Pyrotechnics — airbag inflators & pyro-fusesAirbag inflators (steering wheel, dash, seat bolsters, roof rails) · seatbelt…serious🧪 Automotive & battery fluidsBrake fluid · engine coolant · battery electrolyte · transmission fluid · capacitor…serious⭕ Stored pressureABS accumulators · air conditioning systems · fuel rails · gas struts · hydraulic…serious☠ Hydrogen fluoride from fluoropolymers & lithiumPTFE/FEP wire insulation (mil-spec, engine bay, RF coax) · PTFE connector beads ·…caution🔥 Thermal burnsExhaust systems and O2 sensors · turbochargers · engine blocks · recently-run equipment…serious☢ Radioactive materialsThoriated tungsten filaments in large transmitting tubes and TIG electrodes · vintage…
PPE — the working kit
| Hazard | Protection |
|---|---|
| Hot work, board dust, lead | Half-face elastomeric respirator, P100 particulate + organic vapour / acid gas cartridges. Fit-tested, clean-shaven at the seal. N95 is a bare minimum for dust only. |
| Eyes | ANSI Z87 safety glasses always. Full face shield for CRTs, glass platters, shearing, and capacitor work. |
| Hands | Nitrile for handling and chemicals. Cut-resistant A4+ for glass platters, CRT glass and shears. Insulated HV-rated for capacitor and CRT discharge. |
| Body | Long sleeves and an apron. Dedicated work clothes and shoes that never enter the house. Launder separately. |
| Fire | ABC extinguisher on the bench. Class D extinguisher or dry sand for tantalum, lithium and magnesium. A metal container to isolate a runaway cell. |
| Housekeeping | HEPA vacuum and wet wipes only. Never dry sweep. Never use compressed air. |
| Health | No eating, drinking or smoking in the work area. Wash hands and face first. Periodic blood lead testing for high-volume hot work. |
| First aid | Eyewash station and running water. For acid work: safety shower and a bicarbonate neutraliser within arm's reach. |