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Got a LCD flat screen that has gone out for you? Too many "taps" on the screen to get that web browser moving "crack" now you have a pretty rainbow. Well inside that thin wonder of a screen are some pretty neat parts that you can recycle and make a few practical everyday use products.
My son, Brennen, and I have come up with several useful products from that flat screen. They include this instructable, a cutting board, we also made flashlight light diffusers, notebook sheet protectors and a great windshield ice scraper.
Will try to set-up an instructable for each but once you open up that flat screen you may figure it out yourself....here we go on the bread/cutting board.
My son, Brennen, and I have come up with several useful products from that flat screen. They include this instructable, a cutting board, we also made flashlight light diffusers, notebook sheet protectors and a great windshield ice scraper.
Will try to set-up an instructable for each but once you open up that flat screen you may figure it out yourself....here we go on the bread/cutting board.
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Signing UpStep 1GET YOUR DEAD FLATSCREEN READY - THE TEAR DOWN
Pull out that dead flatscreen. If you don't have one I would suggest going to your local e-cycle drop off and they will most likely be happy to give you a dead one and then bring the unused parts back for proper recycling.
Tools needed: Phillips screwdriver (small and #2), Flat screwdriver (to pry open outside covers).
Tear down is quit simple. Remove the stand, a few screws that hold covers on, outside plastic covers snap on so alittle work and they will pop off.
Some things to be careful about are - some capacitors on the inside boards, nothing major like an old CRT but be aware, sharp edges on some of the metal parts (we don't want any blood on the cutting board yet), usually two fluorescent lite tubes (they will go the width of the screen, toothpick size in diameter and usually have a pink and white rubber type wire attached) don't break them they are the same as a regular home/office fluorescent tube and contain a small amount of mercury so recycle or use in another project.
Tools needed: Phillips screwdriver (small and #2), Flat screwdriver (to pry open outside covers).
Tear down is quit simple. Remove the stand, a few screws that hold covers on, outside plastic covers snap on so alittle work and they will pop off.
Some things to be careful about are - some capacitors on the inside boards, nothing major like an old CRT but be aware, sharp edges on some of the metal parts (we don't want any blood on the cutting board yet), usually two fluorescent lite tubes (they will go the width of the screen, toothpick size in diameter and usually have a pink and white rubber type wire attached) don't break them they are the same as a regular home/office fluorescent tube and contain a small amount of mercury so recycle or use in another project.
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I was pulling apart LCD's nearly all last year to measure the layer thicknesses as part of a research project. Just like you and your son I have salvaged a whole lot of useful materials. The materials are very special of the highest quality and thickness is controlled to the highest precision. It is almost a shame to use them for something as prosaic as a cutting board but then I have a ruler made from one of the long narrow circuit boards. i{^_^}
I have to say though things must be very different in the US. I never saw any layers thicker than 1mm let alone nearly 1/2". Also I notice the LCD in the picture above is almost square???
I also should add to the warning you gave about sharp edges. In all the LCD's I pulled apart there were two layers of very thin glass with razor sharp edges. The glass was covered with two layers of plastic ~90 micron. Between the glass layers was the very thin layer of liquid crystal compound that we were told by the manufacturers contained some poisonous additives. I got a cut from the edge of one of these panels and it was like a paper cut on steroids. It took nearly a month to heal and stung the whole time. Make sure that anything you will use for food or even skin contact is completely cleaned.
Usually the light source was a cold cathode tube with some mercury in it. The amount is very tiny but if you are salvaging parts from a lot of LCD screens it would be advisable to work in a ventilated area in case of tube breakages.
If you are careful you can salvage a lot of great materials that are almost unobtainable anywhere else. (I even salvage the nuts and bolts and I strip every appliance for bits before I dump.) Right now I have 3 ancient laptops sitting outside my office ready for demolition...fun, fun fun.
The LGP (Light Guide Panel) is made of transparent acrylic.
Google up "acrylic cutting board" and you will find that they run about $16.00 for a small thin one, from hundreds of sources.
Acrylic has a 93% transparent rate (makes it the clearest materal known), is light in weight, will not yellow, will not get brittle and scratches can be buffed out.
Acrylic is used in the food industry, aquariums, hospitals, "popes" booth, airplane windows, 1 inch thick it is bullet proof and best of all it will not dull knives.
Wish you would of made a comment on the instructable itself also, instead of trying to look for a possible drawback of the project my son and I made.
2. I have never taken apart an LCD panel so I do not know exactly what type of plastic the internal parts are composed of.
3. I have had a few plastic cutting boards from slabs to the flexible chop and scoop types. I no longer use them after I noticed that my knives do cut and can create tiny shavings off of them. I have worked with acrylic and polycarbonate materials for building materials and do know of their properties.
4. As a parent too, I have concerns about subjecting anyone to particles that may not be good for you.
In no way am I looking to degrade your instructable at all. And all the better that you worked on it with your son.