Do hard drives contain hazardous materials?

[Salvador]

I was going to rip apart a dead hard drive, but then I remembered that someone at a pc repair shop years ago said that they contain hazardous materials. Do they? Is it safe to take apart and old hard drive?

 

[bendixG15]

I have ripped open several hard drives and I am still here.

Basically you are looking at a circuit board and a platter or two.
No hazardous stuff that I could see.

But who knows, they may have redefined hazardous ...

 

[SlickRoenick]

Circuit boards contain hazardous, heavy metals which makes up the electronic components. Doesn't keep me from taking them apart though

 

[Zepper]

They have stuff like small amounts of lead in the solder, etc. Not enough to keep most from opening one if they want to. Open it and embed the works in a block of acrylic - makes a nice, high-tech paper weight...

.bh.

 

[Salvador]

Thanks guys. I'll open her up then.

Originally posted by: Zepper
They have stuff like small amounts of lead in the solder, etc. Not enough to keep most from opening one if they want to. Open it and embed the works in a block of acrylic - makes a nice, high-tech paper weight...

.bh.

How do you do that? It doesn't sound like a DIY project.

 

[Zepper]

You can buy acrylic resin embedding materials but they are mainly targeted and the medical field. Not cheap. I suppose you could find a company that does it - probably also not cheap. But it has been done. Another option is to make an acrylic box in which to display it. All you need is some sheet and rod acrylic and some super glue...

.bh.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Magnet in a hard drive is quite strong & can interfere with some medical implants. Other than that, as long as you don't burn the components or melt them down & try to drink the slag, you'll be ok. No asbestos or powdered arsenic.

 

[bwnv]

Aside from the solder already mentioned, nothing is really hazardous in a hard drive.
The acrylic and resin can be bought at a hobby shop for under $10.00. A cute trick is to take a drive that still spins and replace thew cover with a sheet of acrylic or plexiglass. It's fun to watch them spin up and seek servo. If you don't want to buy anything, they will spin for a few days until you get dust on the platters.

 

[jedisoulfly]

I doubt its hazardous to you personaly. but as with most computer and electronic parts there are things in them that in bulk shouldnt go into the enviroment. thats why you should recycle things like that and not just throw them into the garbage. but I like taking things apart too!!!

 

[Salvador]

After all of this, I can't get the hex/star nut screws out to open it (Maxtor hdd). I've tried everything I have an apparently, I don't have the right tool for it. I have quite a bit of tools too. :laugh: