What makes a Magnetron dangerous

The real hazard is the beryllium oxide that is contained in the ceramic insulators. They are no hazard as long as it's not disturbed and does not become airborne. Often people are taking them apart for scrap or to get the magnets and may not know that any breaking grinding or cutting may free the beryllium and cause an incurable respiratory health problem called chronic beryllium disease.

[@christopherleubner6633]

Believe it or not, magnetrons for common microwave ovens made since about 1980 have aluminum oxide insulators rather than beryllium oxide. The old amanna radarrange ones do have heryllium oxide. Since the 1990s they use pink ruby alumina to make them easier to sort when recycled. 🤓

[@rolobalb]

Yes, public spirited to warn of the possible dangers of Beryllium oxide dust and what it can inflict upon the unwary. I note others have clarified the colouration of ceramic containing b-oxide and that most now use aluminium oxide instead. However, the magnets may be fun for us eternal Peter Pans, but the ion chamber is fashioned entirely from copper, therefore does have some value to scrappers

[@CurmudgeonExtraordinaire]

Those symptoms you list sound just like the symptoms of getting older.

[@fxrmike5145]

That's what I thought...no cure for that either

[@SolutionsNotPrayers]

Horsetail is an herbal supplement that removes heavy metals from the body. Taken in large doses it has been known to remove the mercury fillings in teeth. Since Beryllium is a metal, horsetail can be used to remove it.

[@naau658]

@@SolutionsNotPrayers there is a large difference between Mercury and Beryllium, just looking at the periodic table.

[@naau658]

@@SolutionsNotPrayers Beryllium is NOT a Heavy Metal, it’s actually a light metal like Lithium or Aluminium

[@powerplay4real174]

Covid nineteen too 😊

[@ironmartysharpe8293]

DANGER ⚠ Before attempting to remove a magnetron , Be absolutely sure to discharge the capacitor and the magnetron itself because no matter how long the unit has been unplugged , They can hold a charge that is LETHAL , And NEVER NEVER ATTEMPT TO POWER UP A MAGNETRON WITHOUT IT BEING INSTALLED IN THE MICROWAVE , Doing so will expose you to very dangerous levels of microwave radiation , If servicing a microwave yourself , It is strongly advisable to get a microwave leak detector to make sure there is no leakage of microwave radiation , In everything you do , ALWAYS PUT SAFETY FIRST!!!!!

[@m3sca1]

ironmarty Sharpe have you seen the video by those silly russions on Kreosan channel? Door open holding shit in front of it.

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

m3sca1 That sounds tragically hillarious.

[@m3sca1]

InsideOfMyOwnMind they do all sorts of dumb things for views

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

I just +d both of you because if you combine your opinions into one person that is me.

[@jimmyfavereau]

put your cell phone in a microwave oven and then call it.. any leaks? how about 5G? danger will robinson!

[@MadScientist512]

I pulled apart a bunch of these in my younger days and I've still still got the magnets, don't have those symptoms but since finding out about beryllium I certainly won't be doing it again!

[@newalla344]

Thanks for pointing out all the safety points, good for everyone.

[@Mic_Glow]

What about not powering one up without proper shielding? That's safety concern number 1....

[@mrbane2000]

U.S Active denial system: "Hold my beer"

[@ROTAXD]

Oh, geez...that's nice to know. When I was a teenager working at Sears product services, I used to tear mags apart to get the magnets. I'm not really sure if I chipped the ceramic, but it would not surprise me. Smh

[@elliott8596]

You'd know if you did.

[@yoshi0k262]

jeez how tf are you not dead old microwaves didnt have the part that bleeds the charge of the capacitor so they would prob still have most there charge from testing if you fucked with it or even some models touched it you would instantly die

[@kaspervestergaard2383]

@@elliott8596 That is not for sure no. Many will never get any side effects.

[@killerdalek]

Yikes! Don't forget the radioactive Thorium electrode in the vacuum tube!

