Had a guy at the computer recycling center change how I look at old hard drives

I go to this place off Highway 99 every few months to drop off old parts. About two months ago I was dumping a stack of dead 250GB drives and this older guy stopped me. He asked if he could take them and said he just needed the magnets and platters for his kid's school projects. He spent 20 minutes showing me how he grinds the platters down into little mirrors and uses the magnets to hold notes on his fridge. I felt kinda dumb throwing away something that had so many useful pieces left in it. Has anyone else found a weird second use for old drive parts?

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noahcampbell1d ago

Wait, he grinds the platters down into little mirrors? That blew my mind a little. I've pulled apart old drives myself and just chucked the discs without a second thought. Now I'm wondering how many cool little reflectors I've trashed over the years. The fridge magnet idea is smart too, I might have to start hoarding those strong magnets.