I own this beauty since 1995 - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Graham G3ZVT · 29th Dec 2018, 3:39 am

I wonder how much is considered unsafe for air cargo?
I ask because I just received these on Thursday morning.
20 off mercury tilt switches.
Ordered from China for £1.12 inc postage, although they actually came from an address in Bangkok Thailand, through Suvarnabhumi airport.

The customs declaration states "Mercury Switch 1 weight 0.008kg"
The 20 switches do indeed weigh 8g

Amraduk · 29th Dec 2018, 9:55 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambo1152

The customs declaration states "Mercury Switch 1 weight 0.008kg"
The 20 switches do indeed weigh 8g

I don't think so! 20 x .008kg = 0.16kg = 160g.

Regards,

Dave.

Graham G3ZVT · 29th Dec 2018, 5:57 pm

Ah, but if I meant that I would have said, "Each of the 20 switches weighs 8g"
But I take your point if you mean the quantity on the customs decoration appears to refer to the number of packs, and not individual items.

kestrelmusic · 29th Dec 2018, 7:02 pm

The point about mercury is that it is a cumulative poison. It would be possible to ingest quite a lot in one dose without any great harm, but the same amount taken in tiny quantities over a long period would be very dangerous. It builds up in, and damages, the nervous system.

Mercury used to be used, many years ago, to put a gloss on top hats. Hat makers using it would suffer from increasing dementia accompanied by uncontrollable trembling - hence the Mad Hatter.

Maarten · 31st Dec 2018, 9:08 pm

It wasn't just used, it was used when heated. Mercury vapours are easily ingested. At room temperature, it would take quite some regular handling of mercury for a cumulative effect.

Philips210 · 31st Dec 2018, 10:08 pm

Hi

Back in the late 1970s there was a news item about mercury contaminated oranges which obviously caused a bit of a health scare. When I spoke to my mate's father who was a college lecturer specialising in chemistry, he said it's very unlikely to cause any real harm if swallowed as it will pass out through the digestive system. I don't think I would have felt so confident and relaxed as that but I think he was probably right.

As others have said, we used to mess about with mercury at school without a second thought and I think it was only in the early 1980s that it's harmful effects were being taken more seriously.

Those mercury tilt switches are outstanding value.

Regards
Symon.

evingar · 31st Dec 2018, 11:15 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philips210

As others have said, we used to mess about with mercury at school without a second thought and I think it was only in the early 1980s that it's harmful effects were being taken more seriously.

Whatever the ins and outs of mercury health risk, it's important to factor in the hassle you will get trying to deal with it legitimately even when safely contained - let alone in the event of a spillage!

I'm afraid to say, it is this, as opposed to health worries, that would weigh with me when thinking about taking possession of articles containing serious quantities of the stuff. We don't like thinking about our own demise, but ultimately it might not be us that ends up having to sort it all out !

Philips210 · 31st Dec 2018, 11:45 pm

Hi.

It all seems to be over hyped by the authorities. One would think there must be specialist companies only too pleased to accept mercury for recycling, but no, the powers that be paint a gloomy picture about it's safe disposal involving costly H & S handling procedures.
It's similar with asbestos. I was driving past some old cottages near to where I used to live and saw three chaps working on some scaffolding around one of the buildings. They were all dressed like the people dealing with the Salisbury incident, I assumed they must have been removing asbestos from the building. I was quite taken aback.

Regards
Symon

AC/HL · 1st Jan 2019, 1:58 am

We keep going round this loop. Safety advisories are there for a very good reason. We are quite at liberty to risk our own health, but we don't have the right to risk other peoples, with or without their knowledge.

Maarten · 3rd Jan 2019, 12:18 pm

Quite right, I don't think that changes much for what I wrote earlier, but maybe some nuance is in order. We have two reponsibilities to our next generations. One not poisoning them, two preserving our heritage. I think of three options: 1) preserve the original item, labeling it as containing mercury. 2) destroy the original item with inveitably some mercuty entering the environment. Seal off, label and keep the mercury. 3) destroy the original item and hand in the mercury to the council.

