Recycle Your Old Hard Drives to Make Coasters

This Instructable will show you how to create some cool coasters from your old computer hard drives.


Materials and tools:

Old hard drive(s)
Torx screwdriver
Cup of coffee (optional)

Step 1: Disassembling Hard Drive

The first thing you need to do is remove and labels and stickers from the metal cover of the hard-drive. This includes the small metallic aluminium/aluminum ones covering screws. You may need to use a knife or a screwdriver to scrape these off or cut through them to access the screw underneath.

Using a torx screwdriver. Unscrew all the screws you can see on both sides of the hard-drive.

Step 2: Remove Disk

Remove the metal cover to reveal the disks inside. Unscrew the screws from the spindle that are holding the disks in place and remove retaining ring.

Unscrew the sliding arm and remove. Pull off magnet  holding the data arm on.

You should now be able to slide the disks up the spindle and out of the casing. You may have to slide the arm away to remove the disks.

Step 3: Lastly

The last thing to do is put the kettle on and make yourself a tea or coffee and try out your new coasters. This hard drive only had one disk but quite often you get 2 or 3.

Don't for get to recycle the remaining pieces from the casing by taking to your local recycling centre.