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Re: mercury amounts & repairs
Mike R. wrote:
>
> At 04:22 PM 2/20/96 -0800, you wrote:
> >
> >I'd like to hear any feedback or suggestions otherwise. There are also
> >concerns w/ the phosphors I understand, Any more info on this? I've heard
> >of a substance used (I think a powder) used to clean up merc. spills -
> >could someone give me more info and where to get it?
> >
>
> The merc. spill clean-up powder I have used in the past (in chem labs)
> is sulfur flour (finely ground - the finer the better - 200 mesh
> or better). The problem with using sulfur to clean up mercury spills
> is that it forms a "skin" of mercury/sulfur on the surface of droplets
> thus not allowing the sulfur to combine with the remaining mercury.
>
> Of course the best thing to do is not spill it....<grin>....but if you
> are a klutz like me you need to plan on having a spill at some point. I
> have seen info on the net from people who use a router to make a "channel
> around the edge of their mercury handling area's table so that drops don't
> roll off before they can be cleaned up....trouble is mercury will get into
> microscopic cracks in surfaces and out gas mercury vapor for a long time...
> Glass makes the best surface to contain mercury, a glass (pyrex) baking pan
> (shallow) used as the surface for your mercury handling area will allow you
> to catch 100% of all spills and if a spill occurs to immediately fill the
> pan with good old water which prevents exposure of the surface of the spilled
> mercury to air, stopping vaporization. You could then pour the mercury plus the
> water into a glass jar...."instant cleanup". Note that the glass baking
> pan HAS to be a new one with NO scratches to trap mercury in...and after pouring
> the mercury out I would still move outdoors with the pan and clean it's surface
> with sulfur flour, followed by soap and water (wearing rubber gloves of course).
>
> Also, shop ventillation is key here too...I plan on forced air, to keep any
> stray vapors from mercury, blockout, etc. on the move outdoors...
>
> I've had to deal with mercury spills before and believe me you don't want
> to mess around with it. Even if immediately cleaning up a spill means loosing
> a unit....it's not worth your health....
>
> A note for "neon newcomers"...mercury vaporizes at room temp and is easily
> absorbed thru the skin. This stuff is EXTREMELY TOXIC....Just go to your
> local library and read the MSDS on it sometime....
>
> Just my .02 and how I plan to handle it when I get my shop finished....
>
> /\/\ike Roesch
> Belvoir Studios
> Chattanooga, TN
Very interesting comments Ike. Yesterday I FAX'ed a copy of the warning that
was posted here to an Ole' Timer in the city here. I then phoned him and
asked him what he thought of the article. He asked me to explain why many of
fellow tubebenders lived to ripe old ages. What can I say? :-)
He repairs old mercury tubes... I don't!
Howie
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