🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <33D59D6C.66C@ix.netcom.com> TheSmurf@ix.netcom.com writes:
>Craig as Navar wrote:
>
>> I'm a techno/trance DJ, so I make my own mixtapes, and I send a lot of tapes
>> to friends both here in Australia and in the US/Canada. I always wrap the
>> tape(s) in foil just in case they get run through x-ray scanners, or are sat
>> onto magnetic scanners.
>
>Aluminum foil may not stop all the x-rays.  It wont stop a DC (or near DC) magnetic 
>field either.  I assume the scanner uses an alternating magnetic field?  A large coffee 
>can may be a better shipping container, or a square biscut tin.

The X-rays won't hurt anything, but the magnetic fields that are used to
direct the beams in the X-ray tubes and the fields from the motors that
move the boxes into the beam might.  And no, the foil won't do a thing.

Basically, there isn't any good way to shield against magnetic fields without
dramatically increasing the weight of the box.  (Yeah, I know, I hand-carry
master tapes around in mu-metal boxes, but that's even more expensive).
However, putting a big bright orange "DO NOT X-RAY OR SUBJECT TO MAGNETIC
FIELDS" sticker on the box will do an excellent job.  You can get the stickers
wherever you buy tapes (here in the US, I recommend Tape Warehouse in Atlanta).
--scott
-- 
"C'est un Nagra.  C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."