Cutting Tungsten (fwd)

To: "'Tesla List'" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Subject: Cutting Tungsten (fwd)
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1998 18:16:39 -0600
Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net


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From:  richard hull [SMTP:rhull-at-richmond.infi-dot-net]
Sent:  Thursday, April 02, 1998 6:22 PM
To:  Tesla List
Subject:  Re: Cutting Tungsten  (fwd)

At 12:22 AM 4/2/98 -0600, you wrote:
>
>----------
>From:  Jim Lux [SMTP:jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net]
>Sent:  Wednesday, April 01, 1998 10:41 AM
>To:  Tesla List
>Subject:  Re: Cutting Tungsten  (fwd)
>
>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 08:01:17 EST
>> From: Hollmike <Hollmike-at-aol-dot-com>
>> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
>> Subject: Re: Cutting Tungsten  (fwd)
>> 
>> Jim, Rich, all,
>>      I just wanted to add that thorium is relatively harmless UNLESS YOU
>> BREATHE THE DUST.  The alpha radiation is blocked by a few inches of air
>> because it is so reactive (a helium ion deficient in two electrons = very
>> ionizing).  If you happen to breathe even a little of the dust, this
>> ionization occurs in lung tissue and becomes extremely damaging.  At 2%
>> thorium,  these rods will send the typical geiger-mueller counter off the
>> scale. 
>Interestingly, I put an unused  2% thoriated electrode next to my GM
>counter's alpha window and got NO increase in count rate. Perhaps the
>electrode is plated with tungsten ( a mighty good alpha blocker) or even a
>film of oil or plastic? Next I'll go look at the grinding wheel the welders
>have been using to grind the electrodes...


Thoriated rod is not very radioactive at all!!!

I have 100% elemental throium on hand in rod and sheet it is moderately hot,
but the 2% rod is vitually dead. 

Richard Hull, TCBOR