Motherboard Mailbox

[jm0ris0n]

Hi All,

While doing yardwork today I had an idea for a mailbox base made out of about 40-60 pcb motherboards. They would be stacked on top of each other with 4 metal support poles drilled through each motherboard to act as a support.

____________________
|--------------------------|
|--------------------------|
==|=====|==----------
==|=====|==
==|=====|==
==|=====|== <--Motherboards w/ support poles
==|=====|==
==|=====|==
==|=====|==
==|=====|==
==|=====|==

Assuming these motherboards were manufactured in 1996+ and were all x86 Pentuim/AMD based motherboards, can you see any environmental problems exposing the PCB boards to the elements for 5+ years? I would remove all cmos batteries and Bios chips. If there are problems with the lead solder, etc, is there a known coating I could add to the boards to lock in the 'toxic' elements which could leak out due to weatherizing ?

I know this is a crazy idea, but all responses are appreciated! :light:

 

[PottedMeat]

Heh interesting. If you limit the boards to the last few years you can get RoHS materials - lead-free solder, limited amounts of mercury, cadmium, and chromium. I probably wouldn't do it anyway though because even if the board doesn't leech, the electrolytic capacitors at the least, probably will when exposed to the elements.

A long time ago I used to see 3 ring binders made of unpopulated circuit boards - they probably were completely unused.

 

[William Gaatjes]

I have a suggestion for you...

you could humiseale the pcb's seperate and the mailbox as a whole when the pcb's are combined. Humiseale is used when pcb's need protection from the harsh enviroment.

When humisealed it should be pretty safe to use.

 

[Modelworks]

You could put the whole thing together then go over it with clear fiberglass. Fiberglass isn't all that hard to work with and will last forever in the weather.

 

[Colt45]

I'd just give the boards a blast of lacquer.

 

[Paperdoc]

Whatever coating you evaluate for protection, look closely at its stability in sunlight. Many agents will seal against water, air, etc. But almost all of them, especially polymer-based (and most are) are subject to breakdown in a few years from ultraviolet light from the sun. In exterior wood finishing, I still don't think there is a clear varnish for wood that stands up to sunlight for more than 5 years outside.

 

[mindless1]

It won't work for a reason disassociated with environmental wear. Once you have such an odd looking mailbox, sure as rain some teenager will come along and wack it to pieces with a baseball bat.