Repurposed and Recycled Electronics Tiles
Introduction: Repurposed and Recycled Electronics Tiles
I needed something to spice up my kitchen. I already had a great glass block backsplash, but I had some bare corners to the left and right of it. I knew how many TVs, cd/dvd players, radios, computers anything with a circuitboard wound up in the trash/landfill.
I was originally looking to do something with the green boards, but when I opened the item, I found a treasure of colors and textures among the things attached to the boards (I have no idea what any of those pieces are called). I have little to no experience with electronics so this was a huge surprise. I previously worked on an epoxy countertop, so I combined that knowledge on epoxy with the traditional idea of tiles on the backsplash with these little gems I found inside common electronics. They also contain a lot of recyclable plastic both the housing and sometimes inner pieces and can be kept out of the landfills. It's a win win! And so it began....
Supplies
Tile Materials:
-Paraffin wax (optional) This is usually sold in bricks. I recommend the smaller bricks or pellets because they melt more quickly. You can also get scented to jazz up the whole process! These can be found on Amazon here for $9.32.
-1 or 2 Organizers with plastic bins. You can find the bin at Home Depot or Walmart for around $17.00. It is important to find the product that has three bin sizes. If you are using this tutorial for tiling. The three sizes in this organizer are specific sizes that are progressively smaller. the middle size is exactly half the size of the large and the small is half the size of the medium. Otherwise, you can use any container without a lid.
-Spray dry teflon lubricant. It can be found at Ace Hardware here for $6.99. I used this brand, but I imagine that you could use any dry wax lubricant. It is important that it is not an oil or lubricant that remains a liquid. 626
This one sprays on wet but then dries to a wax.
-Table Top Epoxy Resin. Illstreet is the brand that I found to be the best at $22.95 for the quart size and $66.75 for the gallon size. I purchased the gallon size to make 115 tiles and had a little less than half left over. I have tried others from the craft stores and found that I like this one the best.
-Many, many old electronics- Free
Tools:
-Palm sander (not orbital) or vibrating tool of any kind
-Coarse sanding block
-Optional heat gun
-Many disposable rubber gloves
-Safety glasses
-Rigid plastic containers approximately the size of 1/2 gallon (these can be found at most dollar stores) for single use
-2 Plastic measuring cups for each batch single use (these can also be found at most dollar stores)
-Paint stirrers (sometimes paint store will actually give these away
-Electric burner to melt wax
-Crappy pot to melt paraffin wax (this will ruin the pot)
Tools for dismantling electronics: (not all of these tools are required, but you never know what you will need for this part)
-Flat head screwdriver
-Phillips head screwdrivers of varying sizes
-Set of small hex keys
-Small wire cutters
-Needle nose pliers
-Soldering iron
-Hammer
Step 1: Safety and Preparation
Safety first! All electronics are to be unplugged before dismantling. Safety glasses and gloves should be worn at all times. When pouring and mixing epoxy resin, be sure to work in a well ventilated area.
Once you have collected a bunch of bits and pieces from your circuitboards and sorted your pieces, prepare your work area. Lay out newspaper or a plastic table cloth on a table where you can access the bottom side of the table. Make sure the area is clean and reasonably free of dirt and dust. Lay out your containers from the organizer boxes with your sorted pieces. Lay out stirrers and all mixing containers.
Step 2: Finding and Dismantling Electronics
You can find these by putting ads on local facebook or craigslist. You are recycling electronics. Be sure to add that tidbit to your posts. Old computer parts, cd/dvd players, even VCRs. I have shown an old TV/monitor as an example. I am honestly never quite sure what kind of treasures I will find. The monitor only required the phillips head screw driver, but you never know what you may need. It helps to have different sized screw drivers. I dismantled several electronics and set aside all the boards to be "picked" when I had a little collection. 626