[@qrelectronicrepair1802]

The what?

[@somacoma2219]

@@qrelectronicrepair1802 Vacuum tube... vacuum chamber... same principle. Thorium is an alpha particle emitter. It used to be used in certain kinds of welding rods, and in the filaments of antique gas lamps. Alpha particle emissions can be blocked completely with a piece of paper. You don't want to inhale it though, so unless you are cracking open the vacuum chamber to the magnetron, and grinding on the tiny electrode filament you have nothing to worry about.

[@5commandomerc]

Dude, I weld with tungsten/thorium electrodes, guess what we grind them to a point... frequently!

[@5commandomerc]

Vacuum tubes have throated filaments as well....I guess a magnetron, is a vacuum tube of sorts?!?

[@MOWGLI71770]

Damn! I thought he was going to show us how to make a Ray Gun out of one. ;-)

[@dragonrider4253]

I believe that "sensor" that you pointed out is actually a "thermal cutout", basically, if the device gets too hot, that trips, killing power to the magnetron.

[@paulmoore9908]

defined : thermostat.

[@markburnop2727]

Jeremy Allen “

[@EarlGray_kd7sjt]

Thermal cutout or thermal switch is actually the correct term. A thermostat is used to regulate temperature. It wouldn't be used to shut something down in an emergency.

[@h6502]

a thermostat will switch back on relatively quickly after having cooled beneath a certain temperature. a thermal cutoff might trip back after a while but usually they either have to be manually reset or they are one shot switches that need to be replaced.

[@derpinbird1180]

Split hairs.

[@samuelluria4744]

Wow! Thank you for the public safety message!!!! I don't know what a magnetron even is, but i will be on the lookout if I ever am in doubt. And I'm being serious, in case it seems like I'm being sarcastic.

[@cocotug0]

is the microwave generator in a microwave oven

[@PhilipBlumelAACHB]

I hit one of those with a hammer as a kid years ago, I can only hope it used aluminum oxide...

[@matejbrezan6887]

Philip Blumel same here 😂😂

[@AdamAvacado]

are you still alive

[@memyselfandi6422]

Damn it ! >:o( Thanks for spoiling my fun , I've got 2 broken microwave ovens at home and I was gonna pull them to pieces to get the big ass magnets out of them. Now, I'm not gonna touch it.

[@TheTundraTerror]

Get a respirator, some safety glasses/goggles, and a decent pair of gloves.

[@vint.k1727]

And jus be careful it's easy to get the mags out w. Out breaking those things

[@77Avadon77]

Why bother you can get much stronger magnets off of eBay for cheap

[@E-Kat]

thank you for saving me...I was going to get the magnet out!

[@TheTacoPandemic]

It's alright if you get the magnet out. I've done it a few times. You just have to be careful of the ceramic. Practice safety even if it doesn't contain beryllium.

[@ElementofKindness]

Huh! All those symptoms describe me just getting old. Surprised he didn't also say balding, love handles, and the requirement of bifocals.

[@ElementofKindness]

Ha! Well, I still have being young at heart, I suppose!

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

Element of Kindness exactly. I've been 18 for 44 years.

[@SomethingtoappeaseGoogle-1024]

typical brony

[@marywillis1630]

And no cure...... figures

[@babyboysmash6615]

gotta love feeling young even if your not

[@tedtw]

Magnetron operates on about 2000 volts DC, which is derived from one transformer winding with a simple diode and capacitor. About 6 volts from separate transformer winding are used to heat the filament. Filament is mounted in the center of a circular chamber in the metal block with a high vacuum, with several small. straight channels leading radially outward into small chambers. Electrons emitted by the filament travel into the smaller chambers, where external magnets force the electrons to spin, emitting microwaves. These microwaves exit the end of the tube and are guided to the oven.

[@spikester]

More like 4000V DC, the 2000V you mention is AC straight from the transformer before it gets half-wave converted to DC by the diode and doubled with the capacitor.

