TV Disassembly

Is the 'gas' from the back of the TV screen toxic, bad for the environment, or negative in any other way? Also, the circuit boards were worth about $2 per pound on eBay if you want to deal them.

TVs are ok to scrap. but computer monitors are the real money makers. Computer monitors / CRTs are one of my favorite things to scrap. Right now there is no efficient way to recycle the leaded glass, which is between 10-70% Lead by weight.

There is much more value in a old computer monitor than an old TV. They are smaller, they have much more metal, and usually have a good deal of aluminum.

Also there is no gas inside of a TV or any other type of CRT. They is almost a complete vacuum, and they have almost no gas inside of them at all. When the CRT breaks, that sound is actually air going INTO the glass tube.

I never break my CRTs with a hammer. Never. It is not the right way to do it. You may actually cause the glass to implode and shatter all over the place, including your face. CRTs are put together VERY SIMPLY, which means they can be pulled apart VERY SIMPLY! The trick is to just have the right tools at your disposal, which I talk more about on my page.

The right way to get that copper yoke off, for those interested, is to unscrew the two screws holding it in place at the top. The added bonus is that the two screws holding the yoke in place are actually made of 300 grade, non-magnetic, stainless steel ! After you unscrew those, all you have to do is pull the copper yoke right off with a little twist.

Sometimes the two screws need a square bit to be pulled out. I have bought a square bit just for that reason. But before I bought a square bit, I just used a big pair of bold cutters and cut them with little to no effort. VERY SIMPLE! If you don't want the floor of your shop full of sharp shards of broken leaded glass, (not to mention maybe even a face full of glass) just pull the screws out the right way!

I may be pushing that point too much; it's just that it is a very simple way to stay safe and to get your hands on a little bit of stainless steel!

I've probably taken apart over 200-250 computer monitors in the past year. It is only lucrative if you have a reliable way to throw out the leaded glass. You muct be careful, as throwing it into the trash is technically illegal! This is the same problem most people have with trying to scrap car wheels; there is nowhere to put the tires!