Appliance Teardown Guide

What's inside each appliance, what to salvage, and what to watch out for while taking it apart.

Every dead appliance is a parts bin. This guide covers what you'll find inside the most common salvage sources, which parts are worth keeping, which builds use them, and how not to get hurt during disassembly.

Microwave Oven

The single most valuable salvage appliance in this repo. A dead microwave yields more dangerous-but-useful parts per dollar than anything else in your house.

Parts to Salvage

Teardown Safety

• ALWAYS discharge the high-voltage capacitor first. A charged MOT capacitor stores enough energy to kill an adult. Even unplugged microwaves can retain a lethal charge for weeks. Use a discharge tool: a high-wattage resistor (10k ohm, 10W) connected between the capacitor terminals, or short the terminals through a screwdriver with an insulated handle while standing on a rubber mat. Verify discharge with a multimeter before touching anything.
• The magnetron contains beryllium oxide (BeO) in the ceramic insulators. BeO dust is extremely toxic if inhaled. NEVER break, grind, or sand the pink/white ceramic insulators inside the magnetron. If you're salvaging magnets, crack the casing carefully and extract the magnets without disturbing the ceramics.
• Wear gloves. Sheet metal edges inside microwaves are razor-sharp.

Tools Needed

• Phillips and flathead screwdrivers
• Socket set or nut driver (for transformer bolts)
• Wire cutters
• Insulated capacitor discharge tool
• Multimeter
• Gloves and safety goggles

Refrigerator

Refrigerators are heavy, awkward, and full of useful parts — especially the compressor and sealed-system components.

Parts to Salvage

Teardown Safety

• Refrigerant is pressurized. Do NOT cut refrigerant lines without recovering the refrigerant first. Venting refrigerant (CFC, HCFC, HFC) is illegal under the Clean Air Act and harmful to the ozone layer. If you need to cut lines, do so outdoors and expect a burst of cold gas. Better: have an HVAC tech recover the refrigerant.
• Compressors contain oil that may leak when lines are cut. Place rags underneath.
• Refrigerators are heavy. Get help tipping them. Lay them on their back for easier access to the compressor and coils.
• Older fridges may contain PCB-contaminated oil in the compressor. If the fridge is from before 1979, handle compressor oil as hazardous waste.

Tools Needed

• Socket set, screwdrivers
• Tube cutter or hacksaw (for copper lines)
• Wire cutters
• Wrenches for compressor mounting bolts
• Rags and oil catch pan

Washing Machine

Washing machines contain some of the beefiest motors and heaviest-duty mechanical parts in any household appliance.

Parts to Salvage

Teardown Safety

• Unplug first. Obvious, but worth stating.
• The concrete counterweight is extremely heavy and mounted at the top of front-loaders. It can fall when you remove the outer housing. Support it before unbolting.
• Springs and shock absorbers are under tension. They can snap when disconnected. Wear goggles.
• Front-loader doors have a glass window — tempered glass, but can shatter if the door is dropped.

Tools Needed

• Socket set, screwdrivers
• Pliers, wire cutters
• Bearing puller (for extracting bearings from the drum shaft)
• Helper (washing machines are heavy)

Dryer

Dryers are simpler machines than washers, but the motor and heating element are valuable.

Parts to Salvage

Teardown Safety

• Electric dryers run on 240V. Even unplugged, be aware of the wiring gauge and terminal block. The heating element circuit is 240V — double the shock hazard of 120V appliances.
• Gas dryers have a gas valve and burner assembly. Ensure the gas supply is disconnected before teardown. Let any residual gas dissipate (open garage door, wait 15 minutes).
• The drum is large and awkward. The front panel usually comes off first, then the drum lifts out. Have a helper.

Tools Needed

• Screwdrivers (Phillips, 1/4" hex head)
• Socket set
• Putty knife (for releasing top panel clips)
• Wire cutters

Dishwasher

Dishwashers are underrated salvage sources — the pump, motor, and solenoid valves are high-quality water-handling components.

