Jim Watt wrote:
> On Sun, 08 Jul 2007 12:04:26 +0100, Tim Jackson
> <tim@tim-jackson.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> Jim Watt wrote:
>>> On Thu, 08 Mar 2007 01:44:38 GMT, dr@him.com wrote:
>>>
>>>> Microwave is just plain stupid.
>>> Why?
>>> --
>>> Jim Watt
>>> http://www.gibnet.com
>> I couldn't resist this.
>>
>> The idea looks good to me so I just tried it. It works and is quick and
>> easy.
>>
>> I put the CD on a wire microwave pie rack to lift it off the metal base
>> plate and prevent screening. I put in a cup of water to protect the
>> microwave from over-voltage and to limit the power density.
>>
>> After about 15 seconds at 1kW the CD was hot, bowed, crazed and smoking
>> a bit.
>>
>> Effectiveness looks roughly equivalent to shredding into 5mm fragments.
>> Destruction is clearly visible. See http://www.tim-jackson.co.uk/cd.JPG
>>
>> It's harmless to the microwave as long as there is something there, or
>> enough CDs, to absorb any excess power, and as long as you don't make
>> too much smoke and fume. The CD absorbs a lot of power, so I guess with
>> half a dozen you'd have no risk of over-voltage or excessively rapid
>> temperature rise and can omit the water.
>>
>> You'd need some sort of (dielectric or wire) frame to support the CDs
>> far enough apart to expose them roughly equally, for doing quantity.
>>
>> So I can definitively state that the idea is not stupid. It may not be
>> the best solution, maybe relatively labour intensive compared to
>> chemistry, but it certainly is a contender: cheap, produces minimal
>> pollution and uses readily available equipment.
>>
>
> Some hints:
>
> 1. The last thing you need in there is a wire frame !
> although plastic would be fine

non-conducting "wire frames" come with most microwaves today.

>
> 2. You do not need smoke or to melt the disks the beauty
> of the idea is that a short exposure causes the total
> destruction of the metallic film in the polycarbonate
> sandwich without affecting that.
>

I'd guess, but it's not enough for military security!

> 3. I do it without the cup of water as its only for around
> three seconds burn, you see the flashover.

If you see flashover, there could be stains made to the
microwave oven.


> If you have any free AOL disks they are ideal for testing the
> method.

What a wonderful idea, you sadist!-)

> --
> Jim Watt
> http://www.gibnet.com