[Milsurplus] MAW-1 HOTSY-TOTSY

[David Stinson]

Unserviceable but Repairable wrote:

> Beta & Gamma ionizing radiation 50 mr/hr.  FIFTY
That's doubtless a "contact" reading.

>          "     "          "      5 mr/hr
I'm assuming this is at 2-3 inches?
Not a harmful dose, unless you sit that close to
it day and night for a week.

 >...ume knob scales that're hot.  Think
> I'll remove knobs & plate & try for a decontamination somehow, someway.

I have an MAW, and I'd never do that unless forced.
"Fixing" it in place is a far better solution than trying to
remove it.  What are you going to do with the radium contaminated
removal tools?  Better hope the local land fill radiation detector
doesn't find that 50 MR paper towel in the trash next to your
old electric bill; that could be nasty.

If you must do this, please take it seriously and take precautions.
This isn't play-pretty time; 50 MR per hour in your lungs
is a serious matter.

Having worked "hot zones," here's what I'd do,
were I forced to do this:

Work outside, not in the house. Not even the garage.
Cover the work area with something- butcher paper is fine.
Use *real* breathing protection and rubber gloves.
Wear a full-frontal shop apron you can wash clean or discard-
you can buy plastic battery-handling aprons for a few dollars.
Use disposable paint brushes and scrapers- don't try to
be Mr. Junior Decon Tech with good tools
(as if you weren't doing that already).
DO NOT attempt to scrape the material away dry!
Brush on liquid or gel paint remover.
Scrape and wipe away the goo with scrapers and paper towels.
Put all the scrapers and towels in a garbage bag.
Take the items to the garden hose and scrub them clean
with soap and water; the small amount of paint washed off will be 
harmless in the ground, as long as you don't track it in the house
on your shoes.
Go back and put the butcher paper and scrubbers in the trash bag.
Strip off your gloves by first pinching the right glove
just below the top and peeling down.  Then hook a thumb
*inside* the other glove and peel it off.  Put them in the bag.
The idea is to not touch your skin with the outside of the gloves.
Put your breathing mask in the bag.
If any large blobs of the gunk got on your clothes,
don't try to wash them, unless you want radioactive clothes-
they must be discarded.  Go wash your hands up to the elbows
with soap and water.  A guide to how long you should wash
is to sing "happy birthday" to yourself three times.
Once the pieces are dry, coat them with clearcoat to prevent
any residual release.
Now- the bag.  I have no idea what you're going to do with it.
Throwing it in the trash can be a felony, and now you can't
say you didn't know it.  Good luck with it.
Whatever you decide, don't call the fire department to
come haul it away.  They're going to want to know where you
got it, what *other* radios you have they can haul off
and bury, and who else you know has them.
Please don't mention me.
Or at least, tell me in time to hide mine, OK?
73 DE Dave AB5S