[Milsurplus] Radium paint and Xrays

[arc5 at ix.netcom.com]

As a former nuke worker:The danger with TBY and similar markings where radium paint is open to the air, is not directly from the low-level radiation; you'd need to wear the thing as a necklace for days before that would become an issue.  The danger is from ingesting or inhaling small particles of the paint.We mitigated low dose items like the front panel markings on the TBY by using paint fixatives.  I wrote about this several years ago.  Do not open the meter.Do not attempt to remove the markings. If you do, you will have a huge radioactive mess on your hands which is illegal for you to throw in the trash. I promise: you and anything you touch will get contaminated. Good luck with that. Unless the markings are covered with grease and oil so paint won't stick, do not attempt to clean them. If you do so, you're cleaning materials will become radioactive waste. Wear plastic disposable gloves. Get some gloss clear enamel (gloss because it's far more durable) and small, disposable paint brushes.  Give each radium marking at least two coats, allowing them to dry between applications. When done, do not attempt to clean the brushes or keep the small bottle of gloss enamel as they will inevitably have picked up some radium atoms. This is low-level enough to throw in the trash. Once the gloss coats have cured, the radio will be safe to handle unless someone starts scraping the markings and eating it; tastes best on Ritz crackers.GL OM DE Dave AB5S
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