BS: Bubble in old thermometer

Subject: BS: Bubble in old thermometer
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 07:22 AM

I have a pretty, old, thermometer - but there is a bubble in the mercury column so it does not tell the right temperature.

I have tried shaking, banging, tilting, tapping: nothing moves that bubble.

Any mudcat ideas?

Subject: RE: BS: Bubble in old thermometer
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 07:29 AM

I'm not sure that it would handle that, I'll try the fridge first.

The bubble is near the hot end of teh column of mercury.

Subject: RE: BS: Bubble in old thermometer
From: bobad
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 07:55 AM

Rejoining a Separated Thermometer Column

Subject: RE: BS: Bubble in old thermometer
From: Micca
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 09:00 AM

Depending on the temperature range the thermometer is meant to measure, Richard you might be able to reattach it by using the freezer comparment, most domestic freezers go down to about -15C so if the lower mark on your thermometer is -5C it may be reachable, the object is to contract the mercury into the little expansion chamber at the top of the reservoir, If you use the Heating up method BE VERY CARFUL it is real easy to blow the end off the thermometer also Remember if the thermometer reads up to ,say 105C then boiling water wlill not reach it!!! you may need to use cooking oil with the associated hazards!11 The common "mistakes" made when carrying out these steps are
1 Hot glass looks EXACTLY the same as cold glass
2 Glass that has been in the freezer at -15C degrees for several hours will BURN as effectively as a flame
3 when heating anyting point it AWAY from people,self and any valuable paintings, crockery etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Bubble in old thermometer
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 09:32 AM

Success! Thank you all.

Subject: RE: BS: Bubble in old thermometer
From: EBarnacle
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 12:13 PM

Oh, and don't store it flat again.

Subject: RE: BS: Bubble in old thermometer
From: open mike
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 01:19 PM

i have seen indoor outdoor thermometers that have a feature that
"remembers" the minimum and maximun temps...the material in the tube
stays at the top and bottom temps..and you re-adjsut it or put it back
to zero or neutral by running a magnet along the tube to bring the
material back down or up..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six%27s_thermometer

mercury itself is not magnetic, but these had a small iron device that
marked the level-
http://www2a.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/shtoolkit/resources/How_to_Read_a_MinMax_Thermometer.pdf

oh well it seems as if you have solved it..
i am sometimes just a bubble off...