Asked on Oct 18, 2016

How do you remove the silver from on old CD?

Kathy
by Kathy
How do you remove the silver from on old CD?
  7 answers
  • William William on Oct 18, 2016
    All you need to do for the cheap ones (not the sandwiched ones) is score it a few times with something with a hard edge like a paper clip, scissor, fork, or blunt side of a knife. Take 3 strips of duct tape longer than the cd. Stretch them across the cd horizontally. Make sure the duct tape is completely flat, no bubbles or bunches. Using your finger smooth the duct tape over the label side of the cd. Then test a side of the cd to see which side give easiest. Then pull. It should come off in one big piece. In short, its like waxing hair.
    • Shane Hester Shane Hester on Oct 29, 2020

      How do you then get that silver into silver metal after doing many of them and what of the duct tape , it would be almost impossible to remove the silver from that without some form of melting or liquifying the silver into solution.

  • Rose Brady Rose Brady on Nov 09, 2016
    I can't help but am curious what you would be using them for? Please email me at 2bb4rgov@twc.com as I would like to see your project you may have an awesome idea
    • Kathy Kathy on Nov 10, 2016
      Sun catchers. I have one made from an old cd with the silver removed and it has been painted with a glass paint. It is really pretty.
  • RoseToti RoseToti on Nov 10, 2016
    I do the same as William has said
  • Rose Brady Rose Brady on Nov 10, 2016
    you use it as a decoration or an ornament?
    • Kathy Kathy on Nov 10, 2016
      I have mine hanging in my window but I'm sure you could use it for both. I'll try to attach a picture.
  • Shane Hester Shane Hester on Oct 29, 2020

    So what is the best method for extracting that silver off the duct tape and into silver metal?

  • William William on Oct 29, 2020

    It's just a silver mylar film coating on cd's. Cd's are clear polycarbonate. The mylar coating reflects the laser so it can read and write to the cd. There is no silver metal on cd's.

  • Janice Janice on Apr 16, 2021

    William gave the easiest and most efficient instructions to remove the film from the CDs. Kudos to him!