Can I microwave a credit card?

[Cock Womble 7]

If I wanted to dispose of a credit card (in order to stop me from using it) I would usually grab the kitchen scissors and cut the bugger into random pieces, before throwing all but a few of them into the bin. The rest I would eat (these people can steal your identity from your dustbin, don't you know?).

However, this seems a little low-tech to someone who has access to a microwave (yep, that's right - I'm dead space age me.)

So, would it work? Would it shrivel up into an unrecognisable sim-card-sized object, or would the metal bits in it cause arcing and destroy my microwave from the inside?

Or is the answer "try it - see what happens"?

[patmahe]

Its only worth doing if you put it in a steel bowl full of petrol first

[iggletiggle]

• Sensible head* It is likely that the metal in the 'chip' will cause arcing and destroy your microwave

• PH*

Try it, record it and post it up on here.

[Matt Black]

Yea try it and video it

I usually cremate my old bank cards with a small plumbing type blow torch!

[soad]

doogz said:

Try it.

It'll probably go badly, so take a video.

This, don't forget to video the unfolding drama to entertain us.

[Podie]

soad said:

doogz said:

Try it.

It'll probably go badly, so take a video.

This, don't forget to video the unfolding drama to entertain us.

Dial two 9's as well... then it's only one press away from help.

[DrTre]

I doubt the OP is in possession of a video camera.

Put it in the normal oven, like everyone (me) used to with crisp packets so they shrank and made miniature crisp packets.

[jesta1865]

Matt Black said:

Yea try it and video it

I usually cremate my old bank cards with a small plumbing type blow torch!

i once did this by accident, i was using a hot air gun on a door, and forgot stuff was behind it, i killed a credit card and a pork pie

[Pigeon]

Yes, it will work.

[Matt Black]

DrTre said:

Put it in the normal oven, like everyone (me) used to with crisp packets so they shrank and made miniature crisp packets.

lol I used to do that as a kid, completely forgot about it, must show the kids this small miracle one day now!

[zcacogp]

Podie said:

Dial two 9's as well... then it's only one press away from help.

Little-known fact: The emergency services number in this country is actually 99, not 999.

It is widely advertised as being 999, in order that it can be called from any 'phone. (In most office and internal 'phone systems, you need to dial 9 to get an outside line. This means that you can dial 999 from a 'phone on such a system and still get through to the emergency services.)

>Geek<


Oli.

[Steve_W]

CW, YouTube is your friend:

Microwave

Not the best quality video, but part way through it reminded me of the scene in Terminator when Arnie arrives at the truck stop!

[Marf]

Just run a big magnet over the chip and the strip.

[t84]

zcacogp said:

Podie said:

Dial two 9's as well... then it's only one press away from help.

Little-known fact: The emergency services number in this country is actually 99, not 999.

It is widely advertised as being 999, in order that it can be called from any 'phone. (In most office and internal 'phone systems, you need to dial 9 to get an outside line. This means that you can dial 999 from a 'phone on such a system and still get through to the emergency services.)

>Geek<


Oli.

Do you have a source?

[blindswelledrat]

zcacogp said:

Podie said:

Dial two 9's as well... then it's only one press away from help.

Little-known fact: The emergency services number in this country is actually 99, not 999.

It is widely advertised as being 999, in order that it can be called from any 'phone. (In most office and internal 'phone systems, you need to dial 9 to get an outside line. This means that you can dial 999 from a 'phone on such a system and still get through to the emergency services.)

>Geek<


Oli.

I'll give you "little known", but "fact" is stretching the truth a bit.
A lot in fact- because it's bks.

[King Herald]

A credit card in a microwave does nothing for the first five seconds, then the chip goes 'pop' leaving smudge marks and a melted lump on the card.

I know these things.

A passport also goes 'pop' leaving a hell of a mess around the chip, and no, it is not a subtle way to kill the location beacon in new passports. Not without it being blatantly obvious what you have done anyway.

[blindswelledrat]

doogz said:

So if i dial "99" on my phone, and press the call button, i'll get through to the emergency services?

Everyday's a school day!

BUt a st school that teaches you incorrect things.

[stephen300o]

Put it in the other oven and make a shrinky dink keyring.

[zcacogp]

blindswelledrat said:

zcacogp said:

Podie said:

Dial two 9's as well... then it's only one press away from help.

Little-known fact: The emergency services number in this country is actually 99, not 999.

It is widely advertised as being 999, in order that it can be called from any 'phone. (In most office and internal 'phone systems, you need to dial 9 to get an outside line. This means that you can dial 999 from a 'phone on such a system and still get through to the emergency services.)

>Geek<

I'll give you "little known", but "fact" is stretching the truth a bit.
A lot in fact- because it's bks.

Harsh, BSR, harsh.

I can't vouch for it's veracity or otherwise, having never tried it. However it makes sense, and I have no reason to disbelieve it.

My source? I was told it at a first aid course - funnily enough, at school.


Oli.

[DrTre]

blindswelledrat said:

doogz said:

So if i dial "99" on my phone, and press the call button, i'll get through to the emergency services?

Everyday's a school day!

BUt a st school that teaches you incorrect things.

Yeah.

I just tried it on my phone and all i got was a load of ice cream and a Flake shoved in my ear.