Drilling a hole in a Tube :)

Dredfred · 7th April 2011, 01:13 AM

That's right, I want to drill a small hole right through the trademark of a Telefunken tube on the bottom so I can fit it with an LED. Has anyone ever tried to drill a hole into a tube? My idea is to cover the glass on the bottom with a patch of masking tape and use a tiny glass drill to make a hole large enough to fit an LED into it.

Thoughts?

julcat · 7th April 2011, 01:44 AM

Drilling a hole in a Tube

WTF????????

Fuling · 7th April 2011, 01:49 AM

Better be quick if you don´t want to release the magic vacuum...

boywonder · 7th April 2011, 01:50 AM

I hope the tube is already deceased........

db! · 7th April 2011, 02:05 AM

Why not mount the LED in the tube socket? Most 9 pin sockets have a small pocket in the centre for a shielding pin IIRC...

stratus46 · 7th April 2011, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dredfred

That's right, I want to drill a small hole right through the trademark of a Telefunken tube on the bottom so I can fit it with an LED. Has anyone ever tried to drill a hole into a tube? My idea is to cover the glass on the bottom with a patch of masking tape and use a tiny glass drill to make a hole large enough to fit an LED into it.

Thoughts?

I think what looked a lot cooler (to a nerd) was what I did in high school when I warmed tubes with a propane torch to deform them without ruining them.

G²

Salas · 7th April 2011, 02:24 AM

It will go milky. Use the led in the noval if its a deceased one and the plan is to light it up decoratively.

wakibaki · 7th April 2011, 02:35 AM

If you heat the glass (slowly at first) but in a very small spot, atmospheric pressure will cause it to cave in and blow through.

It may go milky, but if you work in the centre of the pins, it probably won't show.

You would normally do this with a blowpipe, which is a thin tube with a pinhole aperture at the end, they're common in chemistry labs, you put the tube into the blue cone of a Bunsen flame and blow gently into it and a little jet of flame is produced. You can probably improvise something to do the job.

Maybe.

w

kevinkr · 7th April 2011, 03:56 AM

I think we are all assuming that this tube is dead already. Tubes normally operate with high vacuum, and drilling a hole even successfully will let air in and ruin the tube. The getter will turn an unattractive white - as suggested mounting the led in a regular tube socket might be better.

janneman · 7th April 2011, 09:39 AM

Is there a danger of implosion if you drill a hole in the glass?
I've seen rather spectacular (and dangerously) ones with picture tubes, but would guess the principle is the same.

jan didden

7th April 2011, 01:13 AM	#1
Dredfred diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Texas	Drilling a hole in a Tube :) That's right, I want to drill a small hole right through the trademark of a Telefunken tube on the bottom so I can fit it with an LED. Has anyone ever tried to drill a hole into a tube? My idea is to cover the glass on the bottom with a patch of masking tape and use a tiny glass drill to make a hole large enough to fit an LED into it. Thoughts?

7th April 2011, 03:56 AM	#9
kevinkr diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Blog Entries: 6	I think we are all assuming that this tube is dead already. Tubes normally operate with high vacuum, and drilling a hole even successfully will let air in and ruin the tube. The getter will turn an unattractive white - as suggested mounting the led in a regular tube socket might be better. __________________ www.kta-hifi.net

7th April 2011, 09:39 AM	#10
janneman diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Where Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium meet Blog Entries: 6	Is there a danger of implosion if you drill a hole in the glass? I've seen rather spectacular (and dangerously) ones with picture tubes, but would guess the principle is the same. jan didden __________________ /Another new issue: Linear Audio Volume 3!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Drilling Jig	TheGimp	Equipment & Tools	2	9th February 2010 02:36 PM
Drilling a straight hole by hand	markiemrboo	Everything Else	12	22nd January 2008 07:03 PM
Drilling aluminum	mantisory	Everything Else	53	21st November 2007 05:19 PM
TO-3 Drilling Jig	BrianDonegan	Solid State	10	16th February 2005 09:06 PM

7th April 2011, 01:44 AM	#2
julcat diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2009	Drilling a hole in a Tube WTF????????

7th April 2011, 01:49 AM	#3
Fuling diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sweden (Mora)	Better be quick if you don´t want to release the magic vacuum...

7th April 2011, 01:50 AM	#4
boywonder diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: So.Cal.	I hope the tube is already deceased........

7th April 2011, 02:05 AM	#5
db! diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ontario	Why not mount the LED in the tube socket? Most 9 pin sockets have a small pocket in the centre for a shielding pin IIRC...

7th April 2011, 02:24 AM	#7
Salas diyAudio Chief Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Athens-Greece	It will go milky. Use the led in the noval if its a deceased one and the plan is to light it up decoratively.

7th April 2011, 02:35 AM	#8
wakibaki Banned Join Date: Jan 2008 Blog Entries: 2	If you heat the glass (slowly at first) but in a very small spot, atmospheric pressure will cause it to cave in and blow through. It may go milky, but if you work in the centre of the pins, it probably won't show. You would normally do this with a blowpipe, which is a thin tube with a pinhole aperture at the end, they're common in chemistry labs, you put the tube into the blue cone of a Bunsen flame and blow gently into it and a little jet of flame is produced. You can probably improvise something to do the job. Maybe. w

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read