11.7 dB attenuation

[Daryl]

Received 75 lbs of Lead in 18 bars from eBay user industrialsupplylv for building a castle.
I just had to throw them together before melting any.

[Daryl]

Using the Ludlum 3 with an Alpha Spectra I measure a background of 6000.

[Daryl]

Then I put the Alpha Spectra probe into the cave and measured 400.

Doesn't 15x reduction = 11.7dB ?

Next: Move the computer into the new "laboratory" and hook up the Spectacular.

I saw on YouTube how silicone works well for molding lead in the one ounce sizes.

I was thinking on how to make a mold to pour lead so as it would be a hollow cylinder made for a probe (like a bundt cake pan).
Thick paper mache lined with silicone?
Old coffee can with a center dowel rod?

[Sesselmann]

Daryl,

I am not familiar with background measurements in dB so I can't comment.

On casting lead you can use anything as a mould as long as it doesn't burn or melt under the heat. Make sure you work in a well ventilated area preferably outdoors and use safety glasses and leather gloves.

You could use a copper pipe as a lining for your lead castle, this would help attenuate the Pb x-rays.

Steven

[Daryl]

Steven,

Sorry, that dB stuff is from radio. Relative power based on base 10 log. You see the 511 KeV annihilation energy is the equivalent of a radio signal at 123.37 Pentahertz or a wavelength of 2.43 nanometers. My bad.

Thank you for the suggestion on the copper pipe. . I went looking all over the net for copper pipes. Yikes! Ouch!

Well I ordered an 3 inch diameter 8 inch long type M from Moonshine-still.co. Under $50. !! You can order it by the inch for your personally designed still! Pay attention moonshiners!

Now, what do I do about a Cadmium layer on the outside of that copper pipe?

[MartinM]

Now, what do I do about a Cadmium layer on the outside of that copper pipe?

Not the best idea to work with Cd, it's quite toxic. Why not use tin? Albion Alloys offers tin sheets.

[Daryl]

I'm thinking tin also has a much lower melting point and could be poured between the copper pipe and its thick lead sleeve.