CUTTING BOARD + MADE FROM YOUR DEAD LCD MONITOR!

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.

Step 1: GET 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.

Step 2: WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO FIND INSIDE.

Now that was not hard at all.

What we find inside :
-Plastic covers (recycle)
-The first outside layer is the digitizer, haven't found any use for this (recycle).
-Several layers of thin plastic sheets (maybe we could use these as notebook sheet protectors or cut out circles from the opaque one for a great flash light diffuser?)
-Circuit boards (small one is the best ice scraper I have ever used and I live in N. Wisconsin) . If the screen was only cracked but still lit up the HVT & Power supply board may be worth some cash on an on-line auction.
-AND.....the plexi glass....."the cutting board"
Most of these are almost 1/2" inch thick and tough as nails, I gave out dozens of these to all my "green" friends and they just love them!

Check out the next frame for some extra ideas with this cutting board.

Step 3: THE BUILD PLUS SOME EXTRAS FOR THE BOARD!

Well a board is a board, you got it in your hand right now but lets make it alittle better.

Remember that monitor stand we took off?  On the bottom should be four rubber feet to be removed to make your new cutting board stable on the counter.

One other add on will send you to the local e-cycler.  Stop by and see if they have any older rear projection big screen TV's.  If they do ask for the outer plastic layer (this is the stuff that made it hard to watch the TV at an angle, it's like mini-mini corrigated cardboard).  Cut to size and glue this to your cutting board with the groves going up and down and you have the BEST non-slip cutting board ever.  You can fillet a fish one handed!

Hope you enjoy your new "green" cutting board!

Remember to recycle any unused parts!

Scott (Dad), Brennen (Son)