[@v31.48]

Filament takes 2 or 3 V not 6

[@awesomechapro]

I have heard that most of the time if the ceramic insulator is white, it is most likely beryllium oxide. However if it is a pinkish colour, then it's most likely aluminum oxide. That could be not entirely true though, still take proper precautions just in case it is beryllium oxide.

[@timm.6391]

Thought I'd seen somewhere that they stopped using that radioactive element in these things. There was a way to distinguish looking at the magnetron to be able to tell the radioactive ones from non radioactive. Though I'm not 100% positive on this. Just seems I remember seeing something about it.

[@evilsharkey8954]

Beryllium isn’t radioactive. It’s toxic.

[@makeminefreedom]

Thanks for the warning. I have an old microwave that I wanted to remove the magnets from now I think I will just toss it.

[@QTProductionsofUtah]

Suppose the newer ones are beryllium free, how does one tell the difference? I feel like looking online will only give me very mixed and confusing results (what a surprise), so better to treat them all the same and just assume they have it.

[@JustinLodes]

That's good to be safe than sorry. But to answer your question. The white ones are aluminum oxide. If it has pink ceramic then is beryllium oxide

[@geoffrohde3434]

You are repeating misinformation

[@KC9UDX]

There's no way to tell, at least not at home. Considering where these things are made, it really is best to assume the worst

[@meagain2222]

Exposure Limits for Beryllium Oxide NIOSH REL Ca C 0.0005 mg/m3 See Appendix A OSHA PEL TWA 0.002 mg/m3 C 0.005 mg/m3 (30 minutes), with a maximum peak of 0.025 mg/m3

[@Bodragon]

They don't use berillium any more. Not for the last 30 years. Aluminum oxide. Perfectly safe these days.

[@KC9UDX]

Bodragon uh huh, you've seen them being made? Are you even sure where they're made?

[@55nsmooth]

You are incorrect. While it may not be as widely used as it used to be, it is still in use. It has unique and valuable thermal properties. Mitigation of it's hyperallergenic affects is not difficult.

[@IllusivePrime]

I'm no electrician engineer, but when a microwave is in use how does the berilyum oxcide not contaminate the food? What safe guard is in place?

[@ovalwingnut]

Thanks for the "beryllium" tip (no pun intended).. I did not know that :)

[@BrianThomas]

Question: what type of facial protection can be used to protect you from beryllium?

[@tomitstube]

the dangerous element of beryllium is breathing the dust, (caused by breaking or agitating it) beryllium is highly compatible with oxygen meaning the molecules quickly attach, then you breath it, and it attaches to your lungs. it can kill you depending on how much you breathe. it is suggested to wrap the beryllium part shown with tape.

[@kenw.1112]

A magnatron operates at 2.450ghz (2,450mhz) that device attached to the side is a thermostat that opens when the temperature goes above a preset level. If you pop the metal cover off the bottom you will find 2 coils (Rf chokes)

[@NoviSavvy]

White ceramic seems to be just aluminum oxide. Although I'm not sure enough to recommend anyone breaking it anyway. But if it appears pink that is most probably beryllium ceramic

[@SomaElectricals]

If i broke the beryllium tube and left the room immediately without breathing can i return the next day?

[@GoldSrc_]

I've read that Beryllium oxide was only used on old magnetrons, "newer" magnetrons are supposed to have Aluminium oxide. I've been trying to find more info on that though.

[@User-nu6km]

+Gordon Freeman i think so too, becuse beryllium is expensive

[@JustinLodes]

The one in this video isn't beryllium. If it's white then it's aluminum oxide. Pink ones are beryllium oxide

[@GoldSrc_]

JustinLodes Are you sure?, because I've read different things all over the internet. If you could point me to a good source, I would appreciate so much.

