What to do with extra circuit boards (some blank, some populated) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 26, 2015, 04:33:40 pm
content: I have literally thousands of PCB's... mostly FR-4, some 0.062/0.031 in different shapes, colors and sizes. They are extra stock, or boards that we re-spun and had leftover and stuff like that. I also have dozens of PCB's which are already assembled, mostly just with LED's and connectors and such.I keep meaning to toss them all in the dumpster, but I feel bad throwing away thousands of $$ worth of stuff - but I'll never use it. Is there anything that can be done with such stuff? I know there are some artists who make stuff from PCB's. For the populated boards, I thought maybe to take them to a local technical school for soldering practice or for extra components.Anyone ever come up with productive uses for old PCB's?

author: klr5205
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2015, 04:46:21 pm
content: I'd also be interested to learn of anyone's creative ideas here. I have a box of a few hundred blank PCBs that were essentially obsoleted by a customer when they decided they wanted to connectors moved to make a prettier enclosure. (We were doing board design only)

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2015, 05:03:12 pm
content: Put them on ebay as "audio grade" quantum fluctuation dampeners. They'll stop virtual particles messing with your premium grade wooden caps scintillation spectrum...Make sure you charge at least 4 digit prices though or no one will take it seriously.

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2015, 06:26:52 pm
content: There are several common uses.You can give them to some hacker space or school or similar for soldering education (done that myself).Artsy applications.You can recycle them to your local junk dealer for gold and stuff.QuoteForgot about that one!

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2015, 06:34:23 pm
content: I make use of them to hold other PCBs in place when pasting using a stencil.

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2015, 03:18:33 am
content: Quote from: 8086 on February 26, 2015, 06:34:23 pmsame here. I also use them to transfer boards to and from the toaster, ahem.... reflow oven. I have given away many upon many of them from my work to people at the flea markets to have them practice soldering. I used to also sweep up all of the orphan 1/4 watt resistors into ziplock baggies and give them away with the old boards.

author: cosmicray
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2015, 03:50:39 am
content: Find an artist type with soldering skills. Have him build them up into a large abstract sculpture. Sell it to a MOMA somewhere.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2015, 08:44:19 am
content: Glue them to a sheet of ply and cover with glass or resin to make an interesting table top.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2015, 08:56:31 am
content: How many layers? I would be interested in 4 or more layer bare boards to damage them and try to repair them as an exercise. Like placing a high current into an inner layer and burning it and then restore it.

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2015, 12:13:35 pm
content: if they're interesting boards, make lampshades...

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 27, 2015, 03:00:42 pm
content: Quote from: miguelvp on February 27, 2015, 08:56:31 amAll mine are 2 layer, unfortunately.