Resourceful modder turns an old HDD into a dirt cheap disc sander

DIY HDD: As any computer enthusiast will attest, being in the computer business for a few years usually means accumulating a pile of spare parts and hardware components. Old hard drives can be repurposed as additional storage in newer systems, or even transformed into creative modding projects with a few extra pieces and a bit of soldering, and then there's this. One such modder, who enjoys tinkering with electronics and PC hardware, turned a retired hard disk drive into a custom disc sander. Recently featured by Tom's Hardware, the project makes clever use of the 7200 RPM speed of an old WD HDD, along with a few additional components and some basic tools. The creator, known as "ProShorts 101," used a WD Caviar Blue WD1600AAJS drive, dating back to 2009 and offering what was then a lavish 160GB of storage. To complete the build, he incorporated a 30A electronic speed controller, a servo tester, a 12V socket, and sandpaper, which he glued to the HDD's spinning disc. The modder disass ... Read full article.