[@geoffrohde3434]

Your right. Pink color is addition of chromium dioxide for extra hardness. Look up manufacturers data and find Samsung and panasonic for example have never used BeO. BeO is 500 more expensive than Al2O3 (Alumina) which does same job for domestic apps. BeO is used in rocket engines, radar systems or industrial microwaves above 50Kwatts. Wikapaedia is of course full of mis-information about these cheap domestic ovens Why use a poison in a domestic product which has a fan to vent its inside to the outside ( breathable air )

[@basshead8555]

So the question remains, is aluminum oxide harmful?

[@flipster6258]

i think, jusing Asbestos Cement would be safer!

[@dirkkatz172]

Some people get very sick of the microwaves: there is tension in the muscles and gives fybromyalgi and chronic fatigue. Most people have no negative results.

[@cuttingedgecool7235]

Thank you Sir for the caution alert about the danger of a Magnetron.

[@travisheck5979]

God dammit, I knew about the damn beryllium I was hoping you were gonna talk about the dangers of it when it's ON

[@jadealone]

wow, thank you, Im looking into scrapping stuff and this is definately good to know

[@mckfc7193]

I'm guessing that beryllium stuff you speak of wouldn't be a good cut for the product I'm dealing on the east side.

[@prodkerstii]

i mean, it is a valuable material so maybe you could get some money.

[@CloroxBleach0]

next on youtube: "DIY How To Disassemble A Magnetron"

[@TheOneG36]

WTF, if this is true for all Microwaves, why the fac, none of them say, "if breaks leave room, call 911"?

[@brendon209]

If anybody is smart enough to tear it apart and break the emitter antenna then they should call nine-one-one on themselves really.

[@ocayaro]

Magnetron is a vacuum tube diode operated with a positive antenna that issues its output into the cooking chamber.

[@jaddy540]

During ww2,as a firecontrolman on DD540, on Oahu,we were sent to A hill above salt lake,where they had a primitive radar station. It was here that we first got to operate radar. Then, before supper we walked down and went skinny dipping in salt lake?Anyone here familiar with that?. Hickham was the base.

[@oibal60]

I remove the magnets and put them around the oil filter on my car.

[@Bill23799]

Magnetron is dangerous because he is the enemy of the peaceful Autobots.

[@vytas5584]

The other hazard being turning it on?

[@MickeyD2012]

Yeah, I thought the dangerous part was possibly frying your brain with microwaves.

[@gunsofvengeance2229]

Capacitor..

[@PaulHigginbothamSr]

For one thing, you point it right at your eye, and in about ten seconds you have heated the lens of your eye enough to develop cataracts.

[@BeckJoseR]

Thank you. A life saver

[@fretzopenmic6754]

I broke one out i had no idea ..since i have been feeling dizzy and nauseous ..guess i'm fucked...shit..now what the hell do i do...ty for this wish i had known before..

[@qwertykeyboard5901]

fretzopenmic was the tip pink?

[@stevebailey1632]

All airborne metals are potentially hazardous, including silicon ,calcium, sulphur,carbon,etc. What comes out of your tailpipes is extremely hazardous ,killing countless numbers this year .

[@CTimmerman]

I don't think carbon is a metal, but lungs don't breathe solids.

[@squirrel3211able]

just be careful don't go hitting them with hammers or throwing them on the ground making them dust up

[@johndexterzarate6663]

....Wait, this isn't a giant magnet on threads

[@michaelbodicker5745]

congratiolations, you just solved covid.

[@BrasspineappleProductions]

Good info to know.

[@raym9691]

They technically are an antenna and they emit radio waves

[@dBREZ]

Damn...Makes me wonder while being a kid. All the crap I took apart...Just because. Did I expose myself to beryllium?

[@keeganpenney169]

Yeah was gonna take an old microwave apart that's door sensors went to get the magnatron---- very glad I bumped into your video because that's not a well known reason why magnatrons are dangerous, most people think its just the microwave energy that's dangerous

[@digitalninja85]

You need to be very careful not to let optimus prime anywhere near the magnetron or it will fuck your microwave up.

