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The Uranium Rosary

The Uranium Rosary
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This is a rosary I made out of uranium glass beads, and a cross with a UV LED flashlight built into it. When the LED is pointed at the uranium beads, they glow a bright green. I originally wanted to have a picture of Marie Curie in the center, instead of a virgin Mary medal, like those that traditional Catholic rosaries have. Instead I have a piece of hardware I found that looks like a cross between a cross and the warning symbol for radiation.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
64 comments
1-40 of 64next »
Apr 11, 2011. 8:44 PMGrazelda says:
Oooooooooommmm...go to that happy place... nice art...
Jan 25, 2010. 12:59 PMbernardroth says:
Where did you get the vaseline glass beads?
Jul 26, 2010. 6:50 PMApostrapheEss says:
Please read about the comment that I just entered (above). This is too dangerous to mess with. take care, ApostrapheEss
Apr 13, 2010. 4:43 PMrunningwithgreen says:
 That rosary is freaking cool!!
I'm thinking about making a similar one as a birthday gift for a friend; where can I find the cross with the blacklight, or how can I mount some sort of LED blacklight onto the cross?
Thanks!
Jan 25, 2010. 3:50 PMmilsorgen says:
 Check United Nuclear for all your extreme science needs!
Jan 25, 2010. 2:25 PMlemonie says:
Is your spell-check "playing silly-buggers" with you? - Uranium oxide, not paraffin.

L
Jan 25, 2010. 3:12 PMbernardroth says:
Uranium Glass is also called Vaseline Glass:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium_glass
Jan 25, 2010. 11:15 PMlemonie says:
I'd never heard of that, before now, thanks.

L
Jul 26, 2010. 6:47 PMApostrapheEss says:
This is a nice comment and I care about all of you; Do NOT mess with anything that "glows in the dark" or in any way contains uranium. . . which vaseline glass most certainly does. This item should be entirely removed from Instructables. I'm an artist, I get it and it is a cool concept, but simply not worth it in terms being dangerous to anyone's health. Don't believe me? Read "The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York" by Deborah Blum (I think). The chapter on radiation is fascinating, especially the part about Marie Curie dying from radiation poisoning after touring the U.S. to promote a radium drink that was touted to give energy, 'just like drinking sunshine'. The horrible illnesses and death suffered by 'the dial painters' (the girls who painted the glow in the dark numbers on clock faces) made a believer of me! PLEASE DON'T MESS WITH THIS STUFF, NO KIDDING!
Jul 19, 2010. 9:16 AMIridium7 says:
One day when Jesus was walking down desert he was suddenly bit by a radioactive roman turning him into: SUPER JESUS! He now has the ability to casually walk up walls, super Jesus strength, and can shoot radioactive rosaries from his belly button! With great super Jesus power, comes great super Jesus responsibility. Is it considered sacrilegious to write Jesus fan-fiction?
Jan 29, 2010. 11:37 PMabeman says:
people come on now this isn't a religious site but in fact a place where where intellectual and non come together in common to learn and teach a new or old be it remarkable or ludicrous to one another  the information is here today let us grasp and use this  to its full potential for those whom are willing today, tomorrow and beyond  

                                        BTW not a religious person  but philosophical
May 1, 2010. 10:44 AMkillerjackalope says:
I think this project represents a lovely crossover though...  
Feb 21, 2010. 7:16 PMBrianHuntley says:
Did anyone else get reminded of "A Canticle for Leibowitz"?

Feb 9, 2010. 1:00 AMekobor says:
 hehehe, this is amazing!
If you know anything about the Darwin's World RPG, you know there is one sect of people in it that worship radiation. I can just see this as being one of their talismans!
Feb 2, 2010. 6:27 PMCrucio says:
Argh.  I have to say I too find this and some of the author's comments offensive.

I'm not a Catholic, but I am Christian.

Feb 2, 2010. 1:50 PMtswain4 says:

If I am not mistaken, this glass is the same as "vaseline" glass. It was common in the early 1900's. You can purchase it at any antique store, usually as a bowl. I have never seen beads. Wikipedia says that the radiation is negligible and considered harmless. I have a very nice cranberry dish.

Feb 1, 2010. 5:14 PMnateleedog says:
allen the fact u point out is very wrong the element is posion and the the glass that he used is a biproduct of a energetic reation and is possibly toxic. he really needs to get a giger and check it
Feb 1, 2010. 5:07 PMnateleedog says:
dont you know that the glass u used to make this could still be hot and u may be killing yourself. this is not safe and very stupid. not trying to be mean but u really need to think about this if it is not inert then u can be killing yourself and others.
Jan 31, 2010. 3:33 PMpsymansays says:
So, is it safe to assume that the Uranium must not be actively emitting any dangerous amount of rads? If it isn't irradiating you, then I think this project is really cool.
Jan 31, 2010. 11:26 AMdisturbedreaper says:
can this be any worse for you uranium and UVrays add a little alcohol and arsenic and itll kill you fast
Jan 31, 2010. 1:29 AMstatic says:
 Respectfully this instructable is really light on construction details.  Too bad the comments got all weird. 
Jan 29, 2010. 2:34 PMMr E Man says:
I just hope your not praying for more hair on your head..
As Uranium is Mildly radioactive!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_poisoning

