They're not unsafe if you handle them properly... they put off alpha and a small amount of beta radiation. Alpha is stopped by paper and both alpha and beta can't travel far through the air...
What kind of radiation detector did you use in this video... Could you do a video checking the radiation coming from a microwave. The magnatrons contain thorium and when taking them to a scrap yard with radiation detectors they will set off the alarms for radiation. Once you remove the microwaves then the load passes as not radio active. Love to see someone do this with a test or that reads thorium radiation ... Would be a big hit with the scrapper community
I also have old tilley lamp mantles on my home location. It is from ""Veritas, Elephant brand". I guess those are older ones and bit radioactive. I put the package in front the B&W video camera (Watec 910 without lens and plastic cap on). When tilley lamp mantle is near the camera sensor, I can see random pixels on many video frames -> full white. So I guess it is kind of "overloading" single pixels on sensor of that camera with radiation. I do not have any geiger counter & meter - just would be interested to know what level of radiation these generally are ? Like in micro sieverts per one hour ?
Hi. Just found your video on a search after conducting my own experiments with Tilley mantles this evening! Got my GMC 500+ earlier this week. I have a number of these mantles and two Tilley Lamps and have been using them for years on camping trips, plus my parents had them, and a built in gas lamp in a caravan when I was a kid. Who knew?! Stacking 4 of these mantles together I registered 13.26 uSv/h at 2045 CPM! Needless to say they are now in a metal container in the shed... very low readings after that. But there is more. The Radium gas given off is also dangerous in enclosed spaces, at least for first 15-20 mins of lamp running. One switched off the mantle apparently may emit higher levels of Thorium decay for a number of days (need to test this) Plus, although the Pyrex and metal of the lamp protect against the radiation, if you break a used mantle (easy to do) the Thorium dust from this is dangerous if inhaled or ingested eg on your fingers when preparing food. I dread to think how many times I replaced a broken mantle while camping and didn’t wash my hands immediately after! All very interesting stuff. Too late but at least I’m aware now. Tilley now make non-radioactive mantles, so I may get some so I can continue to enjoy my lamps. Mind you, they use Yttrium... not exactly non-radioactive that. More testing is needed I think! Best wishes 👍
I bought some of these the other week off eBay for my camping gaslight. There were 3 in the bag and I wrecked the first 2 by fitting them wrong, I had the ash all over my hands and I never knew they were radioactive? I wonder if I now glow in the dark? Thanks for this Ian the packet had No warnings on it about this?
hello, just found your extra channel, ive got a ww2 british mk2 marching compass, square type and ive been told that they are radioactive...to the point that you shouldn't display them unless they are in a sealed Perspex box. I have wrapped it up and put it in a box for now.....would you have any knowledge about these compasses?, cheers
They are highly radioactive. I have seen a video where they registered 30,000 counts per minute on one.(Beta and Gamma). That doesn't include the alpha radiation either. Personally speaking i would keep something like that in an air tight container, and keep it outside of the house. Maybe in a shed. If any of that paint flakes off and you inhale it, it is very very dangerous!
