# Where can I buy iron filings? And a bonus physics question!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-iron-filings-and-a-bonus-physics-question/116412>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 28, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-iron-filings-and-a-bonus-physics-question/116412 "2002-06-28T16:38:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-iron-filings-and-a-bonus-physics-question/116412/21 "2012-10-10T01:10:50Z")

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> [@Szlater](#):
>
> What health and safety precautions do you need to take when working with largish quantities of nanometer sized particles?

Don’t eat them?

They’re suspended in liquid the whole time, so I doubt there’s any danger. Ordinary white paint is also made from nanoparticles in suspension.

That said, I’m not responsible for any death or dismemberment that may arise from my consulting services.

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-iron-filings-and-a-bonus-physics-question/116412/22 "2012-10-10T01:16:24Z")

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> [@Dr.Strangelove](#):
>
> Don’t eat them?
> 
> They’re suspended in liquid the whole time, so I doubt there’s any danger. Ordinary white paint is also made from nanoparticles in suspension.
> 
> That said, I’m not responsible for any death or dismemberment that may arise from my consulting services.

Crossing your name off my list of possible defendants.

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**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-iron-filings-and-a-bonus-physics-question/116412/23 "2012-10-10T01:46:38Z")

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> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> Crossing your name off my list of possible defendants.

People are way too safety conscious these days. Used to be that children’s chemistry books contained instructions on synthesizing chlorine gas. Now? I doubt you’ll even find sucrose in a chemistry set since it might cause obesity if you eat it.

Just make sure to take good notes so we can all learn from your example if you die. Marie Curie had the right idea.

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