Re: Tungsten

["David Trimmell" <davidt-at-xxxxxxxx> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-xxxxxxxxxx>)]

Actually it (Thorium 232) is a Alpha emitter (decay, but does emit a small 
amount of low energy Gamma), it has a low Specific Activity: 1.5e-3 Ci/g, 
or 1.6e7 disintegrations per second/gram. I found that any pancake type GM 
probe will detect the activity, about 40 to 80 Counts per minute above 
background (assuming 10% efficiency, 2pi geo, <60 cpm background) from a 
couple rods at <0.5 inch. In the short: someone making a couple or three 
RSG will not expose them selves to a long-term harmful amount of Ionizing 
radiation, BUT, anyone doing this on a ongoing basis (manufacturing and 
selling RSG) should take very stringent exposure precautions, not only from 
the radioactive constituents, but also from the metal dusts.

Regards,

David Trimmell
www.ChaoticUniverse-dot-com

At 03:33 PM 11/3/00, you wrote:
>Original poster: "Jim Lux" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>
><snip>
>
>Thorium is a beta emitter... Goes right through the plastic bag holding the
>mantle..
>
>There is a company making special TIG electrode grinders with filters, etc.
>just to accomodate those who fear the 2% thorium.  As a practical matter,
>you don't get much exposure (laying the electrode right on the window of my
>geiger counter doesn't even raise the background count).  Thorium isn't
>particularly active (i.e. it has a long half life, and you need a lot of
>thorium to get a decent disintegration rate).  You probably get more
>exposure from the radium and uranium in granite, or from the potassium 40
>in the body of the dog, cat, or spouse sharing your bed.
>
> >
> > Anyone have any thoughts on this?
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
> > Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2000 12:00 PM
> > To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> > Subject: RE: Tungsten
> >
> > Original poster: "Ted Rosenberg" <Ted.Rosenberg-at-radioshack-dot-com>
> >
> > Finn:
> > As I have said before (with a smile) get 10 coilers together, ask one
> > question and you get 12 answers. And probably all 12 are right.
> >
> > I have seen posts that say that using a hacksaw takes muscle, time
> > and...more time. Yet you find it no trouble. Today, I received mail from
> > Scott Hanson who cautioned that the thoriated version was not as good as
> > pure tungsten. And that the pure variaty was OK as is.
> >
> > I guess the best approach is to try what you think will work and if it 
> does,
> > wonderful. If not, try something else. Like building a tank cap for $10 
> <big
> > smile>.
> >
> > I will surely post the results of my electrode operation. Any bets folks?
> >
> > Safety...and Goggles
> >
> > Ted
> >
> > Subject: Re: Tungsten
> >
> > Original poster: "Finn Hammer" <f-hammer-at-post5.tele.dk>
> > >
> > > Original poster: "Ted Rosenberg" <Ted.Rosenberg-at-radioshack-dot-com>
> > > snip
> > > Once you get the rods you'll have to look into a method of
> > > cutting to the desired length. I have a Dremel Diamond Cutting Wheel
> > > ($21.00) on order.
> >
> > I have said it before, and I will say it again:
> >
> > It doesn`t take more than a couple of minutes, to cut a 5/16" rod of
> > 2%thorium/tungsten with an ordinary hacksaw, equipped with an (around)
> > 30 teeth per inch High Speed Steel (HSS) blade.
> >
> > There are fancier methods around, but this is the one I resort to every
> > time still.
> >
> > Once cut, mount the bits in an electric drill, and rotate them with it,
> > while you press the end of the electrode-to -be against a grinding
> > wheel, or a belt sander. Be garefull if you use a grinding wheel, it
> > tends to knock the electrode/drilllingmachine back untill a nice true
> > surface is obtained.
> >
> > Hemispherical ends are rather easy to make this way too, and for static
> > gaps, my favourite, the Rukowski lookalike profile (big radius across
> > most of the surface, progressing into a nice small radius blending into
> > the shaft) -Not too hard to make.
> >
> > Cheers, Finn Hammer