Salvaging LED's

While you can purchase LED's from almost any source, I usually try and get my source of parts from things that are on the way to the local landfill.

In this particular case, I had a string of defunct white Christmas lights that contained approximately 50 white LED's. To salvage the LED"s from the string, I first had to cut the individual "bulbs" off of the light string with a pair of wire cutters.

LED's ready for harvesting

With the bulbs separated out, the next step is to separate the LED's from the bulb housings.
Start by carefully placing the bulb end (or the part that lights up) of the light into a vice. With a pair of pliers, grasp the socket end of the bulb and with a careful twist, break the bulb end off of the socket.

Put the bulb into a vice and carefully break the bulb off of the socket

At this point you should be able to see the LED poking out of the end of the socket, The next step is to remove the :LED from the socket.

LED ready to be removed

Taking a pair of side cutters, cut the socket in half. When that is done, you should be able to see the LED leads poking out of the bottom of the piece of the socket that contains the LED.

Cut the socket in half

You can the remove the LED form the socket by carefully pulling the LED out from the top of the socket.

Socket cut in half

Removing the LED from the socket

LED is ready for use 

Give the LED a quick test with a battery and you've just successfully recycled a LED from the landfill!