WTB: Small or submiature tubes for jewelry project - working or not, any type!

[Spasticteapot]

I'm working on a steampunk jewelry project, and need some itty-bitty vacuum tubes to make it from. I'm interested in buying small or subminiature tubes of any type, working or not - all they need to do is look good and be sufficiently cheap.

[defect9]

Here's some submini's that are $2 each (shipping doubles when you go past 5 at a time). I've also got about 10 or 11 burnt out E88CC tubes, but those might be slightly larger than you prefer.

[Spasticteapot]

I don't think your link is working. However, so long as they're suitably cheap and look good, I'd be very interested in those E88CCs.

[Buckapound]

I suggest you call Mendelson's Surplus in Dayton. They have a whole room full of vacuum tubes, which have been majorly picked over through the years of anything useful for audio, but there remain boatloads of visually attractive tubes useless for anything but military bombing computers and steampunk jewelry. Last time I looked, there were boxes and boxes of subminiature tubes.

--Buckapound

[defect9]

stupid thing didn't take my link. 6418 Tube [6418] - $1.99 : Piexx Company, Computers & Electronics

submini's are of the 6418 variety.

the E88CC tubes are just JJ Teslas that I arc'd while testing (and learning). nothing special about them. I was considering using them for an art project myself (tube christmas ornaments with a small LED in them or something).

[Spasticteapot]

The problem with the 6418 is that it's not terribly attractive, and I'd probably have to find a way to get rid of all the paint. (Thankfully, the number of chemicals capable of damaging a glass tube envelope is pretty small - I'll just start with paint thinner and work my way up to sulfuric acid.) It's a great price, though - has anyone done anything with them?

[defect9]

yeah, there's a few uses for them. I know of at least one tube microphone that uses them, and i'm making a clone of this preamp (with more easily sourced ICs) for myself. A crazy person would try running it off a spare molex connection in their computer (as the tubes are rated to something like 22v).

for removing paint, try a sugar cube and just rub it off. hard enough to work on paint, soft enough to not etch glass. I saw the idea discussed in regards to removing markings on a chassis.

[Spasticteapot]

Originally Posted by defect9

yeah, there's a few uses for them. I know of at least one tube microphone that uses them, and i'm making a clone of this preamp (with more easily sourced ICs) for myself. A crazy person would try running it off a spare molex connection in their computer (as the tubes are rated to something like 22v).

That's a pretty good idea. What kind of voltages are you running it on? Have you considered using a high-end high-current buffer-specific IC like a BUF634?

[stoc005]

6J5B-VR Russian miniature pentode Tubes New Lot 10 - eBay (item 390025521952 end time Dec-15-09 21:27:25 PST)

These are called pencil tubes. Around 1/4 to maybe 5/16 inches in diameter. 1 ->> 1.25 in. or so tall. I think pencil tubes are kinda cute too. Perfect for jewelry.

[stoc005]

BTW, pencil tubes will yield no results on Ebay. Use "miniature tube" to find more of these. Most seem to come from the Ukraine.