How to Scrap a CRT Monitor for Metals

Scrapping a CRT monitor is almost the same as scrapping a television. Nonfunctional and old CRT monitors contain various valuable metals like aluminum and copper. You can expect to profit from scrapping nonfunctional CRT monitors, especially if you have a bulk number that you can systematically process to recover those metals.

Tools Required

A hammer, a bolt cutter, a long screwdriver to reach the deep screws, a power drill, some big pliers and side cutters. You may also benefit from having a pickup truck or trailer if you plan to be a serious scrap metal collector.

Important Tip

You need to keep in mind that you are trying to make separate piles of different metals or things such as aluminum heat sinks/ aluminum magnetic shields, wire, ABS plastic shells, stainless steel yoke fastener rings, stainless steel shields, copper yoke, copper breakage (the black box controller, transformers and inductors) and any other metal parts.

Step 1: Remove the Back Cover of the Monitor

To remove the back cover, you need to carefully cut the cable behind the monitor. Don’t forget to keep the gold plating that you will find by cutting the plug. You can use a screwdriver or power drill to unfasten the four little screws at the four corners on the back of the monitor. Then, you can easily remove the case.

Step 2: Cut off All the Wires

Just to make your job easier, you need to cut all the wires you find after opening the case. A bolt cutter can be enough for the job.

Step 3: Separate the Circuit Board

You must be very careful in separating the circuit board because you can unintentionally break the glass tube of the monitor. Just be nice and gentle to remove the board. Only the front part of the monitor, the tube, and the copper yoke should be left after removing the circuit board. After that, use some big pliers to pull off the small transformers on the circuit board. Then, you will find a good amount of copper and aluminum on the circuit board. You will find some aluminum and copper wires too. Do not forget to keep all different metals in separate piles.

Step 4: Pull off the Copper Yoke

Not being careful enough when pulling the yoke can lead to breaking the glass. All you need to do is carefully unfasten all the screws fastening the yoke with the glass tube with a screwdriver or power drill. Pull things easily one by one before finally removing the copper yoke from the glass tube. Don’t rush, it might be a little tricky for the first time.

Step 5: Separate Metals From the Circuit Board

Circuit boards contain copper-bearing motors and aluminum parts. As there is nothing left with the monitor you need to concentrate on the circuit board and the copper yoke. Just do not leave metals on the board. And remember to keep the metals into the respective piles.

Step 6: Collect the Copper From the Copper Yoke

You will find plastic edges on the copper yoke. So, just cut off the plastics and get the chunk of copper. Then, you can break the left part of the yoke to take all any metal parts left in the yoke.

Now you have different piles of metals. When you complete the same process for multiple CRT monitors, you should have large piles of different metals. You can expect to make around $5 scrapping each CRT monitor.