Disassembling a Microwave Safely (and Busting Some Myths)

Microwave ovens are a gold mine of useful parts that can be salvaged and reused in other projects. However, they also contain components that can cause serious harm if handled incorrectly. Let's safely disassemble this one I found abandoned at the side of the road and harvest anything useful. ⚠️ Safety warning Taking apart a microwave can be dangerous. These operate at very high voltages and you should never attempt to repair or disassemble one while it's plugged in or switched on. Even after it's been unplugged, some components inside can still store a potentially lethal charge, while others, like the ceramic insulators on the magnetron, can be hazardous if crushed or damaged. If at any point you feel uncomfortable, stop and do another project. It's just not worth the risk! What's inside? The first step is to remove all of the screws around the outside holding the outer casing in place - you’ll likely need some Torx security bits for a few of these. Once these are gone the casing…