Best way of destroying old CDR/RW disks?
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 98
Likes: 11
From: UK
Best way of destroying old CDR/RW disks?
Hi
I have a load of old write-only CD's which I used to use to back up Word, Excel and other files from my PC.
Now have a more sophisticated system with two separate harddrives so these are all redundant.
However I don't just want to dump them in the bin obviously! There are quite a few of them.
Does anyone know of a fast and simple way to destroy these or make them unusable. I have seen a shredder which does this but it costs over £100!!
Failing that, I'll use a hammer!
Cheers folks!!
I have a load of old write-only CD's which I used to use to back up Word, Excel and other files from my PC.
Now have a more sophisticated system with two separate harddrives so these are all redundant.
However I don't just want to dump them in the bin obviously! There are quite a few of them.
Does anyone know of a fast and simple way to destroy these or make them unusable. I have seen a shredder which does this but it costs over £100!!
Failing that, I'll use a hammer!
Cheers folks!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 0
From: western europe
Do they burn I wonder? .... 
I'll go and try one ....
2 pips .......
yep ..... they burn ok ....
not sure if it's the environmental way to go but no one is going to read them after poping them on fire .....
I'll go and try one ....
2 pips .......
yep ..... they burn ok ....
not sure if it's the environmental way to go but no one is going to read them after poping them on fire .....
Last edited by hobie; 21st February 2006 at 18:18.
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 408
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From: London
Put them in your microwave oven, and watch those sparks fly!!
It melts the aluminium disc in fractions of a second.
It melts the aluminium disc in fractions of a second.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 98
Likes: 11
From: UK
Thumping away with a hammer on a bag-load is very satisfying, although my neighbours must wonder what I'm doing!
Is there anyway to put these back into a drive and zap them somehow to make them unreadable?
Oh, Tony wants to start burning all our rubbish but I think I'm in a smoke free zone
Is there anyway to put these back into a drive and zap them somehow to make them unreadable?
Oh, Tony wants to start burning all our rubbish but I think I'm in a smoke free zone
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 0
From: western europe
Oh, Tony wants to start burning all our rubbish but I think I'm in a smoke free zone
..... now don't forget ..... Nov 5th ....
On the night of November 5th, throughout Britain, we commemorate the capture of Guy Fawkes with bonfires and fireworks, and by burning an effigy of Guy (and all our old backup discs)
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 408
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From: London
Post them to yourself with Parcelforce. They will never be seen again
Cool Mod
Joined: Apr 1998
Posts: 6,189
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From: 18nm N of LGW
I tried this and it works. But it is very much a matter of taste.
You can microwave them one at a time for just 15 seconds and they will craze all over. Then you can use them as coasters.
But do not use a hammer on them. You will get minute splinters going all over the place. Very dangerous.
Alternatively you can destroy all your data on them by scoring them with a Stanley knife and single line or a cross will do, then you can safely bin 'em.
You can microwave them one at a time for just 15 seconds and they will craze all over. Then you can use them as coasters.
But do not use a hammer on them. You will get minute splinters going all over the place. Very dangerous.
Alternatively you can destroy all your data on them by scoring them with a Stanley knife and single line or a cross will do, then you can safely bin 'em.
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 3
From: Down at the sharp pointy end, where all the weather is made.
I found a huge stack of 100Mb Zip disks in the back of a cupboard recently. The reader for them went ages ago, so I went down the plastic bag and a big hammer route. They were tougher than I expected and despite the bag I still wound up with bits all over the garage. Still, I feel fairly sure that no-one will be able to recover the data from them. No doubt an archeologist in 1,000 years time will excavate the landfill they're currently residing in and have a great time piecing them all together again - if they can find a machine to play them on!
Cheers,
TheOddOne
Cheers,
TheOddOne
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From: UK
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,367
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From: western europe
I wonder if a few seconds of a 'Gas Blow Torch' would do the trick? ....
(safety glasses on of course and perhaps apply the flame to the back of the disc to simply distort it)
I must try that but not now ... too cold outside ....
(safety glasses on of course and perhaps apply the flame to the back of the disc to simply distort it)
I must try that but not now ... too cold outside ....
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,367
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From: western europe
here we go ..... just a few seconds with a gas torch (Goggles on) ..... total distortion and crazy paving effect on recording surface .... 
No one is going to read this disc again ....
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=oa3hjn
No one is going to read this disc again ....
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=oa3hjn
Chief Tardis Technician
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 554
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From: Western Australia S31.715 E115.737
Just score the lable side. this destroys the metalic recording medium, making them unuseable( well for the most part any way). Anything that destroys the metal is good.
