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Re: Mercury - playing safely at home

Posted By: SVP Neon Equipment
Date: Tuesday, 19 February 2013, at 12:13 p.m.

In Response To: Mercury - playing safely at home (Romarrk)


> I know it it is a tough question, but may be
> someone have some ideas...

> I have small hobby neon shop at home
> (basically at kitchen:) Despite all
> limitations I was able to bend and bombard a
> few test tubes. But I am limited to using
> neon only, and was able to do reds, oranges
> and pinks so far. Argon is dim - do not want
> a tube which looks like a dead mercury unit.
> I plan to experiment with krypton and xenon
> too. That way I believe everything is kept
> pretty harmless. Not completely sure if i
> shall continue bending lead glass at home
> though...

> Anyway, I am tempted to add some mercury.
> Using mercury traps is clearly out of
> question for home. So the only option left
> is capsulated electrodes like Mer Plus or
> our local brand which uses zirconium amalgam
> pellets. Still not sure if I shall try them
> - any accidental capsule rupture, and
> mercury will pollute manifold and pump. Not
> really that much to die immediately ;) , but
> I will start to feel sorry to run them each
> time...

> What do you think? Any other ideas how to
> get some mercury to the tube (at least small
> amount for mercury-neon SFX) in a way that
> is safe enough at home?

Just so I'm sure I understand: You have a neon shop set up in your KITCHEN and you're worried about using a little mercury? Do you think nothing else you are doing is dangerous, especially in a kitchen environment? What about the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons from the open flames? And the phosphor powders from the pink and orange tubes? Not to mention the (assumed) way you probably have the gas line connected to your burners.

Btw, your fears about using the "deadly" lead glass are unfounded. It is reminiscent of the fear of drinking wine or other alcohol from leaded crystal glasses. The lead glass is the least of your problems.


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