Old printed circuit boards with soldered on components can be used to make a hip looking gift for your favorite computer geek. circuit boards consist of layers of plastic with patterned lines of copper or other metal that conducts electricity to the components of a computer. Up-cycle your old circuit boards from your electronic devices by cutting them into shapes and then attaching them to earrings, bracelets, belt buckles, a necklace or use them to create wall art.
Instructions
1 Draw the design for the circuit board cut-out on the old circuit board with a felt tipped pen.
2 Use a drill with a 0.8-millimeter bit and drill holes through the circuit board at the end points or tips of the design that you drew. If the design has smooth edges, say if it is a circle or oval shape, drill four evenly spaced holes around the perimeter of the shape. The holes will allow you to pivot and move the saw while you are cutting so that you can easily follow the lines of the shape you drew.
3 Place the old circuit board in between two clamps, so that there is enough room for the saw to fit and cut out the design.
4 Start at the edge of the printed circuit board closest to the design, and begin to saw through the board with the hobby saw. Cut out the shape from the circuit board with the hobby saw.
5 Sand down the cut edges of the circuit board cut-out with fine grit sandpaper to remove any little curls or flakes of plastic that have been left behind by the saw.
