# Getting tungsten from microwave magnetrons **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 2, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-tungsten-from-microwave-magnetrons/319688 "2005-09-02T02:50:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-tungsten-from-microwave-magnetrons/319688/1 "2005-09-02T02:50:19Z")
For anyone who knows about microwave ovens. I read that the magnetron contains tungsten metal. How much of the metal is used? I am interested in scavenging this out of old microwaves, if it is worth the effort. What shape and size is this tungsten part? How difficult is it to demolish a magnetron? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-tungsten-from-microwave-magnetrons/319688/2 "2005-09-02T02:55:37Z")
> [@antechinus](#): > > What shape and size is this tungsten part? How difficult is it to demolish a magnetron? It’s a filament, similar to those used in light bulbs and vacuum tubes. Its purpose is to heat a a material to give off electrons. The magnetron tubes themselves are very difficult to get open. You’d do far better breaking open a few light bulbs, quite honestly, although forming the metal into a useful shape is problematic. ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-tungsten-from-microwave-magnetrons/319688/3 "2005-09-02T03:10:01Z")
Thanks mate. It obviously is not worth the effort. I may have to actually buy the tungsten. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-tungsten-from-microwave-magnetrons/319688/4 "2005-09-02T03:14:16Z")
> [@antechinus](#): > > Thanks mate. It obviously is not worth the effort. I may have to actually buy the tungsten. May I ask what you need it for? ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-tungsten-from-microwave-magnetrons/319688/5 "2005-09-02T03:31:21Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > May I ask what you need it for? He’s obviously building a 1920’s-style Death Ray. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-tungsten-from-microwave-magnetrons/319688/6 "2005-09-02T03:44:47Z")
Thin tungsten rods are readily available at a welding supply house. They are used as the elctrode GTAW welding. You can get them in diameters up to 1/4" Note that most contain an alloy element and one of the most common is thorium which is mildly radioactive. It isn’t a real hazard apart from breathing dust while griding the tip. You can get pure tungsten electrodes but they are less commonly used so you may have to order them. ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-tungsten-from-microwave-magnetrons/319688/7 "2005-09-02T08:59:38Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > May I ask what you need it for? Yes. > [@CynicalGabe](#): > > He’s obviously building a 1920’s-style Death Ray. Ssshhhh. Not a word. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-tungsten-from-microwave-magnetrons/319688/8 "2005-09-02T09:09:28Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > It’s a filament, similar to those used in light bulbs and vacuum tubes. Its purpose is to heat a a material to give off electrons. The magnetron tubes themselves are very difficult to get open. You’d do far better breaking open a few light bulbs, quite honestly, although forming the metal into a useful shape is problematic. Can’t he just melt it down? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-tungsten-from-microwave-magnetrons/319688/9 "2005-09-03T02:31:10Z")
I had a piece of tungsten half an inch thick and 4 by 6 inches in area. This damn thing was almost impossible to pick up off a table top. Carrying it gives you the uncanniest feeling that there’s a spring attached to it somewhere, pulling it down. Really a remarkable sensation. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-tungsten-from-microwave-magnetrons/319688/10 "2005-09-03T14:45:57Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > May I ask what you need it for? “They found me in a meteor! I need tungsten to live! Tuuungsten!” ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-tungsten-from-microwave-magnetrons/319688/11 "2005-09-03T18:41:13Z")
It would be _very difficult_ to melt tungsten considering that its melting point is 3,410° Celsius (6,170° F) **Napier** mentioned that it has a high density. As a matter of fact its specific gravity is 19.30 which is _very_ close to gold’s density of 19.32. Hey, I wonder if someone tried to gold plate or even put a veneer of gold on top of tungsten, if they could … er never mind. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-tungsten-from-microwave-magnetrons/319688/12 "2005-09-04T01:12:37Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > **Napier** mentioned that it has a high density. As a matter of fact its specific gravity is 19.30 which is _very_ close to gold’s density of 19.32. Hey, I wonder if someone tried to gold plate or even put a veneer of gold on top of tungsten, if they could … er never mind. 😃 Methinks the standard dental pressure application test, wouldn’t have any problems detecting gold plated tungsten. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-tungsten-from-microwave-magnetrons/319688/13 "2005-09-04T05:38:50Z")
**Random Letters** I was merely thinking in my limited Archimedian mentality. I failed to think of the more sophisticated analytical test of which you speak. (Yes gold is _much_ more maleable than tungsten isn’t it?) Incidentally, tungsten was discovered in 1783 and so if it were to be used for “couterfeiting” gold, it would be a fairly recent phenomenon. Now _I’m_ getting kind of interested in getting a chunk of tungsten myself. That tungsten slab that **Napier** mentioned (½" by 4" by 6") would have weighed about 8.3 pounds. (If I did my calculations correctly). If nothing else, something like that would make an interesting paperweight. I’m wondering if the cost of something like that would be somewhat prohibitive. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-tungsten-from-microwave-magnetrons/319688/14 "2005-09-04T05:49:07Z")
[Tungsten sample, 1 kg., cylindrical. $195.00](http://cgi.ebay.com/Tungsten-solid-metal-cylinder-HEAVY-1kg-element-sample_W0QQitemZ6157938294QQcategoryZ413QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem).