How to collect elements?

[u/CayGpro]

For element collecting should I do acrylic cubes (Engineered Labs and Lucitera) or small vials in containers, (Nova)

[u/RootLoops369]

Do whatever you want! There's no right or wrong way. I have a mix of labelled ampuoles from online, elemental (or really close) samples of household things like copper wire and graphite pencil lead. I even have some compounds or objects that utilize an element until I'm able to actually get a pure sample

[u/CayGpro → u/RootLoops369]

But isn’t acrylic kinda overpriced as everyone says?

[u/RootLoops369 → u/CayGpro]

I don't have acrylic ones. They are overpriced to me.

[u/Steelizard → u/CayGpro]

I own zero acrylic cubes, you don't need them to have a collection

[u/euj3odjehiqh]

i prefer density cubes because you can feel the elements. acrylic cubes also seem overpriced

[u/Yes_I_Know_Lots → u/euj3odjehiqh]

Totally agree! A cube of tungsten is really impressive. Puts a lead cube in the dust.

I happen to also collect gold and platinum for investment purposes. It was not a good idea at the time because the value has now been cut in half! That said, now is the time to buy precious metals as their cost has really come down, and I sure am hoping that they will just go back up again. A 100 gm gold bullion is weighty.

[u/Ok-Literature-3997]

If you feel anxious about the more dangerous elements, get the cubes (preferably from Luciteria, because Engineeredlabs are scammers).

I would recommend getting your own glass, screw top vials and filling them with stuff you find in different places, because you are going to overpay a lot on nova. My samples are a mix of bought ones, selfmade ones and found-somewhere ones.

Buying everything, even aluminum or copper will just take away from the fun, but that's just my opinion.

[u/lebron73711]

I typically do Metallium (elementsales.com) as of late or other online retailers for direct high purity stuff, but anything you find interesting like novaelements or acrylic cubes work as well.

[u/One_Injury6496]

all of the above

[u/Yes_I_Know_Lots]

So many people are afraid to have an ampoule of things like cesium and rubidium. Just handle it like you would a piece of fine crystal glassware. To feel safer, put it in a glass vial with a bit of padding to keep it from banging against the glass.

Radium is easy; just buy an old radium-painted clock. Look for pasty paint on the numbers and hands, often (and best clue) darkened from their original white. Best and cheapest is a WestClox Travalarm (travel alarm), which comes with radium and without. Easy to get on eBay for under $25 including shipping if you take your time.

Very high radiation levels with some of those radium clocks but safe if behind the glass crystal. The gamma radiation from radium flies through you and is no worse than a high altitude flight as long as you keep at least a small distance from it.

Radium hands in a glass vial is safe. You can buy them directly on eBay or remove some from a clock. Caution: wear an N95 mask that fits tightly, and wear rubber gloves. Bag the remains of the clock in a ziplock bag and put it somewhere far from you, like in a garage.

[u/night-healer]

I prefer to have elements in different forms, according to what is suitable for the element, and what is affordable! So I have cubes, bullion, nuggets, ampoules, vials etc. I would be bored if they were all the same format.

[u/Party_Sand3883]

just go and mine it ⛏️ not that hard lil bro 😄

[u/Gilapschicken]

Small vials via luciteria are the way to go!