Hazardous chemicals in microwaves or CRT monitors?

Sorry for the late comment:

Originally Posted by Scrap man

So I scored a CRT monitor and a microwave from trash night yesterday, and I start taking apart the monitor (as my basement is slowly flooding). My father comes down and tells me that the monitor tube has some kind of poison gas in it and that the microwave has some radioactive thing in it. Are either of these true?

Both statements are 100% false. The CRT is a vacuum tube, so there is actually no gas inside of it whatsoever.

The microwave has nothing radioactive inside of it at all, but rather generates microwaves from a very large voltage (which is why it needs such a large transformer).

BOTH OF THEM HAVE CAPACITORS! The capacitors will hold charge for between 2days-2weeks depending on type, and, if anything, that makes them dangerous.

As for the beryllium oxide in the magnetron, it isn't harmful unless its airborne or ingested (just like lead or mercury). That little pink thing is what they consider dangerous if you breath it in. So — don't smash it with a hammer and breath it in. Other then that they are pretty safe.



There is no doubt in my mind that just using an angle-grinder or sawzall is just as, if not more dangerous then scrapping a microwave or a CRT; but you won't hear anybody here saying not to use them!

Good Luck scrapping!

I finished both things and I came up with a few more questions:

1. What do I do with the capacitor from the microwave? I know it still might have a charge and I read the recent thread about getting rid of the charge, but how do I actually do it? Do I just touch both contacts with some kind of grounded metal object? Can I just let it sit for a few weeks?

2. After the charge is gone, what do I pull out of the capacitor? Do I put it in with motors and breakage, mixed metal, or is it loaded with copper? How do I get the goodies out?

3. Is there anything inside the CRT tube that's worth smashing it apart to get? I already got the yoke off so the pressure is gone. It seems pretty heavy even for leaded glass, so I was just curious.

You guys have been a great help so far and I really appreciate it. Thanks!