Ouch! I have what I thought was a lovely small collection of 8 Big/Baby Bens and a few other old alarm clocks. I enjoy winding one up now and then for the ticking sound. I also have a pretty big collection of old watch dials that I intended to make into some fun jewelry.... I'm thinking procrastination was my friend in this case. The numbers on that loose dial are stunning! I think I may need to treat them as hazardous waste. Rats.
Maybe a museum would be interested... Think I'd be a shame if they get thrown away... Can't help but think about the radium girls and that we need to keep reminders of them and what they've done (not only did most of them die horrific deaths but they also fought to prevent smth similar from ever happening again while they were dying these absolute gruesome deaths)
The Radium 226 used on those watches emits not only Alpha, but Beta and Gamma, but Alpha is completely blocked by both the glass face of the watch, and that plastic envelope of the naked face, resulting in a significant lower CPM. All Gamma is passing through the glass/plastic as if it isn't there, and most or all of the Beta.
If you are looking to get rid of them most county household hazardous waste sites ( the place you take old paint, CFL bulbs, etc. Should also collect household radioactive items.
Throw it in the garbage so a Mexican can dig it out and recycle the materials and now you have radioactive parts all over the country you cant find. That actually happened when Mexicans found an abandoned X-ray machine and recycled the parts
It’s honestly that bad. There is a lot of misconception about radiation. The only way for that watch to be dangerous is if you take the glass cover off and lick the dial.
Not any in particular. There is a wide variety out there. One thing to consider is how large the actual detector is as this will affect sensitivity. Also check out what it can detect as some have limitations. They can be expensive. I got mine used which saved some cash but it still was not cheap.
What do the words on the pocket watch say? I'm looking to buy a radium pocket watch that has the paint in relatively good condition, and that pocket watch doesnt seem too bad
Yup. Radium decays to radon and then to Polonium then to a radioactive form of lead then to Bismuth then yet another form of polonium, then to Lead again then to Bismuth again, then to Polonium again then finally, to a stable form of Lead.
The half-lifes are very short compared to Radium. The Radon has a half life of around 3 days. The others are seconds or minutes. The second to last form of Lead is a little longer with a half life of 22 years.
1500 cpm is not that high. There is a lot of misconception about radiation. Radium clocks are fine to use as long as the glass over is intact. The only way for a clock with radium to be dangerous to you is if you take the cover off and lick it. Also that 1500 cpm is only right up against the watch if he put his Geiger counter an inch or two above it the reading will drop off quite a bit. Radium clocks or watches are fine to have if your not negligent.
Ouch! I have what I thought was a lovely small collection of 8 Big/Baby Bens and a few other old alarm clocks. I enjoy winding one up now and then for the ticking sound. I also have a pretty big collection of old watch dials that I intended to make into some fun jewelry.... I'm thinking procrastination was my friend in this case. The numbers on that loose dial are stunning! I think I may need to treat them as hazardous waste. Rats.
Maybe a museum would be interested...
Think I'd be a shame if they get thrown away...
Can't help but think about the radium girls and that we need to keep reminders of them and what they've done
(not only did most of them die horrific deaths but they also fought to prevent smth similar from ever happening again while they were dying these absolute gruesome deaths)
Just scary.
My friend gave me a pocket watch because it was a radium watch. it hits 10k CPM and is about 300 cpm with beta shield on. It now lives in a lead pig.
Scary stuff.
Holy cow that's quite high x)
Tested an old Elgin pocket watch with a Digialert and only ended up with normal room numbers (40-60cpm). Guess it didn't have a radium dial.
The Radium 226 used on those watches emits not only Alpha, but Beta and Gamma, but Alpha is completely blocked by both the glass face of the watch, and that plastic envelope of the naked face, resulting in a significant lower CPM. All Gamma is passing through the glass/plastic as if it isn't there, and most or all of the Beta.
I have parts of a compass with radium paint what should I do with them I have them in a plastic container wrapped in aluminum tape
If you are looking to get rid of them most county household hazardous waste sites ( the place you take old paint, CFL bulbs, etc. Should also collect household radioactive items.
I have an old military compass that has exposed radium paint inside the lid. It reads over 200K CPM with my SE International Inspector Geiger counter.
Any cancer yet?
He died
Really? News to me.
@noremorse6898 Are you sure it said '200K' CPM and it is not a typo? Did you double check with some other Geiger counter?
Holy shit! Get rid of that watch dial.
Throw it in the garbage so a Mexican can dig it out and recycle the materials and now you have radioactive parts all over the country you cant find. That actually happened when Mexicans found an abandoned X-ray machine and recycled the parts
It’s honestly that bad. There is a lot of misconception about radiation. The only way for that watch to be dangerous is if you take the glass cover off and lick the dial.
Holy cow!
Surprising right?
hello, thanks for the video! Any radiation detector you can suggest?
Not any in particular. There is a wide variety out there. One thing to consider is how large the actual detector is as this will affect sensitivity. Also check out what it can detect as some have limitations. They can be expensive. I got mine used which saved some cash but it still was not cheap.
What do the words on the pocket watch say? I'm looking to buy a radium pocket watch that has the paint in relatively good condition, and that pocket watch doesnt seem too bad
The black watch is a Genovit. It says “Antimagnetic electronically timed phina mainspring”
Try a Ingraham “ Black Watch”
It is a black dial with luminous numerals and hands. Very spicy and relatively had for under $45 on eBay
Did that radiation start affecting your camera?
No. In theory you could pick up gamma artifacts on a camera sensor but would probably need a lot stronger source.
@@SecretNatureChannel I see, could you do an episode on tritium next??
Don't these also give off radon gas?
Yup. Radium decays to radon and then to Polonium then to a radioactive form of lead then to Bismuth then yet another form of polonium, then to Lead again then to Bismuth again, then to Polonium again then finally, to a stable form of Lead.
The half-lifes are very short compared to Radium. The Radon has a half life of around 3 days. The others are seconds or minutes. The second to last form of Lead is a little longer with a half life of 22 years.
I think the majority of the radon is safely trapped in the watches as long as they're not opened.
Ummmm don't get cancer trying to educate us 😢
i would like to own one because i think it is cool but after seeing it hit 1500 RPM I think I rather just stick with my tritium watch lol
Probably for the best. A lot of the radium ones are still very radioactive but sadly no longer glow because the pigment has degraded.
1500 cpm is not that high. There is a lot of misconception about radiation. Radium clocks are fine to use as long as the glass over is intact. The only way for a clock with radium to be dangerous to you is if you take the cover off and lick it. Also that 1500 cpm is only right up against the watch if he put his Geiger counter an inch or two above it the reading will drop off quite a bit. Radium clocks or watches are fine to have if your not negligent.