Parts to Salvage

Teardown Safety

• The water supply must be disconnected before removing a dishwasher. Drain residual water from hoses.
• The heating element may be wired to 240V in some models. Verify before handling.
• The tub edges can be sharp where the insulation has been removed.
• Dishwashers are compact and parts are tightly packed. Work methodically from the front panel inward.

Tools Needed

• Screwdrivers, socket set
• Adjustable wrench (for water connections)
• Pliers
• Towels (residual water will spill)

Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuum cleaners contain high-speed motors and air-handling components perfect for airflow-based builds.

Parts to Salvage

Teardown Safety

• Vacuum motors run at extremely high RPM. If you test the motor outside the housing, secure it firmly — the torque can spin the motor body violently if it's not clamped down.
• Carbon brush dust inside the motor housing is conductive and messy. Work on a surface you don't care about.
• Some vacuums have capacitors for motor starting. Discharge before handling.

Tools Needed

• Screwdrivers (often Torx or security bits)
• Pliers
• Wire cutters

Printer / Scanner

Printers and scanners are gold mines for precision motion components — stepper motors, linear rails, belts, and optical sensors.

Parts to Salvage

Teardown Safety

• Laser printers contain toner — a fine, electrostatically charged powder that gets everywhere. Wear a dust mask and old clothes. Toner is difficult to clean from carpet and fabric.
• DVD/Blu-ray laser diodes can damage your eyes even at low power. Never look into the beam. Handle with the laser powered off.
• Some printer power supplies have high-voltage capacitors on the AC side. Discharge before handling.

Tools Needed

• Small Phillips screwdrivers
• Torx drivers (T8, T10, T15 common in printers)
• Pliers, wire cutters
• Dust mask (for laser printers)

CRT Television

CRT TVs are mostly obsolete, but they contain some unique high-voltage components that can't be sourced anywhere else.

Parts to Salvage

Teardown Safety

• CRT TVs can kill you. The anode on the CRT tube can hold 25,000+ volts for weeks or months after unplugging. NEVER touch the anode cap (the suction cup thing on the side of the tube) without discharging it first. Discharge procedure: connect a high-value resistor (10M ohm) between the anode and the chassis ground (the DAG coating or grounding strap). You should hear a loud snap. Verify with a multimeter.
• The CRT tube itself is under vacuum. If the tube breaks, it implodes violently, sending glass fragments in all directions. Wear safety goggles, gloves, and long sleeves. Work on a soft surface (blanket on the floor).
• The phosphor coating on the screen may contain toxic compounds (especially in color CRTs). Do not break the screen intentionally. Do not inhale or handle phosphor dust.
• Leaded glass. CRT glass contains significant lead. Do not grind, cut, or dispose of in regular trash. Treat as e-waste.

Tools Needed

• Insulated screwdrivers (long-shaft, for anode discharge)
• High-value resistor and wire (for discharge tool)
• Socket set, screwdrivers
• Multimeter
• Safety goggles, gloves, long sleeves

Old Laptop

Dead laptops are one of the densest sources of useful components — screens, batteries, cameras, and more in a compact package.

Parts to Salvage

Teardown Safety

• Lithium batteries can catch fire if punctured, short-circuited, or crushed. Remove the battery pack carefully. Do not pry near the cells with metal tools. If a cell is swollen (puffy), it is damaged — do not attempt to reuse it. Dispose at a battery recycling center.
• CCFL-backlit screens (older laptops) have an inverter board that produces 600-1000V AC for the backlight tubes. LED-backlit screens (modern laptops) are much safer.
• Some laptops have small CMOS batteries (CR2032 coin cells) that may leak. Check for corrosion.

Tools Needed

• Small Phillips screwdrivers (#0, #1)
• Plastic pry tools (guitar picks, spudgers)
• Tweezers
• Anti-static wrist strap (if reusing sensitive components)

Old Phone / Tablet

Phones and tablets are packed with sensors, cameras, and displays in an incredibly compact form factor. Even "dead" ones often have working components.

Parts to Salvage

Teardown Safety

• Phone batteries are LiPo (lithium polymer) — more dangerous than 18650 cells if punctured. LiPo cells are in soft pouches and can swell, vent, or catch fire if damaged. NEVER pry near the battery with metal tools. Use plastic spudgers only.
• Phones are held together with adhesive. Heat guns and iFixit opening tools are essential. Too much heat can ignite the battery.
• For most builds, you don't need to disassemble the phone at all. Use it as a complete device running apps for sensor access and display output. Disassembly is only for advanced component harvesting.

Tools Needed

• iFixit toolkit or equivalent (pentalobe, Torx, tri-point drivers)
• Plastic spudgers and picks
• Suction cup (for screen removal)
• Heat gun or hair dryer (for softening adhesive)
• Anti-static mat

Electric Scooter / Hoverboard

Dead electric scooters and hoverboards are the best source of high-power brushless motors, ESCs, and battery packs.

Parts to Salvage

Teardown Safety

• The battery pack is live and dangerous. A 36V pack can deliver enormous current if short-circuited. Disconnect the battery first before working on anything else. Tape over exposed terminals.
• BLDC motors generate voltage when spun. If you spin the wheel by hand, the motor produces back-EMF. This won't kill you at low speed, but it can spark if wires touch.
• Some hoverboards caught fire due to cheap battery cells and inadequate BMS protection. If the battery pack looks puffy, damaged, or corroded, do NOT reuse it. Dispose at a battery recycling center.

Tools Needed

• Allen keys (hex wrenches — metric)
• Screwdrivers
• Wire cutters and strippers
• Multimeter (for battery voltage verification)
• Electrical tape

Humidifier

Ultrasonic humidifiers contain one of the most interesting components in all of consumer electronics — the ultrasonic transducer disc.

Parts to Salvage

Teardown Safety

• The transducer operates at high frequency (1.7 MHz). Don't run it dry — the disc overheats and shatters within seconds without water.
• The driver board may have capacitors that hold a charge. Discharge before handling.
• Mineral buildup on the transducer disc is normal. Clean with vinegar before testing.

Tools Needed

• Screwdrivers
• Pliers
• Multimeter

Power Tools

Dead or damaged power tools contain motors, gears, chucks, and switches that are overbuilt and durable.

Parts to Salvage

Teardown Safety

• Remove the battery pack (cordless) or unplug (corded) before disassembly.
• Springs under tension are common in power tools (trigger springs, blade guard springs). They can fly when released.
• Gear assemblies are packed with grease. Work on a surface you don't mind getting oily.
• Angle grinders have guard mounting points — always use a guard when repurposing the motor/disc assembly.

Tools Needed

• Torx and hex drivers
• Screwdrivers
• Bearing puller (for motor shaft bearings)
• Snap ring pliers (for gear assemblies)
• Rags (for grease)

General Teardown Tips

1. Photograph everything before you start. Take pictures of wire connections, screw locations, and assembly order. You'll want these references if you need to figure out how something was connected.

2. Label wires. Tape or tag wires as you disconnect them, noting what they connect to. A bag of unlabeled wires is useless.

3. Sort parts immediately. Have bins or bags ready: "motors," "fasteners," "electronic modules," "wire," "scrap." A pile of unsorted parts is just a different kind of junk.

4. Test before storing. Use a multimeter to verify motors spin, switches work, and components aren't burned out. There's no point storing dead parts.

5. Keep the screws. Appliance screws are often unusual sizes (metric, security Torx, etc.). Keep them with the parts they came from.

6. Recycle what you don't use. Scrap metal (steel, copper, aluminum) has value. E-waste recycling centers take the rest. Don't throw appliance parts in the regular trash.