I recently picked up an old Marvin Hermetic, which I would assume has radium lume. This will need a full breakdown and cleaning, but I see the lume on the hands is coming off this makes me apprehensive.

Any advice from the amateur watchmaker (or pro) on working with this watch, to avoid potential inhalation? I've worked on radium watches before, but the lume was in better condition than this bad boy.

 

My advice is, don't.

 

Here's an article for guidance.

 

Thanks, guys.

That's all I needed to hear. I'm not going in there.

 

Shoot you breathe in all kinds of crap and consume plastic probably daily. I say go for it. We pollute ourselves with all kinds of crap and then worry about a few scrapings of toxins. It’s probably safer than Tylenol.

 

No. It's not. Radium is to be treated with respect, inhaling or ingesting the dust will increase your risk of some pretty nasty cancers.

 

Based on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) report cited in the article above, the typical radioactivity of the watch is 18.5 kBq, The annual limit on intake (for an occupationally exposed individual) is 74 kBq fo ingestion and 22 kBq for inhalation. The NRC report further estimates about 1/10,000 of activity handled in ingested or inhaled. In a nutshell, if someone follows the precautions suggested at the end of the article linked above it appears unlikely that they would be in extraordinary danger.

 

You gotta live on the edge sometimes. I parachute once a year to remind me I’m alive. At the very least the task can be done and the OP can report back any negative symptoms.

 

I've seen photos of the girls who touched the tip of their brush to their lips while painting radium dials at a factory. Half their mouth and jaw rotted away. Not something I'd take any chances with.

 

How many were they doing, how many years. All things in moderation.

 

Because of the very nature of a Forum…and the fact that ‘electronic conversational media’ provides physical isolation, in addition to relative anonymity.

Sometimes …It can take literally years, to really gauge and understand, an individual Members character, and personality

Sometimes …it can take seconds…

 

I would agree but due to the lack of physiognomy I must disagree

 

Wow, that’s one of the most impressively uneducated and downright stupid comments I’ve heard in some time.

You must be very proud. (Or quite drunk)

 

After seeing the series Chernobyl I wouldn't even think about it

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt736633...pf_rd_t=15506&pf_rd_i=toptv&ref_=chttvtp_tt_1

 

@Walrus.
Good news.
Just 2 more posts and you can WTB radium dials to play with.

 

Cool thanks. I guess you guys don’t like a little trolling here and there. Sorry I can’t help myself sometimes.

 

My watchmaker showed me his set up for radium work, it's basically a low key surgical theater. Gloves, mask, disposal clothes cover, goggles on him. He turns on a bench vacuum that is continually sucking air out of the space. Once he's done, everything he wore goes to medical waste.

 

200 posts in 2 months is insane btw

 

give me a sane number and I’ll tey to stick to it

 

FIFY