Jan 28, 2010. 8:15 AMbeezee2 says:
What you have here is undoubtedly interesting... even fascinating!.. but it is NOT a rosary. By arbitrarily replacing the image of Mary with whatever it is you replaced it with, it can no longer be called a rosary. And whatever it is mounted on the cross??.., It is no longer a crucifix (which is a non-negotiable part of the Catholic rosary). You shouldn't mess with sacred tradition.
Jan 28, 2010. 2:26 PMdatrukup says:
     While I once did have a lovely gold in-crested rosary that was blessed by the Pope, today I use a rope with several knots in it. I can assure you that what I hold between my thumb and fingers when I say the Apostle's Creed resembles very little to a crucifix.- but that's okay. The main idea of the rosary is not the object itself, but the prayer and the contemplation of the twenty mysteries of Christ.
Jan 28, 2010. 10:55 AMeecharlie says:
 I dunno beezee, according to wikipedia it sounds like having clearly marked sets of 10 beads is the important part, since rosary beads are used for counting prayers.

Persona, you should go to a Catholic mass, and while taking communion take advantage of your proximity to the priest to switch on your LED and see what s/he thinks of it. I'm sure it would be a religious experience. I hear Catholics love it when newcomers take communion, especially in the case of someone who's made their own rosary like you have!
Jan 28, 2010. 4:09 PMitwasalan says:
Just a heads up for the uninitiated.  It is NOT appropriate for those who are outside of the state of sanctifying grace to receive communion.  This includes Catholics and non-Catholics alike.  One must got to confession in order to be fit.  Also, the "s/he" in the above comment is superfluous, all Catholic priests are men.  I am not trying to start an argument.  I think this project is fantastic.  My favorite rosary is glow in the dark and has a little hole in the crucifix which when looked through shows an image of La Virgen de Guadalupe. 

If one wishes to go forward during communion one may always cross ones arms in front of their chest (watch the little kids many of them do this) and receive a blessing.  I am sure many priests would appreciate this rosary, but show them after Mass, they're kinda busy during communion.
Jan 28, 2010. 11:22 AMbeezee2 says:
I think I'll do an Instructable on "How to be Respectful"... It seems there are a good many people who might benefit.
Jan 28, 2010. 1:07 PMwupme says:
I dont see where he's unrespectful.
Also i dont see a problem with this a rosary because by definition it is one.

But if you really want to find something to be upset about you will.
Jan 28, 2010. 2:09 PMbeezee2 says:
You don't see the problem?... That's where the problem is...

BTW, the word is "Disrespectful"... there is no such word as "Unrespectful"
Feb 4, 2010. 11:21 AMwupme says:
The Problem is usually people like you who try to find problems.
I'm catholic myself and dont see any problem with that.

Thanks for the correction, even tho its also "disrespectful" lol
Jan 28, 2010. 5:57 PMgreatoak says:
You know what else is disrespectful?

You hypocrisy is amazing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosary

God would think it better to be creative than critical.

Awesome Instructable but where do you get those beads and are they safe?
Jan 28, 2010. 11:47 PMJamesGrowSeedsCanNotAffordPlants says:
What hypocrisy? That he made a statement about his religious beliefs? In short anyone who disagrees with you is a hypocrite?

wikipedia is not the final word on the Rosary.

Do you believe in God?
The instructable was creative, what it wasn't is a Rosary.
Jan 29, 2010. 9:09 AMeecharlie says:
Sorry to have started the War of The Rosary everyone! Maybe we should just agree to disagree peacefully... I think for Catholics perhaps there's a specific important definition of 'rosary' that even wikipedia doesn't know about, whereas for the rest of us a broader, more flexible definition is more practical. In fact, prayer beads used by other religions are sometimes referred to as rosaries. 

Maybe to include everyone we should just go with the broader definition, respecting that Catholics are free to use a more limited definition with a religious significance to them, and in return they can acknowledge that it would be a little silly for them to impose that definition on the rest of the world?

Kind of like the word 'marriage'.
Jan 29, 2010. 7:22 PMJamesGrowSeedsCanNotAffordPlants says:
So call them prayer beads. He didn't have to put a cross on there, he didn't have to configure it like a rosary, he didn't have to search for a substitute for Mother Mary, he didn't have to admit 'like those that traditional Catholic rosaries have."

He made a 'rosary' it was his intention, several derogatory and mealy mouth statements by others attempted to justify their fantasy interpretation.

".. other religions are sometimes referred to as rosaries"
If he wanted to make prayer beads he didn't have to configure it as a Catholic rosary. Show us these other religions rosaries, lets see just how closely they are configured.  Ya, what I thought.

All I got out of you was, compromise your belief and agree with my false argument.
Jun 12, 2010. 3:03 AMdrummonkey92 says:
Wow. I wish everyone would put this much thought, research, fact, and general class into their responses.
Jan 29, 2010. 9:43 AMprobablepossible says:
+1 eecharlie!
Jan 28, 2010. 10:38 AMprobablepossible says:
On the contrary-- sacred traditions are there to be messed with. Especially the ones which have reached institutional status, like Catholicism.
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