nice old boards

[Findm-Keepm]

He can de-solder them and sell on ebay.

I am certain there are shipping regulations against that, with stiff penalties if caught.

Very true - Mercury can not be mailed. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) specifically prohibits the shipment of mercury through the mail. The US, UK, Eurozone, and 98% of the rest of the world all belong to the UPU, and have to abide by it's regulations.


348.21 Nonmailable Corrosives
Nonmailable corrosives include the following:
a. Batteries (UN2794, UN2795) with liquid electrolyte (such as automobile
lead acid batteries), except for the nonspillable type allowed under
348.22.
b. Nitric Acid (UN2031, UN2032).
c. Fuming and Spent Sulfuric Acids (UN1831, UN1832).d. Hydrofluoric Acid (UN1790).
e. Mercury, and items containing mercury, including thermometers.

In the post-9/11 US, postal inspectors are quite diligent in finding these items. In 2006, I had some reed relays (non-mercury containing) opened for inspection, and a summons issued to meet with the postal inspector at the Federal courthouse. It all came out just fine - I brought along a datasheet, and proved my case once I allowed one to be "opened" by inspectors. Apologies were not necessary, but given by the postal service.

Just some FYI....

Cheers,
Brian

 

[element47]

A valuable FYI indeed. You end up with some Feds on your behind as a result of apparently innocent activity and they will make you hate life.