Circuit Bending is the creative recycling of discarded consumer electronics, usually children’s toys, guitar effects units, inexpensive battery-powered musical instruments, portable CD players, etc., to create unique experimental electronic art by adding wires, knobs, and switches to control new connections within the device’s pre-existing circuitry.
No prior knowledge of electronics is required. Examples can be found on our 'Devices' page. |
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Well for starters - don't bend anything you can't live without (especially if you're just starting out). Also never bend anything that plugs into the wall.
There are definitely some "holy grails" of bending - almost anything by Texas Instruments and Casio.
Lately I've been bending musical greeting cards. They don't just beep out a song anymore. They have actual samples in them now. Which brings me to another guideline - toys that have samples in them are the most desirable. If it says, "hi!" or barks or meows or quacks it's probably a good bet. Toys that merely beep and boop are usually not so fun.
Which brings up the obvious - toys that make sound. You'd be surprised how many students bring toys that make no sound to the workshop. True, you can bend them... but the results have less of an "immediate gratification" quality to them.
Battery-powered video devices are a candidate, but require a monitor to see the results (usually not readily available). |
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Usually the older toys are easier to work with. Here's why. There's a trend in electronics these days towards miniaturization and cost-efficiency that manifests itself in things known as SMDs (Surface Mounted Devices). They are tiny tiny versions of basic electronic components.
It's one thing to go after a fairly "see-able" resistor or capacitor in a toy, and it is quite a different thing to go after a little square of metal smaller than half a match head. It can be done, but requires excellent eyesight. I use one of those big magnifying lamps.
Some of the simplest things bend the best. I have this rather stupid Fischer Price toy that does nothing but count, do the ABCs, and that's about it. I put one clock bend in it and I love it. (SMD based, by the way).
Here's another general rule. Try to stay away from games. Not that they won't bend - just that they are more difficult to work with because you have to actually "play" the game in order to get it to make sound. Kind of a drag when you're trying to get at it's internal circuitry. |
