I work here
www.ukaea.org.uk/sites/harwell_site.htm
( Hankster, Sun 28 May 2006, 3:45, archived)

I built my stuff in a basement. =P

( Digeridude Lord Wellington's Beef Trapeze, Sun 28 May 2006, 3:46, archived)

There is a story of some lad trying to build a reactor in his cellar
... he got his radioactive sources from colleges and unis, he actually had a fair amount of radioactive stuff knocking about, enough for the guys who went in to get it back to have to wear protective clothing
( Hankster, Sun 28 May 2006, 3:50, archived)

I'd love to have some of that, but I'd be too scared to handle it.
My project only calls for tiny amounts of radium, though only for electron capture, so I prefer to simulate the effect electrically. I could probably get my hands on some radium, but I'm lazy and I don't feel like rebuilding everything.
( Digeridude Lord Wellington's Beef Trapeze, Sun 28 May 2006, 3:53, archived)

Hehe
we use radium sources for our trainees to play with, you'd be amazed at going round some of the old sites where it was used (watch /clock factories) and finding the levels of contamination in drains etc..
( Hankster, Sun 28 May 2006, 3:59, archived)