[@andreamaccanti2241]

I completely shattered a microwave as i was younger, am i going to die?

[@electroimpex8897]

Maybe

[@rickgammon6238]

Of course you're going to die. May take 50-70 years, but everyone dies. Sheesh.

[@davidmarzolino7159]

Andrea Maccanti If you haven't already, you should soon start acquiring random superpowers.

[@tomspeed2000]

i believe Beryllium banned many years ago due to high toxicity, its not possible at this time they using it at kitchen device also if it does they put some warning sign on it for sure

[@drakesavage1979]

Andrea Maccanti * Yes, nobody gets off this rock alive.

[@kaschfrick9664]

Thank you sir, most appreciable caution and information.

[@physicsandmathemathicssimp833]

If it's white it dosen't contain berylium just in the cathode it has tholium or something like that it's still radioactive and dangerous .

[@JustinLodes]

That magnetron doesn't have beryllium oxide. It has aluminum oxide. Pink = beryllium and white = aluminum oxide

[@geoffrohde3434]

Pink is addition of Chromium dioxide for extra hardness and is used here as a leftover product. BeO and Al2o3 ARE BOTH white

[@vinaybhaskarchandratre7762]

John J. Rambo right Al2O3 white , Be metal is toxic and fatal in small quantities.

[@williamarnold1234]

Yes, beryllium is white. Its used on rf tubes and xray tubes also.

[@jamesbrandon8582]

I have tons of magnetrons both pink and white ceramic.. are they both as dangerous?

[@mrbane2000]

1:49 I don't have anything my... It's your magnetron

[@virtuoso8093]

The symptoms are coughing and aching joints? Umm...

[@veleriphon]

But, WHY is such a hazardous material used there?

[@carmichaelmoritz8662]

i have major joint pains and have breathing problems , i have been exposed to ceramic dust and yet the doctors have never checked if this is the actual cause of my issues . the way i see it is that everything is about money .

[@BOOMBABY2020]

I'VE GOT ALL THOSE SYMPTOMS BUT NEVER BEEN NEAR A MICROWAVE

[@Alpaax]

Because your phone is one big microwave the network towers as well. Even if it states it's non ionising radiation you're still getting those waves

[@BOOMBABY2020]

@@Alpaax true mate

[@peterxyz3541]

Thanks! You prevented my future stupid self👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼. I was looking into pulling the power supply from a salvaged microwave to make an emergency welder

[@dominicestebanrice7460]

Given the wavelength of 2.45 GHz microwaves generated in a typical magnetron, why is the antenna so stumpy? How does the antenna actually radiate?

[@skyshaq4452]

I remember breaking alot of these stuff when i was a kid special the little white thing on it

[@robertgift]

I gothe magnets. How do we properly dispose the magnetron?

[@CurmudgeonExtraordinaire]

Hmmm... I'm thinking magnetron based rodent trap / killer.

[@Самоделионполезион]

Полезное устройство для ионизации газа в газовом лазере и получения плазмы в плазменной горелке.

[@finddeniro]

I scrap em. .Magnetics..Copper...and Aluminium...

[@dennisfarquharson8114]

Just like Covid

[@TheChemicalWorkshop]

If there is a lot of berilium oxide it may be worth extracting and doing some chemistry....hmmm....

[@j.a.mcbean.4043]

It can be converted in a laser gun

[@BL-xh5td]

hello. thank you for the video. is it safe to replace the antenna cap, if the insulator is made of beryllium? will twisting the cap off break off any of the ceramic or disturb it?

[@BGTech1]

Can anyone tell me if it is safe to cut apart a magnetron without damaging the ceramic to get the copper cavity for the copper?

[@joselbazcom4221]

BG Tech you can find a good and helpful demonstration in youtube channel: Tin Man Scrapper.

[@stevenbailey3038]

people are dying from car exhaust daily

[@KC9UDX]

Steven Bailey not quite the same.

