Hire/borrow A Geiger Counter

[Answerprancer]

I would like to hire or borrow a geiger counter for a little while (just an hour or so really). I have a couple of small items that are radioactive and I want to measure the levels. I've asked around but to no avail as of yet of.
Any suggestions?

[wolf63]

A university?

[society]

Maybe 'The Builder' might be able to help.

[Answerprancer]

I thought of that, and I live close to the NPL in Teddington, but I don't know anyone there (or in uni) atm.

[EDDIE51]

You can buy a kit to make one for $52 . I would think a finished kit would resell for quite a bit more. So you could buy one of these kits , use it for a while and resell at a profit.
https://sites.google.com/site/diygeigercounter/

[EDDIE51]

I used to have one of these but I sold it years ago.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Instruments-900EP15-geiger-counter-/130858586721?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item1e77c79261

[Answerprancer]

Thanks for that info Eddie. I wonder how much a Geiger Muller tube is, because you need to cost for that too with this setup.

[EDDIE51]

There's not much you can't get on ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SI-39G-CI39G-GEIGER-MUELLER-COUNTER-Tube-beta-gamma-rays-detection-1pc-/130697125696?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&;hash=item1e6e27df40
This is just one of several on ebay now.

[echokilo]

I would approach a university ..... even if you know no one there it's easy to find the head of science or physics and contact him/her ..... are these items things you could take to the un rather than borrowing the geiger counter?

[Svejk]

School would do. At least, we had them in my school 40 years ago.

[heathfield]

Give your local fire station a call - they may have one for risk assessment purposes, and might let you pop round and use it.

[Answerprancer]

Thanks for those answers - EK, yes they are small and portable, I would worry that they might not be happy about me bringing them in though (health and safety etc). Two of them are small samples of uranium minerals: one torbernite and one pitchblende, the other two are camera lenses that contain thorium 232.

[EDDIE51]

The Len's with Thorium must be old USSR Len's . The Thorium is in the glass . Are they Industar 61s? Thorium was used in the glass to increase the refractive index. If they are Industar they may well be worth a few £s. I have just sold an Industar Lens to Pixar Animations in the USA.

[EDDIE51]

Ps I forgot to mention that the Lens may be radioactive !!

[Answerprancer]

Wow! You sold a lens to Pixar, nice one :-)
I do have an Industar (50mm 3.5 mini pancake) but I don't think that one is radioactive.
The two "hot" lenses I have are a Takumar SMC 50mm 1.4 and a Yashinon 50mm DS-M 1.7.

[Answerprancer]

...I know for a fact that my Takumar 50 1.4 *is* radioactive, I just want to see it for myself :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ozOMssiP2E

[karenmac60]

My cat sounds like one if that's of any use to you AP :)

[Answerprancer]

LOL - My cat used to make clicky sounds when she was sat at the window watching birds outside in the garden.

[tamborine]

is this near you

http://www.imagesco.com/rentals/digital-geiger-counter.html

[Answerprancer]

Fraid not, but thanks for looking.

[EDDIE51]

Yes Pixar Animations 1000 Flower Street . I was well pleased to sell a lens to such a famous company. It was the f3.5 pancake that you have, they are great len's but underated. You're 1.4 Takumar is a valuable lens look after it.