Gas mantles for camping light are made of thorium oxide. Thorium is one of the natural radioactive elements. The homebrew Geiger counter was tested with some thorium mantles as one still can buy today in the shops.
Most aren't. They replaced thorium with cerium because it's cheaper, not because it's non-radioactive. Some still use thorium though, and they're actually much better. They give a brighter, whiter light.
So THAT'S why my hamsters used to mutate when I started keeping the camping gear next to the cage!
joesmoe71 9 months ago
is that geiger counter screaming for mercy ? or what is it...
DeltaLima2 3 years ago
time to go shopping with my trusty geiger counter....
conrad2468 3 years ago
Coleman uses nonradioactive materials now.
Samexplode 3 years ago
AWESOME!!
CassetteMaster 3 years ago
So a gas mantle is like a hat? The gas heats the hat and it becomes incandescent?
vmelkon 3 years ago
yeah they are i just bought some and they are radioactive
taliban0king 3 years ago
Hi!, i already buy a geiger counter (CD-V-700 6a) and works very well, i want to buil a geiger tube with mica window, :)
chivux 4 years ago
is that a bay i hear, better keep it away man, or is it a dog?
POYTSAVLOS 4 years ago
Most aren't. They replaced thorium with cerium because it's cheaper, not because it's non-radioactive. Some still use thorium though, and they're actually much better. They give a brighter, whiter light.
DrBuzz0 4 years ago