I think 1) is probably the safest option and through labeling fulfills the 'not poisoning others' requirement. 2) is an option if you need some mercury to tinker with. 3) if you don't want to put others at risk when you're gone.

29th Dec 2018, 3:39 am	#21
Graham G3ZVT Dekatron Join Date: May 2010 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 18,710	Re: I own this beauty since 1995 I wonder how much is considered unsafe for air cargo? I ask because I just received these on Thursday morning. 20 off mercury tilt switches. Ordered from China for £1.12 inc postage, although they actually came from an address in Bangkok Thailand, through Suvarnabhumi airport. The customs declaration states "Mercury Switch 1 weight 0.008kg" The 20 switches do indeed weigh 8g Attached Thumbnails __________________ -- Graham. G3ZVT

29th Dec 2018, 5:57 pm	#23
Graham G3ZVT Dekatron Join Date: May 2010 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 18,710	Re: I own this beauty since 1995 Ah, but if I meant that I would have said, "Each of the 20 switches weighs 8g" But I take your point if you mean the quantity on the customs decoration appears to refer to the number of packs, and not individual items. __________________ -- Graham. G3ZVT

29th Dec 2018, 7:02 pm	#24
kestrelmusic Hexode Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK. Posts: 465	Re: I own this beauty since 1995 The point about mercury is that it is a cumulative poison. It would be possible to ingest quite a lot in one dose without any great harm, but the same amount taken in tiny quantities over a long period would be very dangerous. It builds up in, and damages, the nervous system. Mercury used to be used, many years ago, to put a gloss on top hats. Hat makers using it would suffer from increasing dementia accompanied by uncontrollable trembling - hence the Mad Hatter.

31st Dec 2018, 9:08 pm	#25
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: I own this beauty since 1995 It wasn't just used, it was used when heated. Mercury vapours are easily ingested. At room temperature, it would take quite some regular handling of mercury for a cumulative effect.

31st Dec 2018, 10:08 pm	#26
Philips210 Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,573	Re: I own this beauty since 1995 Hi Back in the late 1970s there was a news item about mercury contaminated oranges which obviously caused a bit of a health scare. When I spoke to my mate's father who was a college lecturer specialising in chemistry, he said it's very unlikely to cause any real harm if swallowed as it will pass out through the digestive system. I don't think I would have felt so confident and relaxed as that but I think he was probably right. As others have said, we used to mess about with mercury at school without a second thought and I think it was only in the early 1980s that it's harmful effects were being taken more seriously. Those mercury tilt switches are outstanding value. Regards Symon. Last edited by Philips210; 31st Dec 2018 at 10:18 pm.

31st Dec 2018, 11:45 pm	#28
Philips210 Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 2,573	Re: I own this beauty since 1995 Hi. It all seems to be over hyped by the authorities. One would think there must be specialist companies only too pleased to accept mercury for recycling, but no, the powers that be paint a gloomy picture about it's safe disposal involving costly H & S handling procedures. It's similar with asbestos. I was driving past some old cottages near to where I used to live and saw three chaps working on some scaffolding around one of the buildings. They were all dressed like the people dealing with the Salisbury incident, I assumed they must have been removing asbestos from the building. I was quite taken aback. Regards Symon

1st Jan 2019, 1:58 am	#29
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: I own this beauty since 1995 We keep going round this loop. Safety advisories are there for a very good reason. We are quite at liberty to risk our own health, but we don't have the right to risk other peoples, with or without their knowledge.

3rd Jan 2019, 12:18 pm	#30
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,199	Re: I own this beauty since 1995 Quite right, I don't think that changes much for what I wrote earlier, but maybe some nuance is in order. We have two reponsibilities to our next generations. One not poisoning them, two preserving our heritage. I think of three options: 1) preserve the original item, labeling it as containing mercury. 2) destroy the original item with inveitably some mercuty entering the environment. Seal off, label and keep the mercury. 3) destroy the original item and hand in the mercury to the council. I think 1) is probably the safest option and through labeling fulfills the 'not poisoning others' requirement. 2) is an option if you need some mercury to tinker with. 3) if you don't want to put others at risk when you're gone.