What can I do with old hard drive platters?

Are hard drive platters worth anything?

Weigh it up and do the math. 1/8 24kt a typical 5 ounce 5.25 inch platter is worth about $60-$80. The aluminium platinum platters with the rhodium coating in some quantum Bigfoot drives can fetch over $400 each.

Are hard drive platters recyclable?

Hard disk drives and other electronic devices end up as co-mingled “e-scrap,” most of which can be recycled.

Can you melt hard drive platters?

Melting hard drives involves dipping them in acid to destroy their platters and housing. Although this is one of the most effective hard drive destruction methods, it is also one of the most dangerous. This is because the process involves using hydrochloric and nitric acids.

How do you destroy aluminum hard drive platters?

Be sure to use safety goggles. Once done, start by scratching the surface using a safety knife cutter and then smashing the platters with a hammer. You can also drill holes into the platter using a drill or a nail gun, or even put the platter through a metal shredder to ensure the data is beyond recovery.

DIY 4 ideas - what can be made from an old HDD

What metal are hard drive platters made of?

The platters are made from a non-magnetic material, usually aluminum alloy, glass, or ceramic. They are coated with a shallow layer of magnetic material typically 10–20 nm in-depth, with an outer layer of carbon for protection. For reference, a standard piece of copy paper is 0.07–0.18 mm (70,000–180,000 nm) thick.

Does drilling a hole in a hard drive destroy it?

The heat from the drill might even cause damage that permanently warps the drive. But as long as there are intact sections of hard drive platters, the data stored on those sections is still technically accessible.

Can you destroy a hard drive with a hammer?

There are many more creative ways that you can destroy your hard drive such as setting it on fire, cutting it up with a saw or magnetizing it. However, simply scratching the hard drive disk and smashing it a bit with a hammer will get the job done!

How do you shred a hard drive?

Does shred it destroy hard drives?

Shred-it's state-of-the-art destruction technology prevents even the most sophisticated data recovery attempts, permanently destroying any information that was or is on your hard drives.

How much platinum is on a hard drive platter?

times the 30 nm thickness (3x10^-6 cm) is 2.0x10-4 cm^3, times the (optimistic) 50% Pd, times the density of Pt (21.45 g/cm^3) and I estimate one platter has at most 2.2 mg Pt.

Is there gold in old hard drives?

All hard drives contain precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum and Palladium. While they contain precious metals in very little amount, they still have a value.

How much gold is in a computer hard drive?

Some other sources estimate that your average computer contains about 1/5th of a gram, or about $12 worth, of gold in them.

How much palladium is in a PC?

A study out of the Harare Institute of Technology also listed that printed circuit boards contain, “about 20 wt% copper, 0.04 wt% gold, 0.15 wt% silver, and 0.01 wt% palladium,” with wt% representing percentage by weight.

Will a magnet destroy a hard drive?

If you've ever watched the hit TV show 'Breaking Bad', you'll already know that yes, technically it is possible to destroy the data on a hard drive with a magnet. But you will also know that the magnetic force required to do will also destroy pretty much everything else around it – including the computer itself.

Why do you shred a hard drive?

Why Does Hard Drive Shredding Work? Hard drives often contain significant amounts of personal information, which is why identity theft can so easily happen with old, improperly destroyed hard drives. Your hard drive may be storing information like: Your name, address, date of birth.

Will a microwave destroy a hard drive?

Microwaving a HDD is one of the most ineffective ways to destroy data, but it WILL be effective in starting a house fire. It will also cause irreparable harm...to the microwave oven.

Where do you drill a hard drive to destroy it?

Drill Press: A drill or drill press is the best tool you can use. Put on your safety glasses, get a sharp ¼” drill bit and punch it through the middle of the hard drive, just outside the center spindle. When it comes out the other side of the drive, no one is ever getting data off the drive again.

How do I erase my hard drive before recycling?

Simply go to the Start Menu and click on Settings. Navigate to Update & Security, and look for the recovery menu. From there you just select Reset this PC and follow the instructions from there. It may ask you to erase data either “quickly” or “thoroughly” — we suggest taking the time to do the latter.

Is drilling a hard drive enough?

Drilling holes in the platter, on the other hand, generates heat that can easily cause universal damage. “You're potentially distorting the platter itself. You're doing things that might cause all of the rest of the platter to change slightly,” Budman says.

Should I destroy hard drive before recycling?

Wipe It and Recycle

If you'd rather recycle the hard drive rather than physically destroying it, it is absolutely necessary to wipe it before dropping it at a recycling center. Wiping a hard drive destroys the data stored on it. To find out how to dispose of hard drives, you need a proven data destruction program.

How do I destroy a hard drive without removing it?

An effective method for rendering the platters unreadable is by drilling holes on them. You can achieve this with the traditional hammer and nail approach, or you can use a drill. Instead of drilling holes, another alternative is to disassemble the hard drive and grind and/or sand the surface of the platters.

How do I permanently delete data from my hard drive?