cleaning tubes / valves

[djmiddelkoop]

Most old ( European ? ) tubes used calcium based ink that comes of easy when cleaning with water or when rubbing the glass.

Pulls from old equipment are difficult to clean because due to the heat dust and dirt are bonded to the glass.

Has anyone found an easy method to clean old tubes without damaging the printing ?

 

[DF96]

No.

I have managed to clean the glass around the printing, but not where the printing is.

 

[ashok]

The ones I tried with isopropyl alcohol completely removed the print. In some just rubbing it with a dry cloth took off all the printing ! So it appears to be quite dicey with old tubes.

 

[kevinkr]

What DF96 said. I use very slightly moistened paper towel cut into small pieces and avoid logos and codes.

 

[djmiddelkoop]

Thanks for the replies.

Unfortunately there seems to be no easy or quick cleaning method that leaves the printing intact.

I have also tried cotton tips (aka Q-tips) with alcohol, so you can easily avoid the printing.