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Endeav-Tech	*Creating Useful Purposes for the Useless*
If you are trying to get rid of a bunch of CD's, then here are some suggestions. Questions, comments, or suggestions, email: endeavrr@bellsouth.net

What is a CD?

CDs are made of several layers of material. The base is a piece of injection-molded clear polycarbonate plastic, about 4/100 of an inch, 1.2 mm thick. Microscopic bumps, arranged as a single, continuous, extremely long track of data spiraling out from the center of the disk to the edge,are impressed into the plastic, then covered with a thin, reflective layer of aluminum. A thin layer of acrylic plastic is sprayed over the aluminum for protection, and then the label is printed on top. CDs hold more than 700 megabytes (MB) on a disc only 4.8 inches (12 cm) in diameter.

A DVD is very similar to a CD, but has a much larger data capacity, holding about seven times more data than a CD. Both use the same technology. DVDs are the same diameter and thickness as CDs, and they are made using some of the same materials and manufacturing methods. The DVD, however, is made of several layers of injection molded polycarbonate plastic. Aluminum is used for protection behind the inner layers, but a semi-reflective gold layer is used for the outer layers, allowing the laser to focus through the outer and onto the inner layers. Each layer is individually coated with lacquer, then all are squeezed together and cured under infrared light to make a single disc.

There are two types of CDs and DVDs. CDRs and DVDRs are read only and can be used only to play what is already burned on to them usually music or a software program or a movie. There are also "rewritable" CD-RWs and DVD-RWs designed for data storage that can be reburned up to 1000 times.

Recycle your old cd's: Why throw out those useless compact discs when you can use them for fun projects and keep them out of the landfills?
Here are some simple ideas:

A. Hi-Tech Coasters
Using small piece of corkboard, cut four 1 inch squares and glue them to the printed side of the CD or use the pre-gummed felt circle table protectors instead of the cork. You can either paint decorations on the reflective side or leave it as is. Use a piece of tape to cover the center hole. For a coaster holder store them in half of a CD-ROM jewel case.

B. Bird Scarecrow
Hang CDs in your garden or in fruit trees. The shiny surface moving in the breeze will scare away birds.

C. Reflectors
Use as reflectors on fenceposts, driveways, mailbox, or anywhere you want to call attention to in the dark.

D. Disco Ball
Get a large Styrofoam ball and cut your CD’s into tiny squares. Next, glue the pieces on to the Styrofoam ball, attach a string.

E. Garden Markers
Write the name of the vegetable with a permanent marker on the CD. Glue or tack the CD to a stick and put in the ground to mark your garden rows.

F. High-Tech Wall Decorations
Just use a tack in the center hole or use double stick tape to attach them to the wall. You can cover an entire wall or put them in a scattered formation for shiny, rainbow throwing decorations. CD’s make a unique wall border for a teen’s bedroom, just glue the CD’s around the room where a wallpaper border would ordinary go.

G. Checkers
Make a large checker board with the spots the size of the CD's (eight squares by eight squares). Mark 12 CD's with a red "X" using a red marker and 12 CD's with a black "X" with a black marker. Kids will love to play a "high-tech" game of floor checkers.

H. Paper Plate Weights
On outdoor picnics, solve the problem of paper plates blowing away! Place three drops of glue on the outside edge of a CD and put it on the bottom of a paper plate. This will also help to stiffen the paper plate. When you throw the paper plate out, just pull the CD off the bottom.

I. Carpet Protectors
Use them under your couch and chair legs to help protect your carpet from getting furniture indents.

Teachers and kids also like them for crafts. There are several websites that offer more ideas.