Frank Erskine wrote
Rod Speed wrote
The Natural Philosopher wrote
MM wrote
Andy Dingley wrote
Adam Funk wrote

On a related note, is there a good & easy way
to destroy data CDs? CDs or CD-ROMs?

If they're CD-ROMs, you can microwave them. You need to space
them apart if you're doing a batch (plastic toastrack, or else a $500
silicon wafer processing boat). You also need to do them for just
long enough to nuke the data layer, but without cooking the
plastic or there's a fume problem. For regular industrial use I
was able to use a cheap domestic microwave from Currys, but had
to mod it with a fixed timer and a single big push button.

CDs can't be nuked to reliably kill the data without getting them
hot enough to cause a fume problem. Shredding is easier, although
you do need a hefty shredder.

I do not understand this penchant for microwaving CDs! Toxic,
extremely obnoxious fumes will be released.

Absolute bull****.

Yes.

You simply dont understand: you are rapidly heating the conductive
metallisation which arcs and splits apart without even getting the plastic hot.

It uses the properties of the microwave to put heat into conductors,

No, in fact they just bounce off those. Thats why alfoil on the
ends of say chicken chicken drumsticks stops the ends burning.

It's still a bit cruel to the chicken, isn't it?

**** the chicken.

Thats even crueler.