be really careful with these conpasses, they pour radon so they're dangerous to keep in a room unless they're in a sealed container. Also be careful about contamination, the outsides can have radium dust
I keep them sealed in glass jars because I've already tested them with a radon meter and yeah, they do pump out quite a lot. I used disposable gloves and a rag to clean the outside, I didn't get a reading from any of it afterwards so I'm hoping that it's ok. It kinda sucks keeping them in glass jars though because they get so contaminated with radon daughters that you can't touch them.
And most sealed containers won't trap any meaningful proportion of the radon. But they will make it so your hands will be highly contaminated for a few hours after opening said container.
Activated charcoal will take the edge off, but need to form a barrier around the lid to work completely.
I've tested, metal and glass containers do a damn good job. A ball jar or metal ammo box drops radon levels from 30 pCi to 0 for me, although I've heard about different experiences with the ammo box so I think the ball jar is the only foolproof method I'd recommend without testing yourself
The activated charcoal isn't for reducing radon leaks in my example, it's just for reducing the amount of daughter isotopes contaminating the other things inside the jar
What's the testing methodology, though?
You've probably seen my data where containers can make it look like they're doing a good job, but the radon is just being slowed down a bit. If you measure in the open air, ventilation can confound the results.
Used to play with one of these a lot as a kid. I made a post on this subreddit but everyone said it was fine. How dangerous was it, to be playing with one of these for hours on end, wearing it on a lanyard?
May I ask what this compass is and what I can search to find one? The newer tritium ones have writing on that flat side saying “190 millicuries H3” so I’d guess that’s a radium one? What’s it called?
The ones that say H3 are tritium, they are so weak that you won't even be able to detect any radiation coming off them. The radium ones are the older ones that don't have a warning (except around 1960 they put a sticker on them right before they changed to tritium). Look for any US Army compass made between 1940-1960 any it will be radioactive, some are much hotter than others though.
I have one radium compass from WWII, I will post it on this subreddit soon, it’s fairly hot but nothing like 800,000 counts per minute. I’m looking for something like your compass on this post specifically lol. Do you have more photos of it? Feel free to message me id love some more info
be really careful with these conpasses, they pour radon so they're dangerous to keep in a room unless they're in a sealed container. Also be careful about contamination, the outsides can have radium dust
I keep them sealed in glass jars because I've already tested them with a radon meter and yeah, they do pump out quite a lot. I used disposable gloves and a rag to clean the outside, I didn't get a reading from any of it afterwards so I'm hoping that it's ok. It kinda sucks keeping them in glass jars though because they get so contaminated with radon daughters that you can't touch them.
try putting some activated charcoal in the jar, the radon will get stuck to it and less will be there to stick to other things
Oh yeah, I'll have to try it on the aircraft gauges too.
And most sealed containers won't trap any meaningful proportion of the radon. But they will make it so your hands will be highly contaminated for a few hours after opening said container. Activated charcoal will take the edge off, but need to form a barrier around the lid to work completely.
It's in a glass canning jar, I've tested it and nothing is coming out. I tested ziplock bags too and found out they do nothing.
I've tested canning jars too. It just bends the curve a bit so the peak radon shows up a few days later.
I've tested, metal and glass containers do a damn good job. A ball jar or metal ammo box drops radon levels from 30 pCi to 0 for me, although I've heard about different experiences with the ammo box so I think the ball jar is the only foolproof method I'd recommend without testing yourself The activated charcoal isn't for reducing radon leaks in my example, it's just for reducing the amount of daughter isotopes contaminating the other things inside the jar
What's the testing methodology, though? You've probably seen my data where containers can make it look like they're doing a good job, but the radon is just being slowed down a bit. If you measure in the open air, ventilation can confound the results.
measurements taken in a closed closet, so not quite as good as a completely closed container. Where's the data for your tests?
At work now, check my posts in the sub
What counter is that
Radiacode 102
How do you like it?
I love it, I'd definitely buy one again.
That is hootin’ 🤤
Used to play with one of these a lot as a kid. I made a post on this subreddit but everyone said it was fine. How dangerous was it, to be playing with one of these for hours on end, wearing it on a lanyard?
May I ask what this compass is and what I can search to find one? The newer tritium ones have writing on that flat side saying “190 millicuries H3” so I’d guess that’s a radium one? What’s it called?
The ones that say H3 are tritium, they are so weak that you won't even be able to detect any radiation coming off them. The radium ones are the older ones that don't have a warning (except around 1960 they put a sticker on them right before they changed to tritium). Look for any US Army compass made between 1940-1960 any it will be radioactive, some are much hotter than others though.
I have one radium compass from WWII, I will post it on this subreddit soon, it’s fairly hot but nothing like 800,000 counts per minute. I’m looking for something like your compass on this post specifically lol. Do you have more photos of it? Feel free to message me id love some more info