[@jamespruett7447]

No, people are dying daily because they are unlucky! If you are lucky you live to get old like me! I've breathed the same air as all the others born in the same year but are now dead.

[@johnnyjames7139]

Bull shit! Car exhaust is so clean from a 3 way cat converter that it consists of water and co2. Oh and, there is NO MAN CAUSED CLIMATE CHANGE.

[@upyours1256]

true johnny

[@mneedes2]

Not quite the same, because it's more like sticking your hand into a crocodile's mouth !

[@phillipdingle4801]

The magnatron was aquired during an exchange of technologies with aliens, some of the things we traded included toothpaste and washing powder!!

[@Biggerbadwolf]

As well as smoking, booze and gambling!

[@Bettinasisrg]

Yes aliens are total addicts! No, I'm serious, totally!

[@jimmyfavereau]

flat water proves the 'globe' is a lie and the bible is true! the only thing that was ever lauched into space was our imagination! Psalm 104:5 He set the earth on its foundations, never to be moved. God Bless! billions stolen yearly from the sheeple!

[@benjaminwebb5759]

So don't crack the ceramic. Thanks, glad I look chit up anymore before I take things apart. I've taken everything from televisions to vacuum cleaners apart. Nothing dangerous in a vacuum but a tube tv is full of led if you crack the tube throw it away or try to recycle it somewhere.

[@ldchappell1]

Cooking frozen cheeseburgers in your microwave will kill your appetite.

[@MrMudNugget]

Do they still use this in microwaves?

[@DN-xl3kq]

Made in Havana.

[@tomvana4270]

Why don’t those things have warnings all over them. Some of us who are curious and tear things apart to see how they work are at great risk.

[@jamessnell3562]

What happens if you take the back Off

[@gunsofvengeance2229]

Cap'n,the beryllium crystals can nut take any more!

[@cadentrim3167]

holy crap....i literally just broke one of those 3 hours ago. I'm fucked

[@christiangeiselmann]

"There is not much you can do with a magnetron" is a pretty incompetent opinion.

[@Mic_Glow]

He doesn't really know what he is talking about and/or made that video at 4.30 AM.

[@christopherkickdintheface7677]

Damn...I've busted those by the hundreds

[@fakku6356]

Thank you but even if you are wearing a mask would affect you?

[@davidson46100]

Wow. I worked beryllium metal years ago and now have all those symptoms. My memory is shot to hell also, and I'm having trouble peeing, or it could be I'm getting old (59).

[@TheChipMcDonald]

MaryandDale Davidson Be exposure may end up being another legal situation like asbestos contamination. There is a be health organization you should look up...

[@jimmybriscoe8918]

Well damn dont drop a microwave

[@VentiVonOsterreich]

Post apocalypse games/films should have a dude with a huge pile of microwave ovens with their cavity magnetrons removed and used for radar equipment

[@johndias6614]

Thank you for the information. Be safe folks.

[@aripaleswky9724]

what happens if you put in water

[@Bettinasisrg]

My grampa smoked 2 berylliums a day for 50 years, never bothered him! OK so what about all the microwaves smashed in landfills every day? Guess we'll all be hurting something fierce, or maybe already are!?!

[@WD-dc6we]

K, I am fucked. I broke all of the magnetron to get the magnets Thanks youtube

[@hhhhhhhfjjrjrjrjrirh148]

How do I safely take it apart I'm trying to get the thorium

[@dannyjaar]

new magnetrons are Beryllium free

[@geoffrohde3434]

They always have been in domestic app's

[@infinityhighway5092]

Whoo Hooo, SO IS THE NEW WORLD ORDER!!!! YEAH BOIIIYYY!!!!!!

[@KC9UDX]

Do you trust "Made in that much?

[@mikemcgln5049]

so, if you take out the magnets, and fire it up, you would get a straight beam ////COULD IT BE USED AND SOME SORT OF GUN ?????????

[@ddrusa]

Where do you throw it away in the trash