I'm trying to understand "tritium" as it refers to what comes with the Lummi products: http://www.lummi.co.uk/H3beads.html. I've read some things saying the stuff is illegal in the states? Basically I'm looking for something to paint/affix to lights to find them in the dark so obviously standard glow-in-the-dark won't work because they need to be charged.
Tritium?
- Thread starter 7hns
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mattheww50
Flashlight Enthusiast
The use of Tritium in the US is highly restricted by federal law. Basically the only permitted civilian use is in emergency exit signs. Part of the issue is that US stopped producing tritium years ago, so domestic supplies at this point are extremely limited. As long as the Tritium doesn't come from domestic sources, I doubt anyone really cares.
The restrictions on use are very difficult to enforce, and as a result enforcement is essentially nil. I don't recommend ignoring the law, but the reality is that the law is unenforcible in this case.
The restrictions on use are very difficult to enforce, and as a result enforcement is essentially nil. I don't recommend ignoring the law, but the reality is that the law is unenforcible in this case.
ChrisGarrett
Flashlight Enthusiast
I know that Trijicon can re-trit your ACOG for you for a not so nominal fee.
I remember watching one of the older Sean Connery James Bond movies, where he's in the Caribbean and about to do a dive. He takes a Geiger counter and waves it over his Omega and gets a bump. Don't know if they use tritium on watch dials any longer, but it was brushed on in those days, IIRC.
Can't we buy those trit-vial key chain fobs in the Marketplace? Seems like a lot of them are coming out of Israel, for some reason.
Chris
I remember watching one of the older Sean Connery James Bond movies, where he's in the Caribbean and about to do a dive. He takes a Geiger counter and waves it over his Omega and gets a bump. Don't know if they use tritium on watch dials any longer, but it was brushed on in those days, IIRC.
Can't we buy those trit-vial key chain fobs in the Marketplace? Seems like a lot of them are coming out of Israel, for some reason.
Chris
Just get trits at the CPF market place...lots of good ones, assorted colors, and reliable sources.
I use Mercava a lot for example.
Tritium vials do not register on a geiger counter and they are still used in expensive watches.
Very old watches used radium GID paint.
If you want something that doesn't need to be recharged - no. Considering legality, as far as I know, the legal issues are related to the fact that tritium can boost the reactions in nuclear weapons. Of course, you need quite a lot of tritium and you also need to have the nuclear bomb first... Without it, it is useless. Unless you are going to collect excessively large amounts of tritium and/or start to sell it in the States (especially the big vials taken from exit signs), there shouldn't be any real reason to worry. As far as I know tritium can also be sold legally in the States but you need a license and it will cost some tens of thousands of dollars... Pretty expensive.
You can find many trustworthy dealers in Marketplace. Check Merkava, B@rt, Eclipsesharp etc. in WTS other personal or Desther in Dealers corner:
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/forumdisplay.php?108-WTS-Other-Personal
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/forumdisplay.php?13-Dealer-s-Corner
Radium GITD paint is no longer used for obvious reasons (radiation). Tritium emits electrons (beta decay) but they are very low in energy, the radiation can't penetrate the glass vial that it is put in. Actually, it can only penetrate some millimeters of air. If you break the vial, it is also diluted very quickly. Unless you start to eat vials, there should be no reason to worry.
Also, if you are going to buy something from Lummi, you might want to check the "Hall of Shame" section in MarketPlace or Lummi subforum here in CPF first.
I mean this basically is exactly what I want, just crazy expensive: http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sh...-ONLY-Fob-You-ll-Ever-Need!&highlight=merkava
Edit: maybe a combo of http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?285616-Tritium-vials&highlight=merkava AND http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sh...r-Holders-for-Tritium-Vials&highlight=merkava would work. Thoughts?
Edit: maybe a combo of http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?285616-Tritium-vials&highlight=merkava AND http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sh...r-Holders-for-Tritium-Vials&highlight=merkava would work. Thoughts?
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Expensive, and yet it is one of the cheaper metal fobs.
Either one will work. The first one is very nice and professional looking. The Second one is brighter (no metal to block any light) and protects the vial better (fully encased). Your choice.
Either one will work. The first one is very nice and professional looking. The Second one is brighter (no metal to block any light) and protects the vial better (fully encased). Your choice.
LEDAdd1ct
Flashlight Enthusiast
From reading tons of posts here and elsewhere, here is the general consensus (please correct if I am in error):
1) It is illegal to sell or possess tritium when it is used for frivolous purposes, toys, or adornments. In my opinion, that makes the possession of tritium for most of the purposes United States flashoholics use them for illegal.
Source URL
2) That having been said, this rule is nearly impossible to enforce.
3) The beta particles emitted by the tritium commonly bought and sold in this hobby should be stopped by either the interior glass tube or the exterior plastic container, or both.
4) If any beta particles escaped, a Geiger counter would not be able to detect them; you would need a scintillation detector:
Link
5) Even if you were to purposely expose yourself to all the tritium contained in your tritium vials, you receive more radiation flying coat to coast in the United States—there is very little risk from the types of tritium bought and sold in this hobby unless you were to deliberately ingest it.
NOTES:
1) I am not a member of any law enforcement agency. I have not been trained in the physical or nuclear sciences.
2) What you do is your own concern.
3) Whether or not you feel you are breaking a federal law and whether or not
you are concerned with that transgression is a decision you will have to make.
4) Other countries can and do have different restrictions concerning the possession,
sale, and distribution of tritium and tritium products. Consult your local or national
government for relevant details.
5) For more information, use Google and search CPF. This issue has been discussed here and elsewhere countless times. In the end, it devolves to the individual to make an informed
decision regarding the possible legal and health ramifications.
Hope this helps new folks get the idea in a few sentences...
1) It is illegal to sell or possess tritium when it is used for frivolous purposes, toys, or adornments. In my opinion, that makes the possession of tritium for most of the purposes United States flashoholics use them for illegal.
Source URL
2) That having been said, this rule is nearly impossible to enforce.
3) The beta particles emitted by the tritium commonly bought and sold in this hobby should be stopped by either the interior glass tube or the exterior plastic container, or both.
4) If any beta particles escaped, a Geiger counter would not be able to detect them; you would need a scintillation detector:
Link
5) Even if you were to purposely expose yourself to all the tritium contained in your tritium vials, you receive more radiation flying coat to coast in the United States—there is very little risk from the types of tritium bought and sold in this hobby unless you were to deliberately ingest it.
NOTES:
1) I am not a member of any law enforcement agency. I have not been trained in the physical or nuclear sciences.
2) What you do is your own concern.
3) Whether or not you feel you are breaking a federal law and whether or not
you are concerned with that transgression is a decision you will have to make.
4) Other countries can and do have different restrictions concerning the possession,
sale, and distribution of tritium and tritium products. Consult your local or national
government for relevant details.
5) For more information, use Google and search CPF. This issue has been discussed here and elsewhere countless times. In the end, it devolves to the individual to make an informed
decision regarding the possible legal and health ramifications.
Hope this helps new folks get the idea in